Growing up, I always thought that my chin looked a little bit different from everyone else’s. Instead of being smooth, mine had a significant dimple in the middle that, from certain angles, I thought made it look as if I’d split my chin in half. As I got older, I became extremely bothered by it every time I looked in the mirror.
The medical term for this type of dimple is a cleft chin. The not-so-medical term is “butt chin.” By any name, it’s a genetic trait that expresses itself as a dimple or crease that may be prominent or barely noticeable. Though a cleft chin can certainly add character to the face, making it more attractive and unique, mine was something I wanted to get rid of.
It became a point of insecurity when I started to lose baby fat from my face. The loss of facial fat left my chin looking much less smooth and my cleft more prominent. More recently, after spending countless hours staring at my face over Zoom, I finally felt ready to explore options to get rid of my cleft chin.
Read on to learn more about what a cleft chin is, what it’s like to have it “fixed,” as well as the risks and costs associated with having it altered.
Meet the experts
- David Shafer, MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.
- Oren Tepper, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.
- Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama.
- Paul Jarrod Frank, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
- Jeremy Brauer, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in Purchase, New York.
- What is a cleft chin?
- What can be done to “fix” a cleft chin?
- What it’s like to have your cleft chin filled
- What is post-care and recovery like for chin filler?
- My honest thoughts on chin filler
What is a cleft chin?
Our chins are “made up of jawbone, muscles, and soft tissues," says David Shafer, MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City. Normally, when your chin develops in the womb “the two sides [of the bone and muscle] fuse at the center or midline. If there is an incomplete fusion, then this can result in a cleft or dimple,” he explains.
The cleft itself, says Oren Tepper, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and co-director of Greenwich Street 497 Plastic Surgery in New York City, can best be described as a depression in the middle of the chin that comes in different degrees, forms, and shapes. “The term ‘cleft chin’ should not be confused with the horizontal fold in the upper portion of the chin which can be found between the chin pad and the lower lip,” adds Dr. Tepper.
There’s nothing medically related to having a cleft chin; it’s merely a matter of appearance. Dr. Tepper notes that over time, with the loss of facial fat, the cleft can become more and more apparent — which is exactly what I experienced.
While it remains unclear what percentage of the population is walking around with a cleft chin, like any genetic trait, if a family member has one, there’s a better chance you or someone else in your family might, too. Case in point: My dad has a cleft chin, as did his father before him.
“Prevalence has been shown to vary based on ethnicity,” adds Dr. Tepper, explaining that cleft chins are most common among people from Northern Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. That said, “research on the prevalence of cleft chins tends to be more generalized and often conducted in the context of genetic studies or anthropological research,” he says, so it’s difficult to quantify.
What can be done to “fix” a cleft chin?
A lot of people love this incredibly unique facial feature — but others, like myself, may want to smooth the appearance of a cleft chin. “Patients who come to see me to reduce the appearance of a cleft chin typically [say they] want a more symmetrical, even appearance,” says Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD, a board certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. “Women tend to favor treatment for cleft chins more than men, as cleft chins have traditionally been seen as ‘masculine.’”
Dermal fillers are most commonly used to “correct” a cleft chin, with surgery being an alternative option for those that desire a more permanent result. “Chin filler is just like cheek or lip filler — it is made up of hyaluronic acid,” says Dr. Shafer. In 2020, Juvéderm Voluma, which is also approved for the cheeks, was the first filler to be FDA-approved for use in the chin. Though, of course, injectors were using filler off-label for this purpose long before that.
While injecting filler tends to minimize or completely erase the appearance of a cleft chin, the injection of said filler also creates more of a projection in the chin, which can change the appearance of your profile. Paul Jarrod Frank, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of PFRANKMD in New York City, adds that “the chin is always something that has to be considered relative to the balance [of the face].” In other words, when having your cleft chin filled, your dermatologist or plastic surgeon needs to anticipate how the added filler will look to ensure your chin does not wind up seeming out of proportion with the rest of the face — so just like anytime you get filler, do your homework when choosing a provider, only go to a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon (look them up on certificationmatters.org), and know that you are totally within your rights to ask questions like, “how often do you do chin filler?” and “can I see before and afters?”
The way chin filler will look with the rest of the face is especially important to consider since, as Dr. Shafer explains, filler can last between one to two years in the chin. It’s also an investment: The cost of a single syringe of filler can range anywhere from $800 to $1,600, depending upon geographical location, and type or brand of dermal filler. According to Dr. Shafer, most patients with cleft chins need anywhere from one to two syringes of filler to achieve a smoother look.
Aside from filler, a cleft chin can be surgically removed in two different ways: Fat grafting (at a cost of around $3,000 to $5,000) involves using your own fat to introduce volume to the area similar to filler, but with more permanent results. “About 50 percent of what is put in [through fat grafting] lasts forever," says Dr. Tepper. A genioplasty (which can cost around $7,500 to $10,000) is surgery that changes the underlying structure of the chin. Dr. Tepper explains that it can be performed in two different ways: by either cutting the bone or adding in a chin implant to build up the chin from beneath the muscle. Both ways yield permanent results without a visible incision, as it’s made from inside the mouth.
Dr. Tepper notes that though these cosmetic surgical options are available, filler is a great place to start so that the patient can get a sense of what type of improvement in the appearance of the chin can be expected. However, due to the fact that the tissue is abnormal where the cleft occurs, “the response of that overlying skin to the addition of volume [from filler] can be somewhat unpredictable.” So, filler beware — though hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down filler, can also be injected if you’re not happy with the result.
On the flip side, there are also procedures available to create a cleft chin. “There was a fad in the ‘70s and early ‘80s where people would surgically induce a cleft chin,” says Dr. Frank, who suspects Saturday Night Fever actor John Travolta (and his distinct dimple) could be responsible. Dr. Frank says that he occasionally gets requests to use filler to achieve the same effect today. “You can create a pseudo non-surgical cleft chin by putting filler on the lateral portion of the chin, leaving a dip in the center.”
I visited Dr. Shafer at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue for my procedure, which was performed gratis with the understanding that I’d be writing about my experience. He told me to avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen for the two days prior to my appointment to prevent bruising, which tends to happen to me after getting any kind of injection. I discussed my goals with Dr. Shafer. I wanted to completely rid my face of my cleft chin but I also wanted to fill the sides so it would be smooth and seamless with my jawline. After our short discussion, he cleansed my chin with rubbing alcohol and I expected numbing cream to follow; however, it was not necessary. “There is numbing cream in the actual filler, but for new or hesitant patients we can offer cream if it helps them feel more comfortable,” says Dr. Shafer.
Using Juvéderm Voluma, he began injecting directly into the dimple in my chin. Despite my high pain tolerance and the numbing agent being present in the filler, I was taken aback by how far the needle went into my chin and just how much I could feel it. My face uncontrollably grimaced for a few moments during the injection. It was a deep sensation I had never experienced before. I could actually feel my chin hardening with the filler as he continued to inject into the cleft.
“When augmenting the chin, the filler is usually injected right on the bone so it works by extending the reach or projection of the bone, similar to a surgically-placed chin implant,” says Dr. Shafer. It was no wonder the sensation of the chin filler was so different from any other filler I had ever had in my face: When filler is used to smooth wrinkles or add volume to other parts of the face, Dr. Shafer says that it is often injected much more superficially.
During my first session, one syringe of filler was used, as Dr. Shafer prefers to be conservative with his injections. “It’s always best to come back for more than to inject too much,” he says. I ended up going back two more times over the course of about five months (waiting a month and half or so between injections) during which an additional syringe was used each time — totaling three — to get my cleft chin to a point where it was fully filled and exactly how I wanted it.
What is post-care and recovery like for chin filler?
“The filler is ‘moldable’ for several days, so it’s important not to compress or squish it. Sleeping on your back for the first several days is recommended,” says Dr. Shafer, who also suggests applying a cool compress to the area once an hour to help reduce swelling as well as avoiding exercise and extreme heat. “You can resume normal activity usually within 48 to 72 hours after treatment,” adds Dr. Hartman.
While I have had multiple syringes of filler placed in my face over the years (in my lips, cheeks, and under eyes) with minimal swelling post-injection, after my first syringe of chin filler, my chin hurt and felt like a rock for a week or two afterwards. My chin looked like Jim Carrey’s in Me, Myself, & Irene (minus the cleft). Dr. Hartman says that most patients experience little to no side effects post-injection other than some tenderness and swelling that subsides within a few days. Unfortunately, I fell into the small subset of people that experience swelling that lasts past a few days, and possibly a couple of weeks. But the results were worth it.
My honest thoughts on chin filler
After three syringes of filler, I am extremely happy with my results. My chin now appears smooth — exactly the way that I wanted it. An additional (and great) side effect of all the filler I had placed in my chin is that the added projection has reshaped my entire jawline for the better. This isn’t uncommon: “Chin filler and filler in the lower third of the face in general can have a huge impact on the overall definition of the whole face,” says Jeremy Brauer, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Spectrum Skin and Laser in Purchase, New York, adding that this can depend on your face shape. After my chin filler, my square jawline took on more of a heart-shaped appearance.
I plan on getting more filler as needed to maintain my results. “Most patients top it off annually,” says Dr. Shafer. “So if you did two syringes to reach your goal, then you might come back annually for one syringe to maintain the results.”
While there are many positives to having filler, one of my favorites is that it isn’t permanent. I may change my mind down the line and want my cleft chin back, but for right now, my new chin suits me.
Read more about filler:
- What Happens When You’ve Gotten Filler for Years — and Then Stop?
- Is Filler Migration as Common as TikTok Says It Is?
- This Is What It’s Really Like to Dissolve Your Filler
Now watch a dermatologist demonstrate hand filler:
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