Chin Implant/ Augmentation Bellevue and Kirkland
Procedure Time
1-2 Hours
Recovery Time
5 days
Chin Augmentation $4995
The chin plays an important role in the overall facial profile. It impacts how the face looks from both front and the side. That’s why a weak or recessed chin can make other features of the face, like nose or neck, appear more prominent than they actually are. For many people, this imbalance can negatively impact confidence.
At NW Face & Body, we offer chin augmentation in Bellevue and Kirkland to help restore balance to the lower face. You may choose between a subtle change or more dramatic enhancement based on your anatomy and goals. Dr. Ludwig Allegra, the founder of NW Face & Body, focuses on results that look natural and aligns with the rest of the face. Since 1983, he has been helping patients in the Seattle area with cosmetic and medical procedures. His expertise and special focus on endoscopic techniques has earned him recognition as he has been featured on national TV (the Rosanne Show) as well as in print media worldwide.
Overview: What Is A Chin Implant?
A chin implant is a usually silicone device placed in the chin to increase the size and alter the shape of the chin. The procedure that places a chin implant is known as chin augmentation. Though chin augmentation does not exclusively use chin implants and is not always surgical.
Chin augmentation with implants differs from genioplasty though they both improve the appearance of the chin. Chin implants improve the chin by adding projection, while genioplasty reshapes or repositions the chin bone. As genioplasty involves cutting and moving bone, it is typically a more invasive procedure with a longer recovery.
The procedure can achieve various cosmetic results based on the anatomy and goals of the patient. It most commonly treats a chin that does not project enough to provide a symmetrical and aesthetic appearance. Some of the concerns and conditions that a chin implant can improve or remedy include:
- Recessed chin
- Undefined or weak jawline
- Disproportionately small chin
- Chin asymmetry
- Unwanted cleft chin or dimples
- Chin deformities
- Double chin (excess fat)
- Changes in facial appearance due to aging
- Weak facial profile
- Dissatisfaction with face shape or overall chin appearance
An uneven chin may develop from genetic factors, previous injury, or how the face grows over time. Chin implants are designed to look and feel just like the natural chin bone. They come in all shapes and sizes to best match individual patients. Every patient will have a different idea of the perfect result and Dr. Allegra will discuss your chin implant options with you during a consultation.
Causes Of Recessed Chin
The most common cause of a recessed or weak chin is genetics. Some people are simply born with or slowly develop a weak chin as they mature. The appearance can run in families. Another frequent cause is aging. As people age, they often naturally lose volume including fat and bone in the face. They may also see the fat in their face descend. This can happen in the chin as well.
The two aforementioned causes account for the majority of chin augmentation cases. However, other factors may influence chin appearance, including medical conditions like Treacher Collins syndrome and Downs syndrome. A child with a pronounced overbite may develop a weak chin or more prone to developing one. Prolonged thumb sucking and a long term soft food diet can also contribute.
Not all of these causes of a weak chin can or should be corrected. Some may be better corrected with other procedures, such as braces for an overbite. Dr. Allegra will examine your chin and medical history to determine the probable cause of your weak chin and whether you are a good candidate for chin augmentation surgery in Bellevue.
Benefits of Chin Augmentation
Chin augmentation carries many benefits for patients. The procedure can go a long way in restoring lost confidence or addressing insecurities. This can relieve stress and worries that may weigh on the patient. Along with the often mental benefits of undergoing facial plastic surgery, chin augmentation also has benefits like:
Aesthetic Benefits
- Increases projection of the chin
- Alters the size and shape of the chin
- Creates a sharper, more defined jawline
- Brings better balance between the nose and chin
- Corrects unwanted features such as chin dimples or a cleft chin
- Reduces the appearance of a double chin
- Restores overall facial harmony
- Enhances face shape and facial features
- Improves the facial profile
Practical Considerations
- Results are often permanent
- May be performed under local anesthesia in some cases
- External incisions are not always necessary
- Uses durable chin implants designed to last
- Procedure typically takes less than two hours
- Performed by a Bellevue plastic surgeon with over two decades of experience
Chin Filler vs. Chin Implant
A chin implant is not the only way to augment the chin. Dermal fillers are another popular choice for chin enhancement. The procedure is often referred to as non-surgical chin augmentation or chin filler.
Choosing the right procedure for you may not be straightforward, especially when each procedure comes with unique benefits and drawbacks. Remember, fillers do not offer the same level of structural change or long-term support as implants.
Chin Filler
- Requires occasional touch-ups to maintain results: Results are temporary and typically need maintenance treatments every 6–18 months.
- Malleable: The filler can be gently shaped during and shortly after treatment to fine-tune contours.
- Reversible (when using hyaluronic acid fillers): Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved if results are unsatisfactory or need adjustment.
- May better correct minor issues like dimples or wrinkles: Fillers can smooth small surface irregularities and minor contour imperfections.
- Non-surgical: No incisions or implants are involved; treatment is done with injections only.
- 15-30 minute procedure: Treatment is typically completed within a short office visit.
- Only topical anesthetics needed: Numbing cream is usually sufficient for comfort during injections.
- No recovery period necessary: Most patients return to normal activities immediately.
- Immediate results (final results in about two weeks): Initial improvement is visible right away, with refinement as swelling settles.
- Low risk and suitable for most patients: When performed by a skilled provider, it is considered safe for eligible candidates.
- Not as dramatic results: Best suited for subtle enhancement rather than major structural change.
- Little to no risk of scarring: Injections do not create surgical scars.
Chin Implant
- Results are often permanent after initial surgery: The implant is designed to provide long-term, stable correction.
- Implant is chosen to match your goals and features: Size and shape are selected based on facial proportions and desired outcome.
- Not easily reversible: Implant removal requires an additional surgical procedure.
- Looks and feels like natural bone: Once healed, the implant integrates naturally with the chin structure.
- Larger upfront cost (but may be more cost effective in the long run): You will incur a higher initial expense but may not need repeated treatments.
- Surgical and requires local or general anesthesia: The procedure is performed in a controlled surgical setting.
- Completed within hours: Surgery is usually completed within 1-2 hours.
- Recovery and downtime necessary: Swelling and activity restrictions are expected during healing.
- Risks and candidacy: It comes with basic risks of surgery and is not suitable for all patients.
- Can achieve more dramatic results: The results are more prominent and longer-lasting than fillers.
- Hidden scars: Incisions usually inside the mouth, meaning little risk of visible scars.
Chin Implant vs. Genioplasty
Chin implants and genioplasty are two different ways to improve the look of the chin, and the difference mainly comes down to how much change is needed.
Chin Implants
- Add forward projection and definition to the chin
- Improve facial balance and profile
- Use a solid implant placed over the chin bone
- Less invasive than bone surgery
- Shorter recovery for most patients
- Commonly chosen for cosmetic enhancement
Genioplasty
- Reshapes or repositions the chin bone
- Can correct more complex structural issues
- Involves cutting and moving bone
- More invasive than chin implants
- Longer recovery period
- Typically recommended for significant skeletal changes
For most people looking to improve chin shape or profile, chin implants offer a simpler, more predictable option.
Before And After Chin Augmentation In Bellevue
Plastic Surgery Consultation
Before undergoing chin surgery in Bellevue at Northwest Face & Body, you will meet with Dr. Ludwig Allegra. At the consultation appointment, he will ask about your concerns with your chin and goals for surgery. Next, he will review your medical history and lifestyle to determine you are a fit surgical candidate. Finally, he will physically examine the chin and face. He will evaluate the chin as part of the full facial profile, including the nose, jawline, and neck to ensure balanced results. Dr. Allegra can then conclude whether a chin implant surgery is best for you or if another procedure would better meet your goals.
If he believes that chin augmentation will benefit you, he will discuss the procedure and your chin implant options. If he does not think chin surgery is right for you, he may discuss alternatives which may include liposuction, Kybella, facelift, or dermal fillers.
Before leaving the Kirkland Northwest Face & Body office, you will receive a personalized price quote and information about our financing options. At this point, patients are usually free to schedule surgery.
Preparing For Surgery
During your consultation, Dr. Allegra may have discussed any necessary medical clearances you need to obtain before surgery. This is an important first step for preparing for your chin augmentation surgery if needed. Otherwise, you will have a pre-operative appointment where your pre-op coordinator will discuss what you need to do to prepare for surgery as your surgery date gets closer. Other steps you can take to prepare or that may be discussed at your pre-op appointment include:
- Get your finances in order
- Procure childcare, time off work, a caregiver, lodging (if needed), and a ride to and from surgery
- Cease medications and supplements as requested by Dr. Allegra
- Fill prescriptions
- Obtain anything needed for your recovery (such as compression garments)
- Get household chores and shopping done before surgery
- Follow your coordinator’s results concerning eating and drinking before surgery
- Continue eating well and exercise regularly
Placing Your Chin Implant
On the day of your chin augmentation surgery, you will come to Northwest Face & Body’s Kirkland surgical facility. A member of the team will take your vitals and instruct you to get change. Dr. Allegra will meet with you briefly to go through the plan for surgery and make surgical markings. After finishing the required tests, a licensed anesthesia provider will place you under either local or general anesthesia. The implant is carefully selected to complement your facial proportions rather than simply make the chin larger.
There are a few techniques used to place chin implants. The most common uses an intraoral incision, which means positioning the chin implant through a small incision inside the mouth. Dr. Allegra will make the incision and create space for the implant. He will then carefully place the chin implant to form with your existing facial structure.
Another technique features the same maneuvers except through an incision under the chin. Dr. Allegra places his incisions discreetly and will recommend the best technique for your chin augmentation in Kirkland. Following the successful placement of the chin implant, Dr. Allegra will close the incision.
Recovery After Chin Augmentation
Immediately after chin augmentation surgery, you will likely feel groggy and tired. After a brief recovery period, your caregiver will drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. You may start to see mild side effects such as swelling, bruising, tenderness, and pain settle in during this time. Dr. Allegra will prescribe medications to help you manage these side effects during your recovery.
Generally, patients can return to work after about a week. Though, this will depend on what your job is and how well you heal. Patients can usually resume all their normal activities, including their full exercise routine after four to six weeks. After the first few days, light activity is usually fine.
In two weeks, most side effects should be gone or imperceptible to most people. Swelling can stick around for several weeks, but is easily covered with makeup after about two weeks. Many patients discontinue the use of their pain medications within the first week. You will continue to see Dr. Allegra for post operative appointments over the next few weeks. Healing timelines can vary if chin augmentation is combined with additional treatments.
Chin Augmentation With Other Facial Procedures
Chin augmentation is mostly performed as a standalone procedure, but you have the option to combine it with other facial procedures if you qualify as a good candidate. Chin implants combined with procedures like neck liposuction, rhinoplasty, or a facelift can help create a more harmonious result.
The goal of combined procedures is to bring different features into better balance. Addressing the chin alongside the nose, jawline, or neck can help create a smoother profile and more natural-looking outcome. During consultation, Dr. Allegra will discuss whether combining procedures makes sense for your goals and anatomy.
Visualizing Your Results
Understanding what chin augmentation can realistically achieve is an important part of the process. Dr. Allegra evaluates your facial structure from multiple angles. This allows you the opportunity to discuss your concerns openly. It can also help you understand how changes to the chin may affect your overall appearance. The consultation phase with Dr. Allegra helps align your goals with what can be safely and effectively achieved, reducing uncertainty before treatment.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Chin Augmentation?
You may be a good candidate for chin augmentation if you:
- Feel your chin is weak, recessed, or lacks definition
- Notice imbalance between the chin, nose, and jawline
- Have chin asymmetry or an underdeveloped chin
- Want to improve your facial profile or jawline contour
- Are an adult whose facial growth is complete
- Have good general health and realistic expectations
Dr. Allegra will evaluate the facial proportions, skin quality and personal goals to determine whether it is a suitable option for you.
Why Choose Dr. Ludwig Allegra?
Dr. Ludwig A. Allegra is a highly experienced facial plastic surgeon and the founder of Northwest Face & Body in Bellevue and Kirkland. He has been serving patients in the greater Seattle area since the early 1980s, building a long track record of both cosmetic and reconstructive surgical expertise.
He is certified by multiple specialty boards, including the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Patients often choose him for his ability to combine technical skill with artistic judgment which helps him create natural results tailored to each person.
In addition to aesthetic work, he has performed over 8,000 endoscopic sinus procedures, reflecting deep surgical experience and comfort working with delicate facial anatomy. He has also been featured on local TV (including Evening Magazine and NW Afternoon) and national TV (The Rosanne Show), along with print media coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Until I See Results?
You will see some immediate results after surgery. However, this will become distorted by swelling and sometimes bruising within a couple of days. Any plastic surgery takes around nine months to one year for the results to be considered final. Your skin and tissues take time to heal and mold around the new chin implant. Many patients are pleased with their results after a few months.
Can A Chin Implant Improve Jawline?
Yes, sometimes when a patient’s chief complaint is an undefined jawline, the culprit is a slightly recessed or weak chin. Augmenting the chin with an implant or filler can enhance the jawline.
Are Chin Implants Dangerous?
Chin implants come with many of the same risks as other bodily implants. Overall, the surgery itself and the implants have a low complication rate when performed by an experienced surgeon like Dr. Allegra. Any surgery comes with risk and Dr. Allegra will discuss these with you and ensure you have a low individual risk. Some of the risks associated with chin implants and chin augmentation surgery can include:
- Infection
- Rejection of the implant
- Complications of anesthesia
- Hematoma
- Shift in implant position
- Raised or visible scarring
- Skin necrosis
- Allergic reactions
- Nerve damage
As previously noted, these risks are rare and unlikely to occur with an experienced provider and with optimal aftercare. Dr. Allegra will monitor you throughout your recovery.
How Long Do Chin Implants Last?
Chin implants are usually considered permanent and designed to last for a lifetime. Patients usually enjoy their chin implant for several years, if not the rest of their life.
What Is The Cost Of Chin Augmentation In Bellevue?
The cost of chin augmentation in Bellevue at Northwest Face & Body starts at $4,995. This price can vary based on several factors including what your procedure involves, financing method, and if you choose to combine it with other procedures. At your consultation, you will receive a price quote customized to meet the needs of your procedure.
The Best Chin Augmentation Bellevue And Kirkland Offers With Dr. Ludwig Allegra
Plastic surgeon, Dr. Ludwig Allegra comes with decades of experience performing cosmetic surgery of the face, body, and breast. As a board certified otolaryngologist in head and neck surgery, Dr. Allegra is especially adept at facial surgery, including chin augmentation. He has a deep and unique understanding of facial anatomy and aesthetics that allows him to provide the best chin augmentation Bellevue and Kirkland offers.
Along with chin implant surgery, Northwest Face & Body also offers all of the top plastic surgery procedures as well as injectables and skincare. Our team includes plastic surgeons, injectors, and master estheticians all with the expertise to help you reach your cosmetic goals.
To learn more and schedule a consultation, call us at 425-576-1700. You can also reach out to us online by submitting an inquiry via our Price Simulator™, chat, or contact form.