CATEGORY 34 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST The chin is one of the most powerful yet under-appreciated structures in facial aesthetics. It anchors the lower third, influences perceived attractiveness, and plays a defining role in sexual dimorphism. For practitioners working in cosmetic medicine, particularly those with a dental background, the chin represents an elegant intersection between function, proportion, and non-surgical enhancement. Importantly, it also offers an alternative pathway for patients who are not interested in traditional orthodontic or restorative dentistry but are seeking profile balance and facial harmony. Assessment of the chin must begin with proportion. The lower third of the face ideally occupies approximately one third of total facial height, measured from subnasale to menton. Within this segment, the chin itself contributes to both vertical height and sagittal projection. Evaluation from the lateral view is critical. The relationship of the pogonion to the lower lip, the E-line, and the facial convexity all provide insight into whether the chin is retrusive, orthognathic, or protrusive. A retrusive chin often creates the illusion of lip prominence, nasal projection, or even submental fullness. Conversely, excessive projection may masculinise the face or produce disharmony with the midface. Frontal assessment is equally important. The chin should align with the philtrum and nasal tip, maintaining midline symmetry. Width and shape vary significantly between males and females, reflecting sexual dimorphism. A female chin tends to be narrower, slightly tapered, and softly contoured. It contributes to an oval or heart-shaped facial silhouette. A male chin is generally broader, squarer, and vertically stronger, reinforcing jawline definition and structural dominance. These differences are not arbitrary; they reflect underlying skeletal architecture and secondary sexual characteristics influenced by hormonal development. Understanding sexual dimorphism is central to treatment planning. Overaugmentation of the female chin can inadvertently masculinise the lower face. Under-treatment of the male chin can fail to deliver the structural enhancement that many male patients seek. Assessment therefore requires not only measurement but also a refined aesthetic judgement. One must ask: are we correcting a deficiency, or are we sculpting identity? From a functional perspective, the chin contributes to lip competence and lower facial support. In cases of mentalis strain, lip incompetence, or compensatory hyperactivity, structural augmentation may reduce muscular overactivity and improve lower lip position. This is where dental and injectable disciplines intersect. Historically, correction of retrusion might have required orthodontics or orthognathic surgery. Today, for carefully selected patients, injectable chin augmentation can offer a meaningful alternative. Hyaluronic acid fillers remain the most commonly used agents for chin enhancement due to their reversibility and adaptability. High G’ products provide structural support when placed CLINICAL Chin assessment and injectable options: A contemporary approach Dr Giulia D’Anna By Dr Giulia D’Anna Founder, Dermal Distinction Academy Complications Expert – Aesthetic Medical Emergency Team (AMET) supraperiosteally at pogonion or along the inferior border. Strategic bolus placement can project the chin forward, improving profile balance. When projection is the primary concern, the injection vector is horizontal. The goal is anterior advancement without excessive vertical elongation. Elongation, by contrast, involves a different approach. Vertical deficiency of the lower third can be addressed by placing product at the inferior aspect of the chin, effectively increasing lower facial height. This technique can refine facial proportions and reduce the appearance of a short or compressed lower third. In female patients, subtle elongation can create elegance and taper. In male patients, vertical augmentation can strengthen jawline continuity and enhance lower facial authority. Often, projection and elongation are combined. However, restraint is essential. Overcorrection can produce a heavy or artificial appearance. Layering techniques, careful product selection, and incremental review appointments reduce risk. Cannula versus needle choice depends on practitioner preference and anatomical familiarity, but depth and vascular awareness are non-negotiable. Beyond hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite offers another option in selected cases, particularly where structural support and longevity are priorities. However, the practitioner must weigh reversibility against durability. In the chin, where projection significantly alters facial
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