The chin plays a central role in the balance of the face. Too discreet, too projected or asymmetrical, it can alter the overall harmony of the profile and the facial oval. To correct these imperfections, two approaches exist today : medical genioplasty, through hyaluronic acid injections, and surgical genioplasty, also known as chin plastic surgery.
If their aesthetic goals may sometimes appear similar, these two techniques fundamentally differ in their nature, their implementation, and their implications for the patient. Here is a detailed comparison to help you understand which one may best suit your situation.
Medical genioplasty is a non-invasive aesthetic treatment that involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the chin to improve the projection of the lower third of the face, correct a receding chin (mild to moderate retrogenia), harmonize the profile (medical profiloplasty), rebalance an asymmetry, and redefine the facial oval without weighing down the features.
The hyaluronic acid used is a dense, cohesive, and cross-linked gel, injected deeply, often in contact with the chin bone. It acts as a volumizing support, sculpting this anatomical area.
The treatment is performed in a medical office, without general anesthesia, without incision, and without social downtime.
Medical genioplasty is suitable for patients seeking a moderate and natural enhancement, for those reluctant to undergo surgery, for patients wishing to test a reversible correction before considering a definitive (surgical) procedure, and for those presenting mild retrogenia, sagging of the facial oval, or localized asymmetry.
Chin surgery (osseous genioplasty or mentoplasty) is a surgical procedure performed in an operating room under general anesthesia. It involves modifying the position or shape of the chin bone by cutting and then advancing or moving back a portion of the mandibular bone, or by inserting a chin implant (made of silicone or Medpor).
The surgery is intended for patients who require more significant corrections : pronounced retrogenia, severe prognathism or asymmetry, associated functional disorders (malocclusion, mandibular discomfort), or those seeking a radical transformation with a permanent result.
It allows for modification of the bone structure itself, in a stable and definitive way.
The aesthetic correction of the chin can be achieved through two distinct approaches : medical genioplasty, performed by injections, and chin plastic surgery, which involves intervention on the bone structure. The choice between these options depends on the required correction, the patient’s expectations, and the acceptable degree of invasiveness.
Medical genioplasty is a non-surgical procedure based on the injection of hyaluronic acid to enhance volume, contours, and, to some extent, chin projection. It is a quick procedure – 30 to 45 minutes – performed without anesthesia, in a medical office. The result is immediate, although it continues to refine slightly in the following days. The effect lasts on average 12 to 15 months. It requires no recovery time, allows immediate return to daily activities, and remains reversible, as the injected product is resorbable. The cost is moderate, generally between 600 and 1,200 CHF per session, with a low risk level.
Chin surgery involves a surgical operation, often through osteotomy (modification of the mandibular bone). It allows for more significant corrections : advancement, setback, or repositioning of the chin. The procedure lasts 1 to 2 hours, under general anesthesia, and takes place in an operating room. The result becomes visible only after the initial swelling subsides, about 2 to 3 months after the operation, and is permanent. A recovery period of 1 to 2 weeks is generally necessary. The cost is much higher, ranging from 7,000 to 12,000 CHF, and the risk level is naturally greater (infection, misalignment, sensory disturbances, etc.).
In summary, medical genioplasty is suitable for patients seeking a subtle, quick, reversible, and minimally invasive correction, while surgery is intended for patients requiring more complex bone reconstruction with a permanent result.
One of the main advantages of medical genioplasty is its reversibility, a feature that provides great reassurance for many patients. Unlike a surgical procedure, which involves a permanent modification of the bone anatomy, the injection of hyaluronic acid allows for a progressive, adjustable, and temporary correction.
This principle particularly appeals to younger or first-time patients seeking a subtle change, to those uncertain about the type of result they want, and to patients wishing to test a new chin projection without a permanent commitment.
The treatment can be performed over two sessions, spaced a few weeks apart, to adjust chin projection, facial oval definition, or correction of a mild asymmetry. If the result is unsatisfactory or expectations evolve, the hyaluronic acid can be quickly dissolved using a specific enzyme : hyaluronidase. It is a resorbable product that will naturally degrade over time.
This flexibility provides essential psychological comfort. It allows patients to approach modification of the lower third of the face with complete mental ease, fostering self-respect and attentiveness to one’s own aesthetic perception.
Recovery time often plays a decisive role in choosing between aesthetic medicine and surgery. In this regard, the differences between medical genioplasty and chin surgery are particularly significant.
After a hyaluronic acid injection, post-treatment effects are mild and temporary. Slight redness or minor swelling may appear for a few hours. In rare cases, a small bruise can form. Nevertheless, patients can immediately resume their normal activities without any need for downtime. The result is visible quickly, within the first few hours, and stabilizes within 5 to 7 days. No dressing, scarring, or compression is required. This type of treatment fits perfectly into an active professional lifestyle, with no social interruption — a major advantage for patients seeking discretion and efficiency.
By contrast, chin surgery involves a longer and more demanding recovery. Significant swelling usually persists for 10 to 15 days, accompanied by postoperative pain, ranging from moderate to intense, often requiring pain medication. The area may show visible bruising, and stitches, dressings, or even external compression may be necessary. Time off work is common, usually lasting 1 to 2 weeks. The final result only becomes fully visible after 2 to 3 months.
This comparison highlights how medical genioplasty meets the expectations of modern life, offering a quick, discreet treatment followed by an effortless recovery — a significant advantage for many patients.
It is possible to undergo surgical genioplasty after medical genioplasty. Many patients consider medical genioplasty as an exploratory step before potential surgery. There are no contraindications to moving from a medical approach to a surgical solution, provided certain precautions are observed :
In many cases, medical genioplasty is sufficient to achieve a satisfactory aesthetic balance and spares the patient from surgery they may no longer desire. It thus serves as a real-life preview tool, without any commitment.
The results of surgical genioplasty are not necessarily better than those of medical genioplasty. The success of an aesthetic treatment is not measured solely by its technical complexity or longevity. It primarily relies on three fundamental elements : a well-defined indication, realistic patient expectations, and a harmonious result consistent with the overall face.
Chin surgery is indicated in specific cases : bone abnormalities, pronounced retrogenia, dental malocclusion, or a desire for radical transformation. In these situations, only a surgical procedure can effectively correct these issues.
However, for the vast majority of current aesthetic requests — whether improving the profile, subtle feminization or masculinization, or targeted rejuvenation of the lower face — medical genioplasty often provides a more relevant solution. It delivers a natural result without excessive transformation, precise and personalized correction, and better psychological acceptance due to its gradual and reversible nature.
In other words, it is not the technique that is “better,” but the appropriateness of the response to a given situation. A well-considered and properly executed injection can offer a superior result to a poorly indicated surgery.
Medical genioplasty is absolutely suitable for men. Male demand is rapidly increasing in the field of aesthetic facial medicine, and the chin is one of the areas most frequently corrected. In men, chin correction aims to enhance projection to masculinize the profile, structure the mandibular angle, restore balance between the nose, chin, and lips in profile, and add character without weighing down the features.
By selecting products tailored to masculine aesthetic standards, the physician can sculpt a firmer, more angular, and well-defined chin. The result remains adjustable and natural, without rigidity or excess, preserving the unique expression and identity of each face.
The choice between medical genioplasty (hyaluronic acid injection) and chin surgery depends on several essential criteria. It is not simply a matter of contrasting a minor procedure with a more radical one, but of determining which approach is best suited to your morphology, aesthetic goals, and treatment tolerance.
A personalized consultation remains essential. Whatever your initial preference, only a personalized medical assessment by an experienced physician can determine the technique best suited to your face. During this consultation, the physician will analyze your morphology, consider your aesthetic expectations, and assess your risk tolerance to guide you toward an effective and harmonious solution.
Article written by Dr Romano Valeria
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