Modification of Chin Projection and Aesthetics With OnabotulinumtoxinA Injection.

Importance: Because of the soft-tissue envelope and the dimensional complexity of the muscular contraction of the mentalis muscle, the projection and shape of the chin is not determined by only the bony projection. In a subset of patients with a seemingly underprojected chin, a hyperactive, high-riding mentalis muscle contributes to a blunted chin contour.

Objective: To evaluate the use of onabotulinumtoxinA (botulinum toxin A) for improving chin aesthetics in patients with an underprojected bony chin and a high-riding hyperactive mentalis muscle.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This case series and photographic analysis included 11 patients presenting with an underprojected bony chin and a high-riding hyperactive mentalis muscle at a private facial plastic surgery practice from August 25, 2006, to November 10, 2012. Data were analyzed from November 13, 2012, to April 9, 2013.

Interventions: Injection with 12 to 15 U of onabotulinumtoxinA into the mentalis muscle.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Photographic analysis of the vertical and horizontal positions of the pogonion relative to fixed facial points before and after injection. A patient satisfaction scale was also used to assess improvement in overall chin aesthetic.

Results: Eleven patients (3 men and 8 women; mean [SD] age, 46.3 [16.4] years) participated in the study, including 2 who had undergone prior chin implantation. The vertical position of the pogonion was more inferior after injection in 10 of 11 patients (mean [SD] vertical position, 1.36 [0.18] preinjection and 1.44 [0.18] postinjection; P = .005). Although the horizontal position of the pogonion changed in all patients, this change was not statistically significant (mean [SD] horizontal position, 0.11 [0.13] preinjection and 0.14 [0.13] postinjection; P = .32). All patients experienced improvement in their overall chin aesthetic and a subjective decrease in chin tension. Chin contour was improved, with soft-tissue volume overall displaced more inferiorly with a rounded rather than blunted appearance. No adverse effects were reported after injection.

Conclusions and Relevance: OnabotulinumtoxinA is effective at improving chin aesthetics by altering the position of the pogonion. In this first photographic analysis to date of the influence of onabotulinumtoxinA treatment, patients demonstrated a measurable change in the position of the pogonion, in addition to improvements to the chin contour on profile. This nonsurgical mentoplasty may be used as an independent procedure or as an adjunct to optimize traditional chin augmentation in carefully selected patients.

Level of Evidence: 4.