6 Easy Ways to Get Rid of a Cleft Chin

Co-authored by Kaveri Karhade, MD and Devin McSween

Last Updated: September 30, 2024 Fact Checked

Cleft chins are regarded as dashing and unique, with many of Hollywoods’ most famous stars known for their dimpled chins. In fact, many people who don’t have a cleft chin want one and get surgery to do so. However, it’s completely understandable if you don’t like yours and want to change it. There are several ways you can get rid of your cleft chin, either temporarily with fillers, permanently with surgery, or through exercises and makeup that can minimize its appearance. Read on to learn about the best ways to get rid of a cleft chin.

Things You Should Know

Get facial fillers to fill in your cleft chin or a chin implant to remove it permanently.
Massage your chin to reduce muscle tension and minimize the appearance of your cleft chin.
Apply a wrinkle filler and concealer to your cleft chin to hide it, or grow a beard.

Section 1 of 3:

Ways to Remove a Cleft Chin

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1
Get filler injections. Dermal filler is injected directly into your cleft chin to fill in the visible gap. This raises the skin over your cleft and leaves you with a smooth, even chin immediately after the injection. The results are not permanent as filler typically lasts 6 to 12 months, so you need to keep receiving injections to maintain your results.^{[1]
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- The timespan between injections depends on the type of filler you use and how quickly your body metabolizes the filler.^{[2]
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- The most common side effects are bruising and soreness, which typically only lasts for a few days.^{[3]
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- Most clefts can be filled in with 1 to 2 syringes of filler, with each syringe costing around $600-$1,000. The type of filler you use, your location, and the provider you go to will determine your cost.^{[4]
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Try a fat transfer. Your own fat can act as a natural filler to immediately fill in your cleft chin and smooth the area over. During the procedure, your doctor removes fat from another part of your body, such as your stomach or thighs, and separates the fat from non-fat cells. The fat cells are then injected with a syringe into your cleft.^{[5]
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National Health Service (UK)
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- You typically only need one fat transfer for lasting results. However, some fat cells do not survive the transfer, so you may feel that you need a second transfer.^{[6]
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  National Health Service (UK)
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- Your doctor may prefer to use general or local anesthesia for the procedure.^{[7]
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- Fat transfer most commonly results in swelling and bruising.^{[8]
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- A fat transfer to your chin averages $2,500. Prices largely depend on how much fat you remove and inject, your location, and your doctor’s practice.^{[9]
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Get a chin implant. For this procedure, your doctor cuts a small incision under your chin or inside your mouth and places an implant over your chin bone. The chin implant is made with silicone that feels like your chin tissue, giving you a natural-looking smooth chin.^{[10]
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Johns Hopkins Medicine
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- Consult with your plastic surgeon to determine the right size and shape of your implant that compliments your face.
- It takes about 3 months to fully heal from implant surgery. Most patients are able to go about their normal lives a week after surgery.^{[11]
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- Chin implant surgery is generally regarded as low risk with most patients experiencing swelling and discomfort after surgery.^{[12]
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- Chin implant surgery costs on average $3,000. This average price does not include the cost of anesthesia, other facility costs, or take into account your location and surgeon.^{[13]
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Section 2 of 3:

Are there exercises that will get rid of a cleft chin?

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Some people claim facial exercises can soften a cleft chin. Face yoga is a popular technique where you use your fingers and hands to pull and sculpt areas of your face to massage and strengthen your muscles. While there is no solid evidence that face yoga can get rid of your cleft chin, some people report that it has helped reduce its appearance.
- Chin massage: After washing your face, apply a facial oil to your hands. Clench your fist and starting at the bottom of your chin, roll it upwards, making sure it presses into your cleft. Complete this exercise daily, repeating it several times. This may reduce the tension of your muscles and smooth out your cleft.
- Tongue exercise: Place your tongue to the left side of your mouth and push out, keeping it there for 30 seconds. Repeat this on the right side of your mouth and the front. This exercise claims to reduce your cleft by relaxing your lower jaw muscles, which work harder than your upper jaw and may be the cause of your cleft.

Section 3 of 3:

Temporary Ways to Hide Your Cleft Chin

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1
Use makeup to conceal your cleft chin. Apply a wrinkle filler primer onto your cleft to fill in the gap. Wait for the primer to dry and then dab concealer over it to match it to your skin and cover any surrounding shadows. Use a makeup sponge to blend the concealer out into the rest of your skin.
- Pat on a setting powder to help the primer and concealer stay on all day.
- Apply foundation on top of the concealed spot and over the rest of your face to further hide your cleft.
Conceal your cleft chin by growing a beard. A beard is a natural way to hide your cleft chin and can be a permanent solution if you like the look. Choose a style that suits you and follows your hair pattern to achieve a full, thick look.^{[14]
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American Academy of Dermatology
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How Do You Treat a Dermal Filler Injection?

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Warnings

While fillers are minimally invasive and generally risk free, you need to choose a practice with highly trained and knowledgeable doctors. Look for doctors that have extensive experience in fillers, specifically filling cleft chins, and natural results in their before and after images.^{[15]
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Consult with your doctor about which type of filler is best for you. Most doctors use hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvéderm or Restylane to fill in cleft chins. There are several types of that might be better to use depending on the results you’re looking for.^{[16]
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Always consult with multiple facial implant doctors before choosing one for your surgery. Your doctor needs to be board certified and have extensive experience inserting chin implants. Ask your doctors how many implant surgeries they’ve performed and look at before and after pictures to determine if their results are what you are looking for.^{[17]
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