Among the most frequently asked questions during an aesthetic medicine consultation is the one about pain : “Will I feel pain during the hyaluronic acid injection in the chin ?”
This concern is perfectly legitimate. Although the procedure is not surgical and is performed without general anesthesia, it remains an invasive procedure, even if minimal. In the case of hyaluronic acid injections in the chin, the answer is reassuring : the pain is mild, very well controlled, and generally well tolerated.
The chin is a bony area, covered with relatively thick and poorly vascularized skin tissue. Unlike the lips or under-eye area, it contains few superficial nerve endings. This means that pain stimuli are less intense there.
Moreover, the injection of hyaluronic acid into the chin is performed deeply, generally in contact with the periosteum (the thin membrane that covers the bone). This depth helps avoid the most sensitive areas, which contributes to reducing discomfort.
Most hyaluronic acids used in medical offices contain an integrated local anesthetic : lidocaine. This component, widely used in dental anesthesia, acts a few seconds after the injection begins.
Thanks to this formulation, the injection becomes almost painless as the anesthesia spreads, making the entire session very comfortable.
In some cases, especially for very sensitive or anxious patients, it is possible to apply a local anesthetic cream about 20 to 30 minutes before the treatment. But in the vast majority of cases, this precaution is not necessary.
Two techniques can be used to inject hyaluronic acid into the chin :
Some doctors often prefer the cannula for this area, as it allows for an even distribution of the product while providing an almost painless experience for the patient.
The most frequently described sensation is not pain, but a gentle pressure or a slight stretching inside the tissues.
Some patients mention a feeling of “rubbing on the bone”, but this remains very well tolerated and does not cause sharp pain.
In general, the initial prick may be felt briefly (less than 2 seconds), and the injection itself is described as “tolerable” or “almost imperceptible”; no patient reports persistent or disabling pain.
Everything is done to minimize discomfort, thanks to a gentle technique, precise gestures, and constant communication throughout the procedure.
Once the treatment is completed, it is not uncommon to feel tenderness to the touch or slight tension in the treated area, especially during jaw movements (chewing, speaking).
This post-injection discomfort is moderate and temporary, lasting on average 24 to 48 hours, often linked to slight local inflammation, a normal tissue reaction to the injected product.
Symptoms disappear spontaneously and, in most cases, do not require any analgesic treatment.
If more significant discomfort occurs (prolonged hardening, throbbing pain, abnormal redness), a follow-up consultation allows checking for the absence of any adverse event.
The perception of pain is personal, influenced by each patient’s own tolerance threshold, previous experience with aesthetic procedures, stress or anticipation before the session, and the techniques used by the doctor.
It is therefore essential to discuss with your doctor before the procedure, in order to adjust the level of comfort. A personalized approach, within a high-quality medical setting, allows the protocol to be adapted to each profile.
Even before making a diagnosis or defining an indication, many patients express a very specific concern : the fear of pain. This fear is natural, especially in people who have never undergone aesthetic medicine procedures.
In the context of chin injections, this apprehension is often based on anecdotal stories shared on social media, often out of context; confusion between different areas of the face (lips vs chin, for example); memories of painful medical injections (dental, vaccines, etc.); and a lack of knowledge about the equipment used today (needle vs cannula, integrated lidocaine, etc.).
What is fundamental to understand is that the perception of pain is greatly reduced when consulting an experienced doctor who performs a controlled and well-explained medical procedure. An attentive doctor, a calm atmosphere, and a personalized protocol are often enough to quickly dispel this fear.
In reality, the majority of patients finish the session with a simple observation : “I expected it to be worse. It was very tolerable, even painless.”
Although chin injections are generally very well tolerated, there are some particular profiles for which sensitivity may be slightly increased.
Several factors influence how an injection is experienced :
In all cases, an experienced doctor takes these parameters into account from the consultation. They can propose the application of a local anesthetic, adjust the injection speed, and maintain constant communication during the procedure to reassure the patient and adapt their technique in real time.
This personalized approach ensures a comfortable and calm session, even for the most sensitive patients.
It is not uncommon for a patient to spontaneously use the word “pain” to describe a sensation that, in reality, is more of a mechanical discomfort or transient pressure. Being able to distinguish these feelings not only helps better prepare the patient but also demystifies the experience of a chin injection.
Pain, in the strict sense, corresponds to a sharp, stinging sensation that persists or intensifies. In the context of chin injections, it is very rare. If it occurs, it happens only at the moment of the initial prick, which some patients do not even feel.
Discomfort, on the other hand, is expressed as a feeling of tension or unease, without real pain. It is common during the passage of the cannula or when the gel is deposited into the tissues. This sensation is perfectly normal and temporary.
Finally, pressure is probably the most commonly reported sensation. It is the feeling of stretching or internal pushing, often felt when the injection is deeper, especially in contact with the periosteum (the bone). This pressure is not painful, but noticeable.
The majority of patients describe the procedure as painless but perceptible, evoking sensations of dull pressure, internal rubbing, or slight tension. These sensations are temporary and disappear within a few minutes after the procedure.
Ultimately, the word “pain” is often exaggerated : it only concerns the very first prick, and only in the most sensitive patients. For the vast majority, chin injection is a brief, transient discomfort, much less pronounced than they had imagined.
This is one of the most frequently asked questions by patients considering an injection. The fear of persistent discomfort is understandable, but it does not reflect the clinical reality.
The sensation exists, but it is brief, subtle, and far from what one might imagine. During the injection, one may perceive a feeling of gradual filling, comparable to moderate pressure, never pain. In the hours that follow, slight tension may persist, simply reflecting the natural elasticity of the tissues and the gel’s adaptation phase.
To the touch, some patients notice a slight bump or unusual firmness during the first few days. This is a temporary phenomenon, linked to the presence of the product before its complete integration into the tissues.
Contrary to common belief, hyaluronic acid does not “move” under the skin. When properly injected, it remains perfectly in place, without migration. Everyday movements — speaking, smiling, chewing — remain completely natural.
After about ten days, the product is fully integrated. The patient no longer perceives any difference : the hyaluronic acid then behaves like a natural extension of the tissue, restoring structure and projection to the chin without any feeling of a foreign body.
This is a very common question, especially among patients discovering aesthetic medicine and wondering about sensations after an injection.
The answer is nuanced : yes, a perception may exist, but it remains very light, transient, and has nothing to do with what one might imagine.
During the injection, it is sometimes possible to feel a sensation of gradual filling, especially when the procedure is performed slowly with a dense hyaluronic acid. This feeling is closer to moderate pressure than real pain. In the hour that follows, slight tension may persist in the chin as the tissues adapt and the gel begins its stabilization phase.
To the touch, some patients notice a subtle bump or slightly firmer density in the days that follow. This simply corresponds to the presence of the gel before its complete integration into the tissues.
However, no sensation of displacement is felt when the injection is correctly performed. The product does not move under the skin, and there is no tingling, heat, or discomfort during everyday movements. Chewing, speaking, and facial expressions remain completely natural.
Once the gel is fully integrated — usually between 7 and 10 days after the session — the patient feels nothing, neither at rest nor during facial expressions. The hyaluronic acid then behaves like a true extension of the tissue, providing support and projection to the chin without any feeling of a foreign body.
Article written by Dr Romano Valeria
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