Mentum and Symphysis Mandibulae

The anterior midline prominence of the mandible is the mentum; the underlying midline fusion site is the symphysis mandibulae. This is where the silicone implant is seated sub-periosteally, or where the osteotomy is made in sliding genioplasty.

Pogonion and Menton

Pogonion is the most anterior point of the chin — the primary reference for Ricketts' E-line measurement. Menton is the lowest point of the chin and defines the lower boundary of the facial lower third.

Gnathion

The constructed point between pogonion and menton — the most antero-inferior point of the chin contour. Used to assess chin length and evaluate vertical proportion of the lower face.

Mental Nerve

Exiting the mandible at the mental foramen near the second premolar, this sensory nerve supplies the lower lip and chin skin. It must be identified and protected during both silicone implant placement and genioplasty.

Ricketts' E-Line

The aesthetic reference line connecting the nasal tip to the pogonion. In the ideal profile, the upper lip lies 4 mm behind the E-line and the lower lip 2 mm behind it. Chin shaping is planned to achieve these relationships.

Cervicomental Angle

The angle between the anterior neck surface and the chin-neck junction; the ideal is 90–120°. Chin augmentation — especially in recessed-chin cases — directly improves this angle, sharpening the neck-chin distinction.

Silicone Chin Implant

A medical-grade silicone implant is placed sub-periosteally via a submental (under the chin) or intraoral (inside the mouth) incision. The implant size and shape — selected from pre-operative imaging — corrects mentum position in the anteroposterior direction and, depending on implant design, also provides some vertical or lateral projection improvement.

Advantages: Permanent correction without bone surgery, shorter recovery, reversible if needed. First-choice technique for mild-to-moderate chin retrusion.

Sliding Genioplasty (Osteotomy)

Via an intraoral incision, the mentum bone is released by horizontal osteotomy and repositioned anteriorly, posteriorly, superiorly, inferiorly, or laterally — then fixed with titanium plates and screws. Preferred for large advancements, vertical height adjustment, or lateral asymmetry correction where an implant alone cannot achieve the required result.

Hyaluronic Acid Filler (Temporary)

Hyaluronic acid is injected into the mentum to augment projection non-surgically. Duration is 12–18 months. Suitable for trialling the aesthetic result before committing to surgery, or for minor corrections where surgery is not desired.

Recessed / Small Chin (Microgenia)

A mentum lying behind the Ricketts E-line creates a weak, disproportionate profile. Silicone implant or sliding genioplasty advances the chin to the correct position, restoring facial proportion.

Disproportionately Large-Appearing Nose

A recessed chin makes the nose appear larger than it actually is. In many patients, chin augmentation alone normalises the perceived nose size without rhinoplasty — a relationship Op. Dr. Urhan regularly identifies and explains at consultation.

Indistinct Neck-Chin Junction

Retrognathia flattens the cervicomental angle. Chin augmentation advances the mentum and improves this angle — producing a sharper, more defined neck-chin profile line, especially when combined with submental liposuction.

Long or Short Chin (Vertical Disproportion)

Disproportionate lower-face vertical height — too long or too short — can be adjusted vertically through sliding genioplasty; silicone implants address only anteroposterior projection.

Chin Asymmetry

Left-right height or projection differences are corrected laterally through sliding genioplasty; asymmetric implant shapes can partially address milder cases.

E-Line and Profile Imbalance

The nose-lip-chin proportion mismatch is objectively quantified with Ricketts E-line cephalometric measurement, and the surgical plan is built around achieving this specific target.

Stage 1 — Cephalometric Analysis and Planning

Lateral cephalometric X-ray or CT is used to identify pogonion, menton, and gnathion positions. The required movement magnitude and vector are calculated against the Ricketts E-line target. At this stage, it is determined whether an implant or osteotomy will achieve the desired result.

Stage 2 — Anaesthesia

Silicone implant placement is performed under general anaesthesia or sedation in approximately 45–90 minutes. Sliding genioplasty requires general anaesthesia and longer theatre time.

Stage 3 — Approach, Pocket Creation / Osteotomy

Silicone implant: the submental or intraoral incision is used to create a sub-periosteal pocket; the implant is seated and fixed, with careful protection of the mental nerve throughout. Sliding genioplasty: the mentum bone is osteotomised via intraoral access and repositioned along the planned vector.

Stage 4 — Fixation and Closure

Silicone implant: fixed with titanium screws or absorbable sutures to the periosteum. Genioplasty: titanium plate and screws fix the bone segment. In both approaches, the incision is closed in layers; a compression bandage is applied to the chin and neck.

Stage 5 — Discharge and Post-Operative Care

Discharge the same day or the following morning. A submental compression bandage is worn for 5–7 days. Soft foods for 2–3 weeks; oral hygiene protocol for intraoral incisions.

Retrognathia / Microgenia

A chin clearly behind the Ricketts E-line — objectively confirmed with cephalometric imaging — is the strongest single indication for chin augmentation.

Normal Dental Occlusion

Chinoplasty does not alter the bite. Patients with significant skeletal malocclusion require orthodontic-orthognathic treatment first. Isolated genioplasty is appropriate when the occlusion is normal or near-normal.

Profile Proportion Concern

Patients who feel their nose looks "too big" or their neck-chin line "undefined" — but have normal nasal anatomy — often improve dramatically with chin augmentation alone.

General Health

Controlled chronic conditions, normal coagulation, and non-smoking status are standard requirements. Metal allergy is excluded if titanium hardware will be used.

Skeletal Maturity

Permanent implants and osteotomies are not recommended before skeletal growth is complete. Patients are generally over 18 years of age with documented growth cessation.

Realistic Expectations

Chin shaping meaningfully improves profile proportion and facial balance; it does not transform one person into another. The aim is a harmonious, proportionate result in keeping with the patient's own face.

Permanent Profile Correction

Both silicone implant and sliding genioplasty produce lifelong results — far exceeding the 12–18 month duration of filler and requiring no retreatment.

Whole-Face Balancing Effect

A correctly positioned chin makes the nose appear proportionate, the lips balanced, and the neck-chin line defined — improving the entire profile, not just the chin area.

Potential Rhinoplasty Alternative

When a nose "looks large" because the chin is recessed, chin augmentation alone can normalise the visual nose size — making rhinoplasty unnecessary. This is assessed at consultation.

Invisible or Concealed Scar

Intraoral approach leaves no external scar. Submental approach leaves a small scar under the chin that heals to near-invisibility in the majority of patients.

Short Procedure Time

Isolated silicone implant placement takes approximately 45–90 minutes. Same-day discharge is routine when the procedure is not combined with others.

Wide Combination Options

Chin shaping combines seamlessly with submental liposuction, rhinoplasty, facelift, or lip lift — enabling integrated single-session face-and-neck rejuvenation.

Submental Liposuction

Removing submental fat while advancing the chin simultaneously — the neck-chin junction is both sharpened and advanced, producing a synergistic result that neither procedure achieves alone. Submental Liposuction →

Rhinoplasty

The Ricketts E-line references both nose and chin; planning both together in one session produces far more coherent mid-face profile harmony than addressing either in isolation. Rhinoplasty →

Lip Lift

Chin and upper lip proportion define the lower face together; chin shaping plus lip lift comprehensively rejuvenates the lower third in a single session. Lip Lift →

Facelift Surgery

When facelift addresses the mid and lower face and neck, chin augmentation establishes the structural anchor point that maximises the rejuvenating impact of the lift. Facelift Surgery →

EBOPRAS Certification

European Board certification in Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery encompasses chin shaping and all face-and-jaw procedures.

ISAPS Membership

International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery membership reflects a commitment to global technical and ethical standards in aesthetic surgery.

Focused Exclusively on Facial Aesthetics

Chin shaping is always planned within the context of a whole-face analysis — rhinoplasty need, submental fat, cervicomental angle, and lip proportion assessed together before any surgical plan is finalised.

Cephalometric Precision

Every patient receives lateral imaging and Ricketts E-line measurement before surgery; implant size, shape, and genioplasty vector are derived from objective millimetre-level data, not estimation.

Mental Nerve Protection

The mental nerve's proximity to the mentum demands precise anatomical knowledge in this region. A practice focused on facial surgery minimises this risk through deliberate, nerve-first dissection discipline.

International Patients — Muratpaşa, Antalya

Remote video pre-assessment, in-person consultation and surgery in Antalya, and post-operative video follow-up available. Multilingual coordination throughout.

Mental Nerve Injury (Rare)

Transient lower-lip or chin numbness may occur. Permanent injury is rare in experienced hands; nerve-first dissection discipline minimises this risk.

Implant Displacement or Malposition

Rarely, an implant shifts over time. Titanium-screw fixation to the periosteum significantly reduces this risk. Revision is possible if displacement occurs.

Infection

The intraoral approach carries a slightly higher contamination risk due to oral flora; antibiotic prophylaxis and strict oral hygiene protocols minimise this.

Prolonged Swelling

Genioplasty may produce more persistent oedema than implant placement due to the bone exposure involved; some residual swelling until month 3 is normal.

Asymmetry

Apparent asymmetry in the early post-operative period is usually differential swelling. Persistent asymmetry is rare and revisable after full healing.

Submental Scar

The submental incision is hidden in the chin crease and fades to near-invisibility. Hypertrophic scarring risk is low; managed with standard scar care if it occurs.