What is a cleft chin? Humans are the only living beings with a chin. Some people have a prominent dimple or crease in the front of the chin, called a cleft chin. Cleft chins affect both men and women, which have a genetic component and are formed in utero, but many people have chins that are intermediate between cleft and completely smooth.
The lower jaw bone (mandible) often has prominent tubercles on each side, but this does not contribute much to the cleft chin. In fact, the paired chin muscles (mentalis) may have a wide space separating them or very thick muscles that create a deep central groove. There are a few ways to improve the appearance of a deep split chin cleft in women, which vary in permanence, invasiveness and cost.
Dermal Fillers – Synthetic soft tissue fillers can be injected into the cleft of the chin or dimple in an office setting in just a few minutes. Your Plastic Surgeon in Bogota will help you determine whether a superficial or deeper injection works best depending on the depth of the cleft. Although safe and reversible, these fillers tend to last six to twelve months.
Fat grafting – Your own fat can be used as a more permanent filler with a high success rate, but can increase the overall size of the chin. Using liposuction, a small amount of fat is removed from the abdominal area, refined and transferred to the central part of the chin.
Mentoplasty – Chin surgery involves modifying the jaw bone and/or adjusting the location of the chin muscles (mentalis), which have the advantage of being able to correct a major defect without a visible incision. The results of the surgery are usually permanent. Disadvantages include the need for anesthesia, longer recovery time and higher cost. Chin implants can also be used to give the central chin a more rounded shape. An experienced plastic surgeon in Bogota like Dr. Guevara will make the appropriate recommendations based on your facial features and chin anatomy to achieve a balanced facial harmony. Keep in mind that the final results will take several weeks to months to appear. It is important to note that a very prominent chin cleft is very difficult to completely reverse using surgery alone to maintain a natural appearance.
A consultation with a board-certified or eligible plastic surgeon in Bogota can determine if you are the right candidate for cleft chin removal and choose which procedure will work best for you.
