Chin Implant Surgery in Bondi Junction, Sydney
Dr Scott J Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) based in Bondi Junction, Sydney, with over a decade focused exclusively on facial aesthetic surgery. At FacePlus Aesthetics, Dr Turner performs chin augmentation using medical-grade silicone implants for patients concerned about chin projection and lower facial proportion.
Chin augmentation involves placing a solid silicone implant over the chin bone to improve forward projection of the lower face. The procedure addresses structural concerns about chin position and can be carried out as a standalone operation or alongside other facial procedures such as neck liposuction or a neck lift.
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Understanding Chin Implant Surgery
The chin is a structurally important reference point in facial proportion. In profile, the relationship between chin projection and nasal prominence directly affects how balanced the lower third of the face appears. When the chin sits further back than the midface would suggest is proportionate — a condition referred to clinically as microgenia or chin retrusion — this can alter the perception of other features, including the nose and neck.
Chin implant surgery uses a solid, medical-grade silicone device to increase the forward projection of the chin. The implant is placed anterior to the mandibular bone through a small incision, either beneath the chin or inside the mouth. The device wraps around the lower jaw, providing a smooth augmentation that follows the natural contours of the underlying bone.
This differs from a sliding genioplasty, where the chin bone itself is surgically repositioned. In most patients seeking a defined, proportionate chin, implant placement achieves the intended anatomical correction with a more straightforward surgical and recovery process. For patients with significant skeletal abnormalities or dental occlusion problems, genioplasty may be the more appropriate option — something Dr Turner discusses in detail during consultation.
Chin augmentation is commonly combined with other facial procedures at FacePlus Aesthetics. Patients considering a facelift or rhinoplasty sometimes find that addressing chin projection simultaneously produces a more proportionate overall result.
Retrognathia and the Case for Combined Treatment
Retrognathia — the clinical term for a structurally recessed chin — is one of the more common anatomical presentations seen in patients consulting for lower face and neck surgery. A chin that sits behind the vertical plane of the midface doesn’t just affect the profile view of the chin itself. It shortens the apparent distance between the mandible and the neck, reduces the cervicomental angle definition, and can make soft tissue beneath the chin appear more prominent than it actually is. In short, a weak chin and a poorly defined neck are frequently the same problem presenting in two places.
This is why, in Dr Turner’s assessment, patients with retrognathia are often best served by addressing both the chin and the neck at the same time. Placing a chin implant increases forward projection of the lower jaw and redefines the mandibular border. A deep neck lift addresses the structural foundations of the neck — the platysma muscle, subplatysmal fat, and submandibular glands where relevant — to create a clean, well-defined cervical line. Together, these two procedures work on the anatomy from either end: chin projection forward, neck tightening back and down.
The combined approach is particularly relevant for patients in their 40s to 60s who present with both a recessed chin and early-to-moderate neck laxity. Improving chin projection alone in this group can produce a result that draws attention to the remaining neck, while treating the neck without addressing a structurally weak chin leaves the lower face looking blunted. Treating both achieves the kind of lower face-to-neck continuity that neither procedure alone reliably produces in patients with true retrognathia.
For patients with more advanced neck changes alongside chin retrusion, combining chin augmentation with a deep plane facelift or a neck lift with platysmaplasty may be more appropriate. The right combination depends on the degree of skeletal retrusion, soft tissue quality, the amount of neck laxity present, and your overall treatment objectives — all of which Dr Turner assesses carefully at consultation.
A note from Dr Turner: In patients with a structurally weak chin and a poorly defined neck, these are not two separate concerns — they reflect the same underlying anatomical relationship. Addressing the chin without the neck, or the neck without the chin, often produces an incomplete result. When the anatomy calls for it, I recommend assessing both simultaneously.
Am I a Suitable Candidate?
Chin implant surgery may suit individuals who have a structurally recessed chin relative to other facial features, desire greater definition along the jawline, or feel that their chin position draws disproportionate attention to the nose or neck. Suitability is assessed carefully during your consultation with Dr Turner.
You may be a suitable candidate if you:
- Have reduced anterior chin projection relative to the midface and nose
- Have normal or near-normal dental occlusion — significant bite abnormalities may require alternative surgical planning
- Are in good general health, free from conditions that impair healing
- Are a non-smoker, or prepared to stop all nicotine products for at least six weeks before and after surgery
- Have maintained a stable weight for six or more months
- Hold realistic expectations about what surgery can and cannot achieve
You may not be suitable if you:
- Have only minor chin recession where the benefit may not justify surgical intervention
- Have active dental disease or periodontal problems
- Have significant skeletal jaw abnormalities better managed through orthognathic surgery
- Are unable to comply with post-operative activity restrictions
As of 1 July 2023, a mandatory psychological evaluation is required under Australian regulations before proceeding with cosmetic surgery. Dr Turner will guide you through this requirement as part of your pre-operative process. You can learn more about what to expect by visiting the consultation page.
How is the Procedure Performed?
Chin implant surgery is performed under general anaesthesia in a fully accredited private hospital in Sydney. The procedure takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes. A qualified anaesthetist monitors the patient throughout.
Incision Placement
Two approaches are available. The submental incision — a small horizontal cut of roughly 2 centimetres placed in the skin fold beneath the chin — gives direct access to the surgical site and is often preferred when combining chin augmentation with neck procedures. This incision heals within a natural crease and is not visible from the front.
The intraoral incision is placed inside the mouth at the junction between the lower lip and gum tissue. This approach avoids any external mark on the skin, but requires strict attention to oral hygiene and sterile technique. The appropriate approach is discussed based on your anatomy and planned concurrent procedures.
Pocket Development and Nerve Protection
Once access is established, Dr Turner develops a precise pocket in the subperiosteal plane — directly against the surface of the mandibular bone. This positioning provides a stable base for the implant and allows for consistent placement. The mental nerves, which provide sensation to the lower lip and chin, emerge through small openings in the bone on each side of the midline. Identifying and protecting these structures is a key technical priority at this stage.
Implant Preparation and Positioning
The silicone implant is immersed in an antibiotic solution immediately before insertion to reduce contamination risk. It is then placed into the pocket and positioned symmetrically relative to the facial midline, with projection matching the pre-operative plan. The close fit of the pocket provides primary stability; suture fixation may occasionally be used during early healing.
Closure and Dressing
The incision is closed in layers. For intraoral access, absorbable sutures are typically used. For submental incisions, fine sutures may be removed at your one-week review. A light compression garment is applied to reduce swelling, support tissue healing, and stabilise implant position during the initial recovery period.
Recovery and Aftercare
Chin implant surgery is performed as day surgery. You will need a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours.
The first week involves moderate swelling, which peaks around 48 to 72 hours before beginning to settle. Mild to moderate discomfort is expected and managed with prescribed analgesia. A sensation of tightness around the chin is common and resolves gradually. Head elevation above heart level — including during sleep — is important during the first 48 hours. A liquid or soft diet is recommended for three to five days. If you have had an intraoral incision, antimicrobial mouth rinses are prescribed to maintain oral hygiene.
Most patients return to desk-based work within one to two weeks and resume social activities by weeks two to three. Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and contact sports must be avoided for six to eight weeks following surgery. Residual swelling may persist for several months, with the final result becoming apparent as the tissues fully settle — generally by three to six months post-operatively.
Risks and Complications
All surgical procedures carry risk. General risks include bleeding and haematoma formation, infection, wound healing complications, adverse scarring, anaesthetic risks, and deep vein thrombosis. Risks specific to chin implant surgery include implant displacement requiring revision, asymmetry, temporary or rarely permanent altered sensation in the lower lip or chin, bone resorption beneath the implant, dental complications with the intraoral approach, implant palpability in patients with thin soft tissue, and dissatisfaction with the aesthetic result.
Dr Turner takes a systematic approach to reducing complication rates through thorough pre-operative assessment, antibiotic prophylaxis, careful anatomical technique, precise implant sizing, and surgery conducted exclusively in accredited hospital facilities. Patients are equally important partners in this — following smoking cessation instructions, attending all follow-up appointments, adhering to post-operative care guidelines, and reporting any concerning symptoms promptly all support safe recovery. A full discussion of risks is provided during your consultation. Additional information is available on the risks and complications page.
Your Chin Implant Consultation in Bondi Junction
Dr Turner consults from FacePlus Aesthetics at 39 Grosvenor Street, Bondi Junction, NSW 2022, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The practice is accessible to patients from Bondi, Double Bay, Paddington, Woollahra, Randwick, Rose Bay, Vaucluse, and the broader Eastern Suburbs, as well as patients travelling from interstate or other parts of Sydney. Information for patients travelling from outside the Sydney area is available on the out-of-town patients page.
During your consultation, Dr Turner will assess your facial anatomy and the character of any chin retrusion, evaluate the relationship between chin position and surrounding structures — particularly the nose and neck — and discuss whether chin augmentation as a standalone or combined procedure best addresses your concerns. If you are considering chin implant surgery alongside a neck lift, facelift, or rhinoplasty, the consultation allows Dr Turner to develop a coordinated surgical plan that considers all aspects of lower facial structure simultaneously. Dr Turner’s broader approach to facial surgery is described on the philosophy page.
To arrange a consultation, visit the contact page or telephone the practice on 1300 437 758.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Facial Procedures
Chin implant surgery is often performed alongside other procedures as part of a comprehensive approach to lower face and neck correction. Related procedures that may be considered in combination include:
Deep Neck Lift — addresses platysmal laxity, subplatysmal fat, and submandibular fullness at a structural level; the most clinically significant companion procedure for patients with retrognathia and neck laxity, allowing the lower face and neck to be corrected as a continuous unit in a single operation.
Neck Lift / Platysmaplasty — addresses neck laxity and platysmal banding; often planned alongside chin augmentation when both lower face structure and neck definition require attention.
Neck Liposuction — removes submental fat to improve chin-neck definition; commonly added to chin implant surgery for patients with both chin retrusion and submental fullness.
Deep Plane Facelift — addresses structural descent in the midface, lower face, and neck by working beneath the SMAS layer; chin augmentation can be incorporated to address the skeletal contribution to lower face change simultaneously.
Vertical Restore Facelift — Dr Turner’s most comprehensive facial procedure, integrating deep plane lifting with eyelid surgery, brow lift, fat grafting, and lip lift; chin augmentation may be included in selected patients where lower facial structure requires it.
Facial Fat Grafting — for patients seeking both structural chin projection and volume correction of the lower face and jawline, fat grafting to the perioral region and jawline can complement a chin implant placed in the same operation.
Rhinoplasty — the nose-chin relationship is a central consideration in facial proportion; patients seeking rhinoplasty are assessed for chin projection as part of the overall facial balance evaluation, and chin augmentation may be recommended alongside rhinoplasty where the skeletal relationship warrants it.
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by Dr Turner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon
