Maxillofacial & facial skeletal surgery
Chin & Jaw Surgery in Los Angeles
Chin and jaw surgery reshapes the lower face at the level of the bone. At Cosmetic Doc, Dr. Husam Elias, a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon who is also board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery, repositions and refines the chin and jawline so your profile looks balanced and naturally yours.
What Is Chin & Jaw Surgery?
Chin and jaw surgery is a group of procedures that change the size, position, or shape of the chin and the lower jaw, called the mandible, to improve facial balance. Some patients want a chin that sits farther forward. Others want a chin that is shorter, narrower, or less prominent, or a jawline that looks more defined, or softer. Because these features are built on bone, the most predictable and lasting changes are often made at the bone itself rather than in the soft tissue over it.
At Cosmetic Doc, every chin and jaw procedure is planned and performed by Dr. Husam Elias, who holds both medical and dental degrees and is board certified in cosmetic surgery, facial cosmetic surgery, and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Surgery of the jaw is the foundation of his training, so he works with a detailed understanding of the nerves, tooth roots, and muscles that surround the chin, and of how the lower face moves when you speak and smile.
How the Chin Balances Your Profile
The chin, nose, lips, and neck are seen together, especially in profile. A chin that sits too far back can make the nose look larger and the neck look fuller than they really are, while a chin that is too prominent can crowd the lips and dominate the face. That is why a consultation about one feature usually includes a careful look at the others.
Some patients discover that a stronger chin improves the proportion they had hoped to change with a nose job, or rhinoplasty, and others pair chin surgery with nasal refinement or a neck lift so the entire profile shifts in harmony. When the position of the chin is tied to how your teeth meet, corrective jaw surgery may be the more complete answer, and Dr. Elias will tell you if that is the case.
What this page covers
Chin & Jaw Procedures
Each procedure addresses a different aspect of chin position or jawline shape. Many patients benefit from a combination, which Dr. Elias tailors to your anatomy and goals.
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Sliding Genioplasty
The lower edge of the chin bone is cut, moved to a new position, and secured with small titanium plates. Because the bone itself moves, it can change projection, length, and symmetry.
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Chin Advancement
For a recessed or weak chin, the chin is brought forward to strengthen the profile and sharpen the angle between the jaw and neck, using either a genioplasty or an implant, depending on your anatomy.
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Chin Reduction
A chin that is too long or too prominent can be shortened or set back by reshaping or repositioning the bone, with care taken so the soft tissue drapes smoothly over the new contour.
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Chin Narrowing
A broad or square chin can be slimmed by removing a small central segment of bone and bringing the two sides together, creating a more tapered chin that suits the rest of the face.
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Jawline Contouring
Refining the lower border of the jaw can smooth irregularities, add definition to a soft jawline, or soften a heavy one, creating a cleaner line from the chin back toward the ear.
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Mandibular Contouring
Mandibular angle reduction lowers or narrows a flared, square jaw angle, while angle augmentation adds definition where the angle is weak. Both are planned around the nerve that runs through the jaw.
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V-Line Surgery
A combination of chin narrowing and jaw angle reduction that slims the lower face into a softer, tapered shape. Our facial skeletal contouring guide explains V-line surgery and overall face slimming.
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Sliding Genioplasty or Chin Implant?
Both procedures can bring a weak chin forward, and both have a place. The right choice depends on what your chin needs, not on which technique a surgeon prefers.
- Chin implant: A shaped implant is placed over the chin bone through a small incision under the chin or inside the mouth. It is a shorter, simpler operation and is reversible, and it works well for mild to moderate projection. It cannot shorten, reduce, or correct asymmetry, and over time an implant can shift, press into the underlying bone, or rarely become infected. Implants are part of our cosmetic facial contouring options.
- Sliding genioplasty: The chin bone itself is repositioned, so it can move forward, back, up, down, or to one side, and it can correct length and asymmetry that an implant cannot. It uses your own tissue, and because the muscles under the chin move with the bone, it may also improve the neck angle. It is a more involved procedure, and temporary numbness of the lower lip and chin is more common.
Your Experience and Recovery
Planning begins with an examination, photographic analysis, and 3D cone beam CT imaging when it adds value, which shows bone thickness, tooth roots, and the position of the mental nerve, the nerve that gives feeling to the lower lip and chin. Most chin and jaw procedures are performed through incisions inside the mouth under IV sedation or general anesthesia in our AAAHC-accredited Pasadena surgery center.
Swelling and bruising typically peak in the first few days. Many patients return to desk work within one to two weeks, follow a soft diet for a period, and see the final contour emerge over several months. Temporary numbness is common and usually improves over weeks to months; lasting changes in sensation are uncommon but possible, and Dr. Elias will discuss your individual risk openly.
Why Cosmetic Doc
Why Patients Choose Us for Chin & Jaw Surgery
Moving facial bone safely takes a specific kind of training. Here is what that means for your chin or jaw procedure.
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Jaw Surgery Training
Board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery means the lower jaw is familiar territory for Dr. Elias, from the nerves inside the bone to how the chin moves with speech and expression.
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Honest Technique Advice
You hear the real trade-offs between genioplasty and implants, including their risks, so the recommendation fits your anatomy rather than a single preferred technique.
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Whole-Profile Planning
Your chin, nose, lips, and neck are assessed together, so a change to the jaw improves overall balance instead of creating a new imbalance somewhere else.
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3D Imaging & Planning
Cone beam CT imaging and digital planning map bone thickness, tooth roots, and nerve position before surgery, helping each bone cut stay precise and predictable.
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Hidden Incisions
Most chin and jaw procedures are performed through incisions inside the mouth, so there is typically no visible scar on the face or beneath the chin afterward.
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Accredited Surgical Setting
Surgery takes place in our AAAHC-accredited Pasadena ambulatory surgery center, where Dr. Elias serves as Medical Director, with anesthesia options from IV sedation to general anesthesia.
How Much Does Chin & Jaw Surgery Cost?
Because every chin and jaw is different, your fee is personalized after your consultation. Your written quote reflects:
- Procedure and technique: A chin implant, a sliding genioplasty, and mandibular angle work involve different operating times and levels of complexity.
- Anesthesia: The type of anesthesia and the length of your surgery affect the overall investment.
- Facility: Surgery in our accredited on-site surgery center is often more cost-effective than a hospital setting.
- Combined procedures: Pairing chin surgery with rhinoplasty, a neck lift, or jaw contouring changes the total, though you recover only once.
Cosmetic chin and jaw contouring is elective and generally not covered by insurance. When the chin or jaw is part of a documented bite, breathing, or functional problem treated with corrective jaw surgery, it may qualify for medical insurance, and our team can help verify your benefits. We accept cash, checks, major credit and debit cards, and financing plans.
Schedule Your Chin & Jaw Consultation
Patients travel to Cosmetic Doc from across Los Angeles for chin and jaw surgery with a surgeon trained in the facial skeleton. Schedule your consultation at our Pasadena office, home to our accredited surgery center, or our Sherman Oaks office, and leave with a clear plan, an honest assessment, and a written quote.
Questions patients ask
Chin & Jaw Surgery FAQs
Is a sliding genioplasty better than a chin implant?
Neither is better for everyone. An implant is simpler and reversible and suits mild projection needs. A sliding genioplasty moves your own bone, so it can also shorten, lengthen, or straighten the chin, but recovery is more involved. Dr. Elias will recommend the option that fits your anatomy and explain why.
Will I have a visible scar after chin surgery?
Usually not. A sliding genioplasty and most jaw contouring procedures are performed through an incision inside the lower lip or along the inside of the mouth, which heals without an external scar. Some chin implants are placed through a small incision in the natural crease beneath the chin, where it is typically discreet.
Will my lip or chin feel numb after surgery?
Temporary numbness of the lower lip and chin is common after genioplasty and jaw contouring because the nearby sensory nerve is stretched during surgery. For most patients, feeling gradually returns over weeks to months. Lasting changes in sensation are uncommon but possible, and 3D imaging helps Dr. Elias plan around the nerve.
How long is recovery after chin or jaw surgery?
Most patients return to desk work within one to two weeks, once the most visible swelling and bruising have eased. A soft diet is typically recommended for a period after bone procedures. Residual swelling resolves gradually, and the final contour of the chin and jawline usually becomes clear over several months.
Can chin surgery be combined with rhinoplasty?
Yes. Because the chin and nose shape each other's proportions, many patients pair chin surgery with rhinoplasty to balance the profile in a single operation and a single recovery. Dr. Elias will confirm the combination is safe for you and show you how the two changes work together during your consultation.
Do I need jaw surgery or chin surgery?
If your teeth meet correctly and your concern is only the chin's shape or position, chin surgery is often enough. If your bite is off, or the whole lower jaw sits too far back or forward, corrective jaw surgery may be the better choice. Dr. Elias is board certified to evaluate and perform both.
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Your Choice for Expert Cosmetic Surgery in Pasadena & Sherman Oaks
Cosmetic Doc delivers board-certified cosmetic surgery with care, compassion, and artistry. From facelifts and rhinoplasty to body contouring, Dr. Husam Elias pairs dual MD/DMD training with an on-site AAAHC-accredited surgery center for the safest, most natural-looking results. Contact our Pasadena or Sherman Oaks office today to schedule your consultation.