Chin Filler: What a Small Change Does to the Rest of Your Face
Dr Oli Curwen calls the chin the anchor of the face. This guide covers what chin filler changes from the front and from the side, why he addresses the chin whenever he treats a jawline, how long it lasts and who he says no to.
In this article
What does chin filler do?
Chin filler is a hyaluronic acid gel placed at the chin to give it more shape and support. In Dr Oli Curwen’s experience, very few patients come in asking about the chin, and most ask first about the nose, the lips or the jawline.
“But the chin is the anchor to the face, it’s the main support,” he says.
So Dr Oli looks at the chin every time he plans filler anywhere on the face.
At Dr Oli Aesthetics, filler along the chin and jawline gives a sharper profile. The clinic uses hyaluronic acid filler for the lips, cheeks and under-eyes too, in a different texture for each area. A soft lip filler is the wrong product for the jawline.
How does the chin change the balance of the face?
The chin changes how the whole face reads, so Dr Oli looks at it from the front and from the side.
“From the front profile, the chin is what gives you either masculinity or femininity,” he says. It also shows whether a face is square, round or oval. “And that is the lasting impression that we will have when we close our eyes after seeing someone’s face.”
The side view matters as much.
“From the side profile, we can’t describe a face as having perfect harmony if the chin is poorly balanced,” Dr Oli says. “And so that means you may have amazing lips and amazing nose, but without a good chin to anchor it and support it, the rest of the treatments fall flat.”
| View | What the chin decides |
|---|---|
| From the front | How masculine or feminine the face looks, and whether it reads as square, round or oval |
| From the side | Whether the face has harmony, so the lips and nose don’t fall flat |
A 2016 review of chin augmentation by surgeons notes that a chin set too far back can lead a person to believe their own nose is “larger than it actually is”.
Because the chin shapes how masculine or feminine a face looks, chin and jawline filler is also part of gender-affirming treatment at Dr Oli Aesthetics.
Chin or jawline filler: which one does a face need?
A face that needs a stronger jawline usually needs the chin planned too. “Whenever I do a jawline, I address the chin at the same time,” Dr Oli Curwen says.
Treating the two together keeps the face in balance and lets the result look natural. “Nobody has a weak chin and a perfectly strong jawline,” he says.
Dr Oli explains what men ask before their first appointment in his guide to filler for men.
How does Dr Oli place chin filler?
He places filler in the chin deep, down on the thin layer of tissue that covers the bone, called the periosteum.
“I like to inject my filler down onto the periosteal layer, which means that it moves naturally,” he says.
Along the jaw and chin he often uses a blunt-tipped cannula in place of a sharp needle. His surgical training with the Royal College of Surgeons of England guides the depth and product for each area.
How long does chin filler last?
At Dr Oli Aesthetics, chin and jawline filler usually lasts 12 to 18 months, depending on the product, the area and your body.
In a 2020 trial of filler for a receding chin, about six in ten people treated still rated their chin as improved 18 months later.
Areas that move less tend to hold filler longer. At Dr Oli Aesthetics, lip filler usually lasts 9 to 12 months because the lips move so much, while nose filler often lasts 18 to 24 months.
Dr Oli reviews you at 2 weeks, once any swelling has gone, and can add a little more then if your chin needs it.
What happens at a chin filler appointment?
An appointment for the chin with Dr Oli starts with a consultation. Filler treatment takes place at UNTIL Soho and UNTIL Marylebone.
- Consultation. Dr Oli looks at your chin with the rest of your face, from the front and the side, and gives you a written plan with costs.
- Thinking time. If this is your first filler, there is a gap of at least 7 days before treatment.
- Treatment. Every filler contains a local anaesthetic, and most people rate it 2 to 4 out of 10.
- Two-week review. Swelling along the jaw and chin usually settles in 24 to 48 hours, and Dr Oli checks the result at 2 weeks.
The dermal fillers page has the full preparation and aftercare advice.
Who is chin filler wrong for?
Dr Oli Curwen says no to chin filler for anyone who has had surgery to the mandible, the jaw bone itself.
He likes to place filler down on the bone. “But if there’s been surgery in that area, it is no longer a safe place to inject,” he says.
As with filler anywhere on the face, Dr Oli Aesthetics puts off chin filler in these cases:
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
- a skin infection or a cold sore near the area
- a known allergy to the filler or to local anaesthetic
- a dental injection near the area in the last 2 weeks
- a past blocked blood vessel in the same area
You can read how the clinic handles the risks of filler in Dr Oli’s guide to safety.
Frequently asked questions
How long does chin filler last?
At Dr Oli Aesthetics, chin and jawline filler usually lasts 12 to 18 months, depending on the product, the area and your body. Dr Oli uses a little less filler the first time and reviews you at 2 weeks, once any swelling has gone, so more can be added if you need it.
Should I have chin filler if I want a stronger jawline?
It is worth planning both. Whenever Dr Oli Curwen treats a jawline, he addresses the chin at the same time, so the face stays in balance and the result looks natural. In his words, "nobody has a weak chin and a perfectly strong jawline". Your consultation decides how much each area needs.
Does chin filler hurt?
Every filler Dr Oli Aesthetics uses contains a local anaesthetic, and most people rate the treatment 2 to 4 out of 10. Dr Oli often uses a blunt-tipped cannula along the jaw and chin. Swelling usually settles in 24 to 48 hours.
Can chin filler be dissolved?
Yes. Chin filler at Dr Oli Aesthetics is a hyaluronic acid gel, and an enzyme can dissolve it within 24 to 48 hours. The clinic keeps that enzyme on site, and Dr Oli is a member of the Aesthetics Complications Experts Group.
Who should not have chin filler?
Dr Oli Curwen says no to chin filler after surgery to the jaw bone, because he places filler on the layer over the bone, and surgery makes that unsafe. Like any filler, it is also put off in pregnancy, or with an infection, cold sore or recent dental injection near the area.
