What Causes a Cleft Chin? The Unique Genetic Feature Explained

PDF download Download Article
Plus, procedures to add or remove a cleft chin
PDF download Download Article

You know the dimple or line in the center of some people’s chins? Yep, that’s a cleft chin! This facial feature is something many people are born with, and some of the most attractive celebrities have one (we’re looking at you, Superman). But what really causes a cleft chin, and is it something you could remove if you wanted to? We spoke to board-certified plastic surgeon Asif Pirani, MD and board-certified dermatologist Kaveri Karhade, MD for more insight into this facial feature, including what causes it. Keep reading to learn more!

Chin Cleft vs. Smooth Chin

According to board-certified plastic surgeon Asif Pirani, MD, a cleft chin is a visible crease or dimple in the chin area. The indentation in the center of a cleft chin creates a “W” like shape, while a straight or smooth chin has no indentation and a “U” like shape. To get rid of a cleft chin, talk to a plastic surgeon about getting fillers or chin augmentation.

Section 1 of 5:

What is a cleft chin?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Rather than a smooth “U” shape, a cleft chin (or “butt chin”) has a “W” like shape caused by a dimple or indentation that runs from the bottom of the jaw up toward the mouth. Some cleft chins are more prominent, while some are barely visible—it all depends on the tightness of the skin on the chin. [1]
    • Do you have a cleft chin? Take a look in the mirror. Is there a prominent dimple on your chin? If you smile, is there a dent in the center of your chin? If you touch the bottom of your chin, do you feel an indentation? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you likely have a cleft chin.
    • Is having a cleft chin rare? Nope! Cleft chins are actually a common facial feature, even if they’re not very prominent.
    • Do cleft chins ever go away? Cleft chins don’t go away naturally on their own, but surgery or fillers can help smooth out or reduce their appearance.

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Asif Pirani, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of the Toronto Plastic Surgery Center. He has also served as a peer reviewer for the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal .

    Kaveri Karhade, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has published her extensive research in multiple medical journals.

    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 5:

What causes a cleft chin?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Each side of a person’s face develops on its own before they’re born. It isn’t until eight weeks after conception that a fetus’s face starts to look like a face, and that’s because the two sides finally merge. It’s during this merge that a cleft chin can form. If the chin connects with a slight gap, the baby is born with a cleft chin. [2]
    • Is a cleft chin a birth defect? No, a cleft chin isn’t a birth defect—it’s simply a facial feature!
    • Is a cleft chin a medical issue? Nope, a cleft chin isn’t a medical issue and does not cause any health problems (it’s unrelated to cleft lips or cleft palates). However, some people consider it a cosmetic concern and may want to minimize its appearance.
    • Dr. Pirani says, “A cleft chin can have more than one cause, and they’re not always the same from person to person. One common factor is the mentalis muscle, the small muscle at the front of the chin. If it develops as two separate halves rather than one continuous sheet, a small gap can form between them. The skin above follows that contour, which creates the visible crease or dimple.” [3]
    • Dr. Pirani continues, “The shape of the chin bone (mandible) can also make a difference. Even a slight notch or unevenness along the bone’s midline can make a cleft more noticeable, particularly when combined with that muscle split.” [4]
  2. Cleft chins are an inherited trait, meaning you get it from your parents and ancestors. Whether the cleft chin gene is dominant or recessive is up for debate, even though studies have debunked the possibility of cleft chin being a dominant trait, as not every child with cleft-chinned parents has a cleft chin. Scientists agree that the cleft chin facial feature is a hereditary trait, but how someone inherits it is still up for debate. [5]
    3. Advertisement
Section 3 of 5:

Can you get rid of a cleft chin?

PDF download Download Article
  1. While surgery isn’t necessary for those with a cleft chin, it may help those who are insecure about the feature. A prominent cleft chin can be removed or reduced in size with a chin augmentation or mentoplasty. During the surgery, a plastic surgeon will place an implant in the chin to alter its shape and reduce the appearance of the dimple. [8]
    • Cost: Costs around $3,640 [9]
    • Recovery time: 4 to 6 weeks recovery time [10]
    • How long results last: May take 3 to 4 months to see the final result, but the results are permanent.

    As with any surgery, there are risks, including infection, scarring, swelling, and botched results. Always talk to your surgeon about potential risks and any concerns before having a procedure done.

  2. For those looking to reduce or minimize the appearance of a cleft chin but are wary about a permanent surgery, cosmetic fillers may be best. Chin filler is a less invasive option that can help smooth out a cleft chin so it appears straighter. For this noninvasive procedure, a synthetic soft tissue filler is injected under the skin on the chin. The procedure takes only a few minutes and requires little to no recovery time. [11]
    • Cost: Costs around $600 per syringe [12]
    • Recovery time: 24-hour recovery time (primarily for swelling to fade) [13]
    • How long results last: Immediate but temporary results that last 6 months to 2 years.
    EXPERT TIP

    Kaveri Karhade, MD

    Board Certified Dermatologist
    Dr. Kaveri Karhade is a board certified Laser, Medical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise are acne and hair loss. She has advanced training in injectables, lasers, surgery, and other cosmetic treatments, and has published extensive research in medical journals. She holds a BS from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and her Residency in Dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Karhade is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
    Kaveri Karhade, MD
    Board Certified Dermatologist

    Cleft chins can be smoothed non-surgically with a filler. Like any medical procedure, there are risks, so it should only be done by a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. The filler can last 1 to 2 years, so it’s something that needs to be done repeatedly, but not often.

    3. Advertisement
Section 4 of 5:

What if you want a cleft chin?

PDF download Download Article
  1. While there are surgeries to get rid of a cleft chin, there’s also a surgery that can add the appearance of a cleft chin for those who have a straight or smooth chin. For this surgery, a plastic surgeon removes soft tissue on the chin to form a dimple. In some cases, bone may need to be removed to create the desired effect.
    • How much does surgery cost? Around $2,000.
    • How quickly do you see results? Due to swelling, it may take 3 to 4 months to see desired results. [14]
Section 5 of 5:

Is a cleft chin attractive?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Whether you find cleft chins attractive or not is entirely up to you. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! There are plenty of famously attractive men and women with cleft chins, including Henry Cavill, Demi Lovato, Matt Damon, Matt LeBlanc, Sandra Bullock, and Vanessa Hudgens. So, if you have a cleft chin, you’re in good company.
    • Some believe that a cleft chin is a spiritual sign of confidence, charisma, and creativity. So, if you have a cleft chin, you may be a natural performer!
    • If you don’t like your cleft chin or don’t find it attractive, that’s okay! Just remember, people are more than their physical features—you’re beautiful inside and out.
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      6 Easy Ways to Get Rid of a Cleft Chin
      13 Different Shapes and Types of Chins (An Expert-Backed List)
      What a Pointy Chin Is & How to Change the Look of It
      All About Weak Chins: Causes, Treatments, & When to See a Doctor
      The Different Kinds of Dimples: Types, Causes, & Social Perception
      How to
      Recognize & Transform a Flat Face (At-Home & Cosmetic Procedures)
      What Does it Mean to Have a Weak Jawline? Plus, How to Fix It
      How to
      Get the Hollow Cheek Look
      A Guide to Flat Cheekbones: Causes & Best Treatments
      All About Short Philtrums: What Causes Them & If They’re Attractive
      All About Chin Wrinkles (and How to Get Rid of Them)
      What Do High Cheekbones Look Like on Men? (Plus, How to Get Them)
      A Guide to Downturned Lips: Causes and Best Treatments
      A Guide to the Types of Jawlines (And How to Determine Yours)
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://fdna.com/health/resource-center/cleft-of-chin/
      2. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3385382/
      3. ↑ Asif Pirani, MD. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Expert Interview
      4. ↑ Asif Pirani, MD. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/are-chin-dimples-hereditary
      6. ↑ Asif Pirani, MD. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ Asif Pirani, MD. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Expert Interview
      8. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002986.htm
      9. ↑ https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/chin-surgery/cost
      1. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002986.htm
      2. ↑ https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-a-cleft-chin
      3. ↑ https://www.drangelasturm.com/blog/how-much-does-chin-augmentation-cost/
      4. ↑ https://fadeaesthetics.com/what-to-expect-after-a-chin-filler/
      5. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002986.htm

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 191 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement