My round face has always been a source of love and insecurity, but as I’ve entered my mid 30s, its perky youthfulness (which I can’t believe I used to roll my eyes at) is naturally losing shape. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve googled plenty of plastic-surgery procedures — from temporal brow lifts to full-on facelifts — but the recovery, steep price tags, and sheer permanence always stopped me from booking a consultation.
Once I started exploring the world of injectables, the conversation totally changed. I’ve since routinely touched up my Botox, tried a thread lift, and plumped my lips with filler at the hands of skilled injectors. Soon, I started searching for a nonsurgical fix to give my jawline a slimmer, more defined appearance and learned filler could be a solid option.
I promptly made an appointment with Janet Gedjeyan, RN, BSN, the director of aesthetic practitioners at The Things We Do in Los Angeles. When choosing to get injectables of any kind, it’s important to find a facility and provider you feel comfortable with. In my opinion, the relationship of trust that’s developed with an injector allows for more personalized long-term results. Plus, maybe it’s just me, but the conversations when you’re in the treatment chair can be straight-up healing in their own way.
In my consultation, Gedjeyan asked what I love about my face shape (my youthful softness) and what I was looking for (definition) and described how we’d get there — which, in my case, meant chin filler. “In treating the chin, you actually accentuate the jawline,” Gedjeyan says. “This would give you a more ‘heart-shaped’ face and add some length to your chin.”
Feeling excited to take the plunge, we went forward with my beauty plan. Though the price for chin filler will vary based on your geographic location, which practitioner you go to, and how much you need, this kind of procedure at The Things We Do runs about $2,000 and will last one to two years depending on the patient.
What Happens During a Chin-Filler Treatment?
The first step during the chin-filler process was to numb me up. The Things We Do uses a custom-developed topical numbing cream that takes about 20 minutes to kick in, so while we waited, Gedjeyan went over her plan with me and explained the two types of filler that would be used.
“Both are hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, but they vary in their ability to hold structure,” she says. “When I treat your jawline and chin, I’m using Juvederm Voluma to bring out the structure of your jawline. Then, for the corners of the mouth, a much thinner hyaluronic acid (RHA 2) is used to add hydration and lessen shadows.” I honestly had no idea I was fully numb until it was time to wipe the cream off, and the sensation was kind of like when you leave the dentist and your mouth feels heavy and large. (Of course, this wears off after your treatment is over.)
The actual procedure was relatively painless and quick. A few pokes were a little spicy feeling, like an eyebrow hair being plucked, but nothing compared to what I have felt during lip-filler appointments, which tend to be much more painful. Gedjeyan gently tapped each area and softly said “little poke” right before the needle went in, which was oddly comforting.
After about 10 minutes, I was done, and the results were subtle but perfect. With the numbing cream still in full effect, Gedjeyan explained that I might experience a little soreness at the injection site once it wore off and feel a chocolate-chip-like “texture” under the skin but not to panic.
After Chin Filler
While I could definitely see an immediate change right after treatment, Gedjeyan says everything would continue to soften up over the next few weeks. Most practitioners recommend you schedule a follow-up appointment after two weeks so you can reassess how everything looks and add any additional filler if needed. Otherwise, aftercare is simple: avoid exercise and alcohol for the first 24 hours, try to sleep on your back for the first week, and avoid firm pressure for up to four weeks.
A few hours later, the slight soreness crept in and I developed a few tiny bruises at the tip of my new shapely chin, but it was nothing that a dab of concealer and a couple of Tylenol couldn’t fix. Overall, I couldn’t be more stoked about my chin-filler results — I look like me, just more balanced and confident.
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