A chin that sits in better balance with your face, so that when you look in the mirror you see softer, more harmonious lines and feel more at ease with yourself.
A long chin is one that projects forward or drops downward more than the overall proportions of your face. It is a neutral feature, not a flaw, and many people live happily with it. This surgery is for you if the height of your chin is something you genuinely want to change for yourself.
It all begins with a consultation. Your surgeon will listen to what you want, examine your chin, jaw, and bite in person, assess the proportions of your face, and may order imaging to see the bone structure clearly. Together you will talk through how much shortening suits your face, and which approach makes sense for your case.
Vertical chin reduction is usually carried out under general anesthesia, which means you will be asleep and feel nothing during the operation. The exact form of anesthesia is decided by your anesthesiologist based on your health.
To avoid a scar on your face, the incision is usually made inside the mouth, along the gum below your lower lip. Through this opening, your surgeon reaches the chin bone and adjusts its height. Depending on how much change is needed, the surgeon may shave the bone down, or cut away a section of bone and fix it back in place with small plates and screws to shorten the chin.
Once the bone has been reshaped, your surgeon closes the incision with sutures inside the mouth and usually applies a light supportive dressing to the chin for the first few days. The total time in surgery varies from one case to the next.
The aim of this surgery is to bring the height of your chin into better balance with your face, not to create a new face. The final result takes time to show as swelling settles, and it differs from person to person.
Recovery happens in stages. Swelling and a tight, full feeling around the chin are normal in the first few days and then ease off. The milestones below are general estimates; your own pace may be faster or slower.
Every surgery carries risk, and you deserve to know it clearly before you decide. Most of these problems do not happen, but they can. Talk openly with your surgeon about the points below.
At The Gioi Dep, vertical chin reduction is approached as surgery on the structure of your face, not as a stand-alone procedure. Before discussing technique, our surgeons take the time to examine your facial proportions, your chin and jaw, and your bite, so the plan is built around your own face rather than a generic template.
We work in a controlled surgical setting, with an anesthesia team watching over you throughout the operation and a clear follow-up process afterward. You will receive specific guidance for each stage of recovery, and you can always reach back out if something is worrying you.
Usually not. The common incision sits inside the mouth, so it leaves no visible scar on the skin of your face. Your surgeon will talk with you about the approach in your case.
You will be asleep during the operation, so you feel nothing. Afterward, the chin is usually tight and uncomfortable in the first few days; this feeling is managed with prescribed pain relief and eases over time.
Many people return to light work within about one to two weeks, depending on how much swelling there is and the nature of the job. Heavy work or strenuous activity needs to wait longer. Your surgeon will advise on a timeline that fits you.
The goal is a chin that sits in better balance with your face, not an obvious change. How much to shorten is discussed with you based on your facial proportions, so the result stays harmonious.
Because the incision is inside the mouth, you usually eat soft or liquid foods in the early period and keep your mouth gently clean as directed, so the wound heals well.
Numbness or reduced sensation in the lower lip and chin is a common reaction, and most of it improves gradually over weeks to months. Some cases last longer, and rarely it does not fully recover — your surgeon will talk this through with you clearly.
The contour becomes clearer as swelling goes down. Deeper swelling can take about three to six months to settle fully, and that is when the shape of your chin moves closer to a more settled result.
There is no fixed age limit. What matters is that your overall health is sound enough to go through surgery and anesthesia. The consultation will help determine this for you personally.
No. Vertical chin reduction adjusts the height of the chin; it does not treat fat or loose skin around the neck. If that is something you care about, tell your surgeon so you can be advised on a suitable approach.
Share your expectations right from the consultation so the plan stays close to what you want. In some cases, a revision procedure may be needed later; your surgeon will talk openly with you about that possibility.
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.