What is chin Botox and what is it for?
It is the injection of a small dose of botulinum toxin into the mentalis muscle at the tip of the chin. The main reasons are an orange-peel or dimpled chin, puckering and tension caused by an overactive muscle.
The mentalis pushes the lower lip upwards and raises the skin of the chin. In some people it overworks when speaking, closing the lips or concentrating, producing a dimpled texture that resembles orange peel. In faces where the teeth or chin sit further back, this muscle may work harder to bring the lips together. Toxin temporarily calms this excessive movement without changing the underlying structure.
After treatment, the chin can look smoother and more relaxed in motion. In some people, easing the upward tension also softens the transition between lip and chin. The effect is limited to the appearance caused by muscle movement. Structural features such as a short or receding chin are not changed by toxin, and other options are discussed for those at your consultation.
How is chin Botox different from chin filler?
Chin Botox reduces puckering caused by muscle movement; chin filler adds volume, length or projection. In some faces the two are planned together.
A profile assessment looks at the relationship between the chin, nose and lips. If the chin is short or set back, filler can provide structural support; because the mentalis often works harder in such faces, toxin can complement filler by easing the puckering. If puckering and dimpling are the only concern, toxin alone may be enough. This distinction is made by examining your profile and expressions.
Whether the two are done in the same session or at different times depends on your facial structure, expectations and previous treatments. Sometimes it makes sense to see the effect of toxin first and then reassess the need for filler. Which approach suits you is agreed at a face-to-face consultation that includes a profile and expression assessment, and the risks of each option are explained.
Who may not be suitable for chin Botox?
Treatment is not given, or is postponed, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, in neuromuscular conditions, when there is infection in the area and in anyone allergic to the ingredients. People who struggle to close their lips for structural reasons need careful assessment.
Treatment is not carried out in neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Your medicines, particularly any that may affect nerve-to-muscle transmission, are reviewed. If there is an active cold sore, spots or infection around the chin or lips, treatment is postponed. If you have recently had dental treatment or jaw surgery, timing is planned together, and earlier treatments to the area are discussed.
If you rely heavily on the mentalis to close your lips, relaxing it too much can affect lip closure and speech. This is usually related to tooth and jaw structure and may need assessment by the relevant specialist. At your consultation, lip closure, speech and smile are examined, and whether treatment suits you is decided on that basis. Where appropriate, a very low starting dose may be chosen.
How is chin Botox done, and what is the aftercare?
Small doses are usually injected at one or two points in the centre of the chin; the procedure is quick. For the first few hours avoid massaging the area, and avoid strenuous exercise, saunas and hammams that day.
You will be asked to purse or close your lips so the most active part of the muscle can be identified. Injections are placed low and central on the chin to avoid spread to the muscles that pull the lower lip down. Most people feel only a brief pinprick. The effect begins within a few days and is usually fully visible at around two weeks, after which any need for more is assessed.
A little redness or a small bruise on the chin can occur and usually fades on its own. For the first few days, avoid rubbing or pressing firmly on the area. At your review, the smoothing of the chin and your lip movements are assessed. For most people the effect typically lasts 3–4 months, depending on muscle strength and dose, and repeat timing is planned together.
What are the risks of chin Botox?
Common effects are redness, tenderness and small bruises. Less often, the lower lip may move unevenly, lip closure may feel harder or speech may feel slightly different; these effects are usually temporary.
If the toxin spreads to the muscles that pull the lower lip down, the lower lip can look uneven when smiling or speaking. Too high a dose can make lip closure harder and change how drinking through a straw or certain sounds feel. For this reason, a low starting dose is usually preferred in the chin. Side effects generally settle as the toxin wears off.
If you notice a clear change in your lip movements in the days after treatment, get in touch with your doctor. Difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing is very rare but needs urgent assessment. Before treatment, these risks and the symptoms to watch for are explained in detail, and you are encouraged to ask any questions you have.
Frequently asked questions
Will chin Botox make my chin longer?
No. Botox does not add volume or length to the chin. If structural support is needed for profile balance, chin filler is assessed separately.
How soon does a dimpled chin improve?
The effect usually begins within a few days and is fully visible at around two weeks. How much it improves depends on muscle strength and skin structure.
Will chin Botox affect my speech?
With a low dose and precise placement, the aim is for speech to be unaffected. Occasionally, a temporary difference may be felt with certain sounds or with lip closure.
Is chin Botox the same as lip Botox?
No. Chin Botox targets the mentalis. Treatments around the lips involve different muscles and need a separate assessment.
How long does chin Botox last?
Chin Botox typically lasts 3–4 months for most people, after which the mentalis muscle gradually regains its movement. Because the chin is often treated with a low dose to avoid affecting lip closure, some people feel the effect is shorter. A repeat can be planned once the orange-peel texture starts to return, with the interval adjusted to how you responded last time.
Will chin Botox get rid of a chin dimple or a cleft chin?
Chin Botox can soften the dimpling and puckering that appear when the mentalis contracts, but a natural vertical cleft or dimple at the chin tip mostly reflects bone and tissue structure, which Botox does not change. For a hollow that is visible at rest, or a deep horizontal crease between the chin and lower lip, other methods such as filler may be considered.
Will my mouth feel numb after chin Botox?
Chin Botox does not usually cause numbness, because botulinum toxin affects muscle movement rather than sensory nerves. Once the effect starts, some people describe the relaxed chin muscle as a slight difference or heaviness, but the sense of touch is normally preserved. Numbing cream can briefly reduce sensation; numbness, tingling or burning lasting more than a few hours should be reported to your doctor.
Can I have chin Botox and lip filler on the same day?
In most cases yes; chin Botox and lip filler can be planned in the same session. However, because relaxing the mentalis can slightly change the position and movement of the lower lip, it is sometimes better to see the chin Botox result first and decide the amount of lip filler afterwards. The order depends on your lip and chin structure, expectations and previous treatments.
Sources (3)
- International Botulinum toxin Advisory board (Ascher et al., Aesthet Surg J): International Consensus Recommendations on the Aesthetic Usage of Ready-to-Use AbobotulinumtoxinA (Alluzience) (2024)
- Global Aesthetics Consensus Group (Sundaram et al., Plast Reconstr Surg): Global Aesthetics Consensus: Botulinum Toxin Type A--Evidence-Based Review, Emerging Concepts, and Consensus Recommendations for Aesthetic Use, Including Updates on Complications (2016)
- Hong et al., Toxins (Basel): Cosmetic Treatment Using Botulinum Toxin in the Oral and Maxillofacial Area: A Narrative Review of Esthetic Techniques (2023)
This content is for general information and does not replace a personal medical assessment.