Everything You Need to Know About Chin Lift Surgery
By Dr. Yongwoo Kim, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Returning Plastic Surgery, Seoul
Many people suffer from unexpected chin sagging, especially
after facial contouring surgery, or experience elongation of the chin as they
age. These changes can result in a condition commonly referred to as a
"witch's chin," but in this post, we’ll use the more appropriate
term: chin ptosis — and explain how we correct it with what we call a chin
lift.
What Is a Chin Lift?
Chin ptosis (a drooping chin) occurs when the soft tissues
at the tip of the chin lose support and begin to sag downward. This can result
from various factors and leads to an undesirable droopy appearance.
Anatomy of the Chin: Structure Showing Soft Tissue Attached to the Chin Bone
[Original Source] Medical illustration by James Vargo, MD.
Common Causes of Chin Ptosis
The mechanisms behind chin sagging are fairly
straightforward, though the causes can vary:
1. Bone Deficiency:
- Excessive
bone reduction during facial contouring surgery
- Age-related
bone resorption
2. Soft Tissue Excess:
- Overfilling
with fillers or fat grafts
- Congenital
weakness or downward positioning of the soft tissues
Chin ptosis can occur when there is either a deficiency in the chin bone or an excess of soft tissue. |
 |
| Images of Chin Ptosis Caused by Chin Reduction Surgery and Age-Related Sagging |
Surgical Approaches to Correct Chin Ptosis
Depending on the cause, we typically choose between two
surgical methods:
1. Intraoral Approach
This is done when mentalis muscle (chin muscle) weakness or
improper reattachment is observed—often due to prior surgeries like genioplasty
or silicone implant placement. We re-suture the muscle internally to restore
its lifting function.
In patients with lower lip incompetence or deep chin
wrinkles ("pebble chin"), intraoral correction is usually necessary.
If the bony projection is insufficient, we may combine the surgery with a chin
implant or sliding genioplasty.
 |
| Chin ptosis caused by mentalis muscle dysfunction requires intraoral incision and re-suturing of the mentalis muscle. [Original Source] Medical illustration by James Vargo, MD. |
2. Submental (Under-Chin) Approach
For patients without lip dysfunction, but with excessive
soft tissue volume, we make a small incision under the chin. Through this, we
remove sagging tissue and anchor the remaining soft tissue to the periosteum
(bone covering). This is what we refer to as a chin lift.
In many cases, this approach is combined with platysma
muscle tightening (commonly used in double chin correction surgeries).
 |
Chin Lift Diagram: Removal of excess soft tissue through a submental incision and fixation to the periosteum (bone lining). [Original Source] Medical illustration by James Vargo, MD. |
Why Proper Diagnosis Matters
While "chin lift" is a commonly suggested
procedure for drooping chins, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. If the
real issue is mentalis muscle dehiscence or significant bone loss, a submental
chin lift alone will make the chin appear even flatter and worsen lip
incompetence.
That’s why it's crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis
from a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in both facial
contouring and anti-aging procedures.
Surgical Methods by Cause of Chin Ptosis
Final Thoughts from Dr. Returning
I hope this post has helped you better understand the causes
and treatments for chin sagging. Whether due to aging, past surgeries, or
congenital anatomy, there are effective solutions available. I encourage all
patients to seek professional consultation before deciding on surgery.
Thank you for reading!
Dr. Yongwoo Kim, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
⭐https://en.returningps.com/
💬+82 10 4836 1122
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