Discover everything you need to know about treating a dimpled chin with Botox in this article – and why it may be the right choice for you.
What Is A Dimpled Chin?
A dimpled chin, also called a cobblestone chin, golf ball chin, cobblestone chin, orange peel chin, or, in Germany, a strawberry chin, is a cosmetic problem of the chin. The skin on the dimpled chin appears uneven, lumpy, and with a relief-like surface. The cause lies in the contraction of an overly active chin muscle (mentalis muscle). It pulls the skin into a wavy or raised texture that is prominent on the chin. In serious cases, this texture can severely affect the appearance of the face.
Chin Dimpling and Horizontal Chin Crease
The chin muscle is a small but important muscle in the lower face. It is responsible for the movement of the chin and lower lip. In some people, this muscle is particularly active, which can lead to a stronger contraction. And thus to a pronounced chin dimpling. Often, the muscle also forms an annoying crease on the chin that runs parallel to the lower lip. This is called a horizontal chin crease or a horizontal groove on the chin.
Causes: Predisposition and Aging Process
A dimpled chin can develop for several reasons. Genetic predisposition may play a role. Also increased activity of the chin muscle. Or the aging process. The elasticity of the skin decreases over time, and the muscles in the face also change. In addition, more and more fat is lost over the years. All of these factors can cause the skin on the chin to appear less firm and a dimpled chin to become prominent.
Treating Chin Dimpling With Botox
The treatment with Botulinum toxin is highly effective for smoothing a dimpled chin. In this specific application, the toxin is injected directly into the chin muscle to reduce excessive muscle activity. This results in muscle relaxation, which visibly smoothes the uneven skin texture on the chin.
Botox Fast and Effective
The Botox treatment of a dimpled chin is particularly suitable for individuals who suffer from an uneven skin texture that causes an unharmonious smile. The treatment can be performed on both younger and older patients, regardless of whether the dimpled chin is caused by genetic factors or the aging process.
The Botox treatment of a dimpled chin provides a quick and effective solution to enhance the appearance of the chin. It can be performed as a standalone treatment or with other cosmetic procedures to achieve the desired results.
Hyaluronic Acid For Horizontal Chin Crease
For instance, the treatment can be complemented by addressing wrinkles in the lower face area to achieve a comprehensive and satisfying outcome. In my practice in Munich, I often use hyaluronic acid to address a bothersome horizontal crease on the chin parallel to the lower lip, which is often associated with a dimpled chin or even a pronounced chin dimple. When combined with the Botox treatment of the chin muscle, this approach typically leads to a very harmonious overall result.
As a doctor who specializes in minimally invasive beauty treatments, I have treated numerous patients who suffered from a strawberry or cobblestone chin. Botox treatment has proven to be an effective method for smoothing and improving the appearance of the chin.
Patient Story: Anna’s Experience
One of my patients, let’s call her Anna, was particularly unhappy about her chin dimpling. She had previously tried numerous home remedies to improve her uneven chin structure. She had found tips on the Internet ranging from daily facial massages to special exercises to strengthen the chin muscles to creams and gels. Supposedly all suitable to tighten the chin. Unfortunately, all these methods did not bring any noticeable improvements for Anna, which only increased her frustration and dissatisfaction.
Home remedies do not help with Dimpled chin
Upon receiving a recommendation from a friend, Anna discovered my practice in Munich. She scheduled an appointment and after a thorough consultation, we decided to proceed with the Botox treatment. The targeted injection of 6 units of botulinum toxin into the tip of her chin proved sufficient to eliminate the uneven skin texture within a few days.
After the Botox treatment, Anna was thrilled with the results. Her chin appeared noticeably smoother, and her smile became more harmonious. The bothersome texture of her dimpled chin had vanished, and she finally felt comfortable in her own skin again.
In her case, a small amount of Botox was all that was needed to completely smooth out her chin. She did not have a crease between her chin and lower lip that would have required additional hyaluronic acid injections.
Minimal Effort, Great Results
In my practice in Munich, I have been able to help many individuals like Anna in smoothing out their dimpled chin with Botox. Not every patient suffers from these uneven skin textures, but in almost all cases, the face appears significantly more harmonious after their elimination. Given the minimal effort involved, smoothing out a dimpled chin with Botox definitely qualifies as a treatment where substantial improvements in well-being and self-esteem can be achieved with minimal means.
How Does the Treatment Process Go?
The treatment of a dimpled chin follows my usual protocol for Botox treatment. Initially, a thorough consultation is conducted to analyze the aesthetic concern and determine the treatment approach. In addition, I provide comprehensive information to my patients regarding risks and potential side effects during this initial step. We also discuss any contraindications that may be present.
Subsequently, the treatment area is cleansed and disinfected as part of the standard procedure. Additionally, we take a few photographs of your chin to document the before and after appearance.
Only 2 Punctures Are Required
The botulinum toxin is then injected directly into the chin muscle using a fine needle. The injections are relatively painless and only take a few seconds to administer. Typically, 2 injection points at the tip of the chin are sufficient. Minimal quantities of the toxin are used, usually 3 units per injection point, resulting in a total of 6 units. In some cases, patients with a well-developed chin muscle may require 5 units per point, totaling 10 units.
After the treatment, mild redness or swelling may occur, but they usually subside quickly. Bruising is also possible but typically resolves within a few days. Due to the small amount of toxin used and the fact that only two injections are performed, the treatment is considered to be very low-risk and generally free of side effects.
Alternative Methods
Besides Botox treatment, there are other ways to treat chin dimpling. These include:
Dermal Filler: Hyaluronic acid fillers can be used to smooth out unevenness and indentations in the chin area and improve skin texture. This includes addressing a bothersome horizontal fold that often forms at the upper edge of the chin, parallel to the lower lip. While this fold is less prominent after a Botox treatment, it can be almost eliminated with the use of hyaluronic acid filler.
Radiofrequency Therapy: The treatment of a dimpled chin with radiofrequency therapy involves the use of high-frequency electric currents to deliver heat energy deep into the layers of the skin. This stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, resulting in skin tightening and reduction of uneven texture. The chin muscle relaxes, and the dimpled chin becomes visibly smoother. Radiofrequency therapy is a non-invasive procedure that is typically performed over multiple sessions. The treatment is painless, and there is no downtime. A similar effect can be achieved with regular deep microneedling.
Laser Treatments: Laser treatment for a dimpled chin involves the use of a fractional laser that delivers fine beams of light into the layers of the skin. This targeted energy stimulates collagen production and cellular renewal, resulting in skin tightening and improvement in the appearance of the dimpled chin. The uneven surface is smoothed, and the chin achieves a more even look. Laser treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that is typically performed over multiple sessions. There may be mild redness and swelling after the treatment, but these typically subside quickly.
Advantages of Botox Treatment
Botox treatment offers several advantages over other methods of treating a strawberry chin:
Rapid Results: The relaxing effects of Botox usually become noticeable within a few days, making it a much faster treatment option compared to other methods. Significant results can be achieved after just one session.
Minimal Downtime: Botox treatment requires no recovery time, allowing patients to quickly return to their daily activities.
Minimal Discomfort: The injections are relatively painless and typically do not require anesthesia. Usually, only 2 injections are needed to evenly relax the chin muscle.
Temporary Effect: Botox provides a temporary solution, giving patients the flexibility to repeat the treatment if desired or discontinue it if they are not satisfied with the results.
Low Cost: Since even a pronounced dimpled chin requires only small amounts of Botox, the costs are relatively low. In most cases, they are much lower compared to the alternative procedures mentioned above.
Treatment Risks
As with any cosmetic intervention, there are risks and potential side effects associated with Botox treatment for a dimpled chin. These can include redness, swelling, bruising, or infection at the injection sites.
In rare cases, there may be uneven effects or temporary weakness of neighboring muscles. When treating the chin area with Botox, this can potentially lead to difficulties in speaking. Similarly, the unilateral weakening of the chin muscle can cause it to bulge noticeably and create an unfavorable appearance.
To minimize potential complications, it is crucial to seek treatment from an experienced and qualified professional. I have been using this technique to treat my patients in Munich for years, and I have not encountered any complications thus far.
For Whom Is Botox Not Suitable?
Although a dimpled chin can typically be effectively treated with Botox, there are some cases where the treatment may not be recommended. This is because the known contraindications for botulinum toxin must be taken into consideration, even for this application. These contraindications include:
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid Botox treatments, as the effect on the unborn child or infant has not been adequately researched.
Individuals with neurological conditions such as myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome should also refrain from Botox treatments, as they can potentially lead to worsening of symptoms.
In the case of a known allergy to botulinum toxin or any of the other components of the preparation, treatment is not recommended.
Individuals with an acute infection or inflammation in the treatment area must allow it to resolve before undergoing the procedure.
Treatment costs
Treating a dimpled chin with Botox does not incur significant costs, as only small amounts of toxin are required. It is usually not cost-effective to open a separate vial specifically for a dimpled chin. Instead, it is more practical to include the treatment of a dimpled chin as part of a larger area, ensuring optimal utilization of the 50 units of toxin in one vial.
However, even if a separate vial were to be opened exclusively for a dimpled chin, the estimated cost in my practice in Munich would be around 290 euros (indicative price, individual billing according to the German Medical Fee Schedule, GOÄ).
Conclusion: Botox for Dimpled Chin
The Botox treatment for a dimpled chin provides an effective and fast solution to restore the harmonious appearance of the face. While this method is suitable for many individuals, it does carry certain risks and may not be suitable for everyone.
Choose an Expert For Botox
To achieve optimal results and minimize potential risks, it is important to seek an experienced and qualified expert. Thorough consultation and careful analysis of individual needs are essential to achieve the best possible outcome from the treatment.
If you require supplemental information about this treatment, please feel free to contact me by email. Or schedule a personal consultation in my office.
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About the author:
Dr. med. univ. Eva Maria Strobl is the owner of LIPS and SKIN Aesthetic Medicine practice in Munich. She is a trained specialist in general medicine (MedUni Vienna) and has over 10 years of specialization in non-surgical aesthetic procedures. She is a member of the German Society for Aesthetic Botulinum Therapy e.V. (DGBT), the German Society of Anti-Aging Medicine e.V. (GSAAM) and of Network Global Health. She publishes regularly on her blog and on DocCheck.
