I have a “witch’s chin” with sagging skin around chin area. It has been a source of embarrassment, and I am wondering what type of procedure you would recommend to correct this?
Answer:
I see many patients that come to me with the complaint of a having a “witch’s chin.” This is a term used to describe a droopy chin that droops even more during smiling. In addition, these patients tend to have marionette lines, jowls, and prominent nasolabial folds. There are basically two ways to treat these areas. The patient may decide to have minimally invasive procedures, such as Botox and Restylane. The fillers can be used to fill in the marionette lines and the nasolabial folds. These produce very good results in these two areas. In addition, Botox can be used to provide lip lift on the corners of the lips. The Botox is placed on the muscles that lower the lip. When these are relaxed, the lip is lifted, thus elevating the lip and removing the sad look. These procedures will enhance and improve the chin area, but will not provide an improvement to the drooping chin. If the patient is interested in a surgical and more permanent solution, then a facelift with the possibility of a small chin implant should be discussed. The facelift procedure will improve the jowls, marionette lines, and the nsaolabial folds. The chin implant will serve to provide a “chin lift.” This is similar in concept, to how breast augmentation can sometimes be used to provide a breast lift. The chin augmentation procedure is done at the same time as the facelift and though the same incision underneath the chin. Patients that undergo the procedure are generally very happy with their “new chin” and the facial rejuvenation.
Posted by Dr. Bustillo
