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The chin plays a major role in overall facial harmony. When the chin is underdeveloped or recessed, it can throw off the proportions of the face, causing the nose or neck to appear more prominent than they are. A chin implant procedure offers a simple, long-lasting way to enhance the jawline, define the profile, and create a more balanced, confident appearance.
Dr. Joseph T. Cruise, Newport Beach board-certified plastic surgeon, is a chin implant and lower facial rejuvenation specialist. In his years of experience, Joseph T Cruise, MD, has found that providing patients with all the information they need to make the right cosmetic surgery decisions is crucial. Browsing his gallery of chin augmentation before and after pictures will let you see real results from people who had the same concerns as you. The decision to undergo chin surgery requires some consideration about the shape of your face and the specific results you want to achieve. With Dr. Cruise’s focus on symmetry, natural proportion, and aesthetic detail, chin implants are often the missing piece that brings the entire face into balance.
Average Cost: View Pricing
Downtime: 7-10 days
Procedure: Often performed in-office under local anesthesia unless combined with rhinoplasty surgery.
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People judge one another on their facial features. If one part of the face is out of proportion or not as finely formed as other parts, it can cause concerns about facial appearance. A chin that does not project proportionately to a person’s nose – a recessed chin – is known as a “weak” chin.
Joseph T Cruise, MD, Orange County plastic surgeon, has seen hundreds of patients with concerns about the shape of their chin, and has helped them with choosing the right chin implant for their face shape.
Chins that are described as “weak” can leave a person dissatisfied about the proportion of their facial features. Whether you are looking for only a chin implant, or to adjust several facial features with additional procedures such as a face lift or rhinoplasty, you can discuss your options with Joseph T Cruise, MD during your personal consultation. Together, you will be able to figure out which chin implant and other facial rejuvenation procedures are right for you.
Scroll over the image to see the effects of chin implant on recessed chin.
Most chin implants are silicone, but some are made from polyethylene or other materials. Joseph T Cruise, MD, Newport Beach plastic surgeon, uses silicone implants exclusively, because of their soft, firm texture that is ideal for facial rejuvenation.
He uses a precise placement procedure that still allows for adjustment of the implant in the future if necessary.
Chin implants come in different shapes. The three most common are:
1. Anatomic Chin Implant
2. Extended Anatomic Chin Implant
3. Mild Square Jaw Implant
The Central Anatomic Chin Implant projects the central chin and enhances the triangular, ideal look of a person’s face. Its small size makes it easy to insert through incisions in a patient’s mouth, and patients typically swell very little during recovery.
Central Anatomic Chin Implant. Useful for enhancing chin projection and creating more elegant, triangular facial appearance.
An Extended Anatomic Chin Implant is similar to a central implant, but has extensions along the jaw line. This implant fills a person’s jaw line and widens and projects a person’s chin. The reshaping of the jaw line helps patients achieve the triangular, elegant facial shape many people desire.
Extended Anatomic Chin Implant. Useful for enhancing chin projection and creating a more defined jaw line as well as more triangular appearance to the face.
The Square Jaw Chin Implant has an extension up the jaw line that is wide and creates a squared look to a person’s chin. Square jaws are often considered the ideal male jaw line, and are interpreted as authoritative and powerful.
Square Jaw Chin Implant. Useful for creating a more masculine, authoritative chin in addition to enhancing chin projection.
Chin augmentation is a routine procedure that Joseph T Cruise, MD has performed many times for patients in his Newport Beach. The results are very predictable, the surgery produces highly effective outcomes, and it requires very little recovery time.
Chin augmentation is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. The entire procedure takes about 1 hour.
Dr. Cruise begins by creating a small incision under the chin or inside the lower lip, then forms a precise pocket along the chin bone to securely place the implant. Once in place, the implant is secured, and the incision is closed with dissolvable sutures.
You’ll return home the same day with a compression dressing or chin strap to support healing. Most patients can return to work and light activities within one week.
A silicone chin implant is inserted through a small incision in the mouth and down onto the top of the chin. Implants can also be inserted through a small incision below the chin if the patient is also interested in having a neck lift procedure completed, or simply if the chin implant is too large to go through the mouth. If you need a larger chin implant, an incision under the chin may be the best method to insert it. You can discuss the types and placement of incisions at your consultation with Joseph T Cruise, MD, in his Orange County office.
Example of Chin Incision. Larger Implants require an incision below the chin. Some implants can be inserted through the mouth without a visible incision.
Chin augmentation is a highly individualized procedure that can correct several common cosmetic concerns:
For patients undergoing rhinoplasty, chin augmentation is often performed at the same time to create a more refined and proportional side profile.
Many people find that the results of their chin implant satisfy the concerns they had with the proportion of their facial features. Chin augmentation can significantly affect the contour and profile of a person’s face by balancing the proportion with a person’s nose.
Joseph T Cruise, MD’s before and after chin implant photos show the changes to his patient’s faces, both from the front and side views, so you can see the dramatic difference.
Beyond the physical changes, patients often report increased self-confidence and satisfaction with their appearance, noting that their face feels more proportionate and expressive. When placed thoughtfully and artistically, a chin implant can subtly reshape the face without looking obvious or overdone.
Dr. Cruise will perform a comprehensive consultation to determine whether chin augmentation is right for you. In some cases, he may recommend combining a chin implant with other procedures to achieve your goals.
Some people experience a condition called “retrognathia” where their jaw is recessed. In this case, the surgery required to correct the condition is more extensive than the plastic surgery Joseph T Cruise, MD performs. Discuss your condition at your consultation with Joseph T Cruise, MD to determine whether a chin implant will address your concerns, or if you require medical surgical procedures.
For a more dramatic enhancement, patients often discuss their options for neck lift in addition to chin augmentation.
Dr. Cruise and his team will provide detailed aftercare instructions and check your healing at post-operative visits.
Most patients can return to desk work and light activities within 5–7 days, though you should avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for at least 2–3 weeks. The timeline below details the stages of recovery after a chin implant procedure.
Recovering After Chin Augmentation Surgery
"80% of your results come from surgery, 20% from aftercare"
You’ll notice a difference in your chin shape and facial balance immediately after surgery, though swelling may initially obscure the final contours. As the swelling resolves over the next several weeks, your profile will appear more defined, proportionate, and aesthetically pleasing.
With proper care, chin implants are designed to last for decades and typically do not require replacement. Most patients find the results to be subtle, natural, and transformative—providing a more confident, cohesive facial appearance that reflects how they want to look and feel.
In Orange County, CA, one of the best plastic surgeons - with impeccable credentials, extensive experience, and a number of testimonials that speak to his results - Dr. Joseph T. Cruise works with patients who are looking for the best service and outcomes from their cosmetic surgery. His extensive gallery of before-and-after pictures of chin implants lets you see for yourself the results his patients achieve after chin surgery.
As a facial rejuvenation specialist, including chin augmentation and other lower face rejuvenation procedures, Joseph T Cruise, MD knows what procedures work to help patients achieve the look they want. Because each face is different, he meets with each patient in his Newport Beach location in order to properly address the concerns and needs of each to help them truly make the changes they want and have the face they desire.
Many of the patients Joseph T Cruise, MD sees at his Orange County office have the same concerns and questions about their facial rejuvenation. In these pages, Joseph T Cruise, MD addresses some of the most common patient questions, such as:
Determining whether you need a chin implant depends on how your chin relates to the rest of your facial features—especially your nose and neck. During your consultation, Dr. Cruise will evaluate your facial proportions and recommend an implant size and shape that enhances your profile while maintaining a natural, harmonious look.
An anatomic chin implant is curved to follow the natural contour of your jaw and create a subtle, balanced enhancement, while a square jaw chin implant adds stronger angles for a more defined, masculine appearance. Dr. Cruise will assess your facial proportions during your consultation and help you choose the implant shape that best complements your features.
Chin implant surgery can be performed using an incision hidden inside the mouth or one placed just beneath the chin. The intraoral approach leaves no visible scar but may carry a slightly higher risk of infection, while the submental (under-chin) incision allows for more precise placement with a very small, well-concealed scar. Most patients find that scarring from a submental incision fades significantly over time and is barely noticeable once healed. Dr. Cruise will help determine which approach is best based on your anatomy and goals.
Chin implant surgery is generally safe when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, but like any procedure, it carries some risks—including infection, implant shifting, or numbness in the lower lip or chin. To reduce these risks, Dr. Cruise uses meticulous surgical technique, sterile precautions, and provides detailed aftercare instructions to ensure safe healing.
Most patients take about 5–7 days off work after chin implant surgery, depending on their job and comfort level. It’s normal to experience swelling, tightness, and mild bruising in the lower face for the first week, especially around the chin and jawline. If you have any concerns during recovery, Dr. Cruise and his team are always available to provide guidance and reassurance.
Visit our chin augmentation pricing page to learn about the cost of chin implant surgery. We accept several types of financing, including Prosper Lending, Care Credit, and Alphaeon Credit.
