13 Different Shapes and Types of Chins (An Expert-Backed List)

PDF download Download Article
Plus tips from a plastic surgeon on how to alter your chin type
PDF download Download Article

Thanks in part to the viral social media trend of mewing , there's been a renewed interest in the different types of chins and other facial features. While the general shape of your chin is typically determined by genetics, age and lifestyle can change its appearance. Read on to figure out what basic chin shape you have. From there, we'll show you how to make any chin shape look its best. If you're still not happy with the shape of your chin, plastic surgeon Edward Kwak has some tips for you if you're considering surgical options.

Section 1 of 4:

13 Types of Chins: Overview

PDF download Download Article
  1. While you can use many different words and phrases to describe a chin, most people group them into these groups. There's typically no medical reason to change the shape of your chin, but you might want to do it for aesthetic purposes. Here's a list of the 13 types this article will discuss:
    • Cleft chin
    • Double chin
    • Weak or receding chin
    • Protruding chin
    • Square chin
    • Round chin
    • Pointed chin
    • Long chin
    • Short chin
    • Fleshy chin
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

Types of Chins

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Cleft chin A cleft chin typically features a dimple in the center of the chin, sometimes with a vertical cleft running down the center of the chin. Cleft chins are genetic and form when the two sides of your jaw fuse together in the womb. The truth is that everyone has a cleft in their chin, it's just that some are more visible than others. [1]
    • Distinctive feature: dimple or vertical cleft in the center of the chin
    • If you gain or lose a lot of weight, the cleft in your chin might become more or less visible.
    • Celebrities with cleft chins: Henry Cavill, Emily Blunt
  2. 2
    Double chin While it's true that many people who have a double chin are overweight, that's not necessarily always the case. Some people just genetically have a softer jawline than others and are therefore more likely to store fat around their chin, even if they're relatively slim. You might consider a double chin unattractive, but it generally doesn't affect the functioning of your jaw or cause any other health issues. [2]
    • Distinctive feature: a layer of fat under the chin gives the appearance of two chins
    • Celebrities with double chins: Lizzo, Jack Black
  3. 3
    Weak or receding chin Retrognathia is the official term for a receding chin, often called a weak chin. Basically, your lower jaw sits back further than your upper jaw so, over time, your chin starts to recede back toward your neck. While there's no danger in having a receding chin, it can lead to other medical problems, including jaw pain and sleep apnea. [3]
    • Distinctive feature: face slopes down from the mouth with no noticeable chin
    • Celebrities with receding chins: Tobey Maguire, Benedict Cumberbatch
  4. 4
    Protruding chin A protruding chin is essentially the opposite of a weak chin. Here, your jaws are out of alignment, but this time, it's the upper jaw that sits back further than the lower one. As a result, your chin juts out past the level of your lips. Prognathism (the medical term for a protruding chin) doesn't typically cause any major health issues, but it can cause speech and chewing difficulties. [4]
    • Distinctive feature: chin is the most prominent part of the lower face
    • A protruding chin is primarily genetic, but can be exacerbated by lifestyle factors, (including thumb-sucking as a child).
    • People with protruding chins can be more susceptible to tooth decay because teeth that aren't aligned are harder to brush and floss thoroughly.
    • Celebrities with protruding chins: Danny DeVito, Reese Witherspoon
  5. 5
    Square chin A square chin is simply a chin with a more squared-off appearance. The sharp angles of a square chin are commonly associated with a more masculine appearance, which is likely why square chin implants are a popular plastic surgery choice for men. [5]
    • Distinctive feature: chin has a noticeably sharp, squared-off appearance
    • Celebrities with square chins: Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon
  6. 6
    Round chin Round chins are fairly common, especially as people age. People with a rounder face shape are more likely to have a round chin, as well as people who are carrying a little extra weight. But the general round shape comes from genetics, not lifestyle habits or age.
    • Distinctive feature: chin is a round curve that blends in perfectly with the jawline with no angles
    • Celebrities with round chins: Kirsten Dunst, Leonardo DiCaprio
  7. 7
    Pointed chin A pointed chin is a distinctive facial feature of people with Alagille syndrome, a genetic disorder that primarily affects the liver. [6] But most people don't have this chin shape because of an underlying medical condition—it's just part of their DNA.
    • Distinctive feature: chin has a triangular shape and comes to a defined point in the center
    • Celebrities with pointed chins: Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Gosling
  8. 8
    Long chin Many long chins are also protruding chins, but it's possible to have a long chin even if your jaws are perfectly aligned. [7] A long chin is simply one that extends out past the level of the lips or significantly below the curve of the jaw line.
    • Distinctive feature: chin extends down and below the jaw line and is likely the most prominent feature of the lower face
    • Celebrities with protruding chins: Melanie Griffith, Conan O'Brien
  9. 9
    Short chin Short chins are related to weak chins, but not all short chins are weak. Some people just have smaller chins, even though their jaws are aligned. While short chins don't cause any health problems, surgery is available to lengthen a short chin. [8]
    • Distinctive feature: chin is extremely small and tends to blend in with the jawline
    • Celebrities with protruding chins: Ivanka Trump, Brad Pitt
  10. 10
    Fleshy chin A thick, soft pad of tissue at the tip of your chin protects the bone beneath it—and, in some people, this pad of tissue is a little thicker and a little softer than in other people. It can sometimes be caused by weight gain, but often it's just genetics. There are cosmetic procedures that can reduce the fleshiness if you desire. [9]
    • Distinctive feature: chin has a little extra flesh under the lower lip or at the tip
    • Celebrities with fleshy chins: Matt Bomer, Angelica Huston
  11. 11
    Narrow chin A small, narrow chin is a hallmark facial feature for people with Silver-Russell Syndrome, a rare genetic growth disorder. [10] But a narrow chin isn't caused by an underlying medical condition in the vast majority of cases. Typically, it's just related to the overall size of your jaw bones.
    • Distinctive feature: chin is less than half as wide as the mouth
    • Celebrities with narrow chins: Gwen Stefani, Viggo Mortensen
  12. 12
    Wide chin Like a narrow chin, a wide chin is typically reflective of the size of your jaw bones. A wide chin can be associated with a large jaw, which in turn is often considered a more masculine trait. Plastic surgeons aiming to feminize a face often recommend narrowing a wide chin for this reason. [11]
    • Distinctive feature: chin is broader than the mouth and the most noticeable feature of the lower face
    • Celebrities with wide chins: Jay Leno, Jennifer Aniston
  13. 13
    Crooked chin A crooked chin is simply one where the point or midline of the chin doesn't match up with the midline of the face. This might be as the result of a congenital deformity or injury. Depending on the severity of the crookedness, a crooked chin can cause difficulties eating or speaking. [12]
    • Distinctive feature: the center of the chin is offset from the midline of the face
    • Celebrities with crooked chins: Tom Cruise, Kat Graham
    14. Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:

What affects chin shape?

PDF download Download Article
  1. The size and shape of most of your facial features is determined by genetics, so you can usually blame your mother or father for the shape of your chin. This also explains why people who are biologically related often look alike. [13]
  2. 2
    Age The shape and angle of the bones in your skull change as you age, and those changes can potentially affect how your chin looks. This is particularly true for the jaw bones, which change in length and height as well as angle during middle and old age. [14]
    • Aging can also cause your skin to sag, which can lead to changes in the appearance of your chin or give you the appearance of a double chin.
  3. 3
    Body weight Gaining a lot of weight can lead to the development of a double chin, even if you never had one before. While there are also slim people who have double chins, the condition is caused specifically by fat stores in your chin and neck. [15]
    • Changes in body weight can alter the shape and appearance of your face generally, depending on where fat is stored in your face and neck.
  4. 4
    Lifestyle If you live a relatively sedentary lifestyle, that can lead to a more rounded chin or even a double chin. This can happen even if you're not generally overweight, especially if you spend most of your time in a reclining position. Changes caused by lifestyle typically aren't permanent. [16]
    • Lifestyle factors also affect your skin's elasticity and lead to premature sagging, which can alter the shape and appearance of your chin.
    • Acute injuries to the face, neck, and mouth can also change the shape and appearance of your chin.
    5. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

Altering Your Chin Shape

PDF download Download Article
  1. There's not a lot of scientific evidence supporting the benefits of facial exercises, but a lot of people have been pleased with the results. If you decide to start a facial exercise program , do it consistently for at least a couple of weeks—if you don't notice any difference and you don't feel it's benefiting you, just stop. [17]
    • You might also try mewing , a form of tongue exercise trending on TikTok. While there's no science to back it up (in fact, the doctor who invented it was stripped of his license), it has become popular for its temporary results. Just make sure you don't overdo it—too much mewing can cause tooth and jaw problems. [18]
  2. 2
    Use contouring makeup to disguise the shape of your chin. If you apply contour makeup carefully, you can use highlights and shadows to trick the eye and make your chin appear a different shape. [19] The effect only works when you have a full face of makeup, but if it gives you more confidence about the appearance of your chin, go for it!
  3. 3
    Tighten the skin on your neck. If sagging skin has altered the shape of your chin, you might try skin creams or exercises to tone the neck and jaw muscles and help your neck and chin look smoother and more defined. While results typically aren't permanent, they can give you more confidence in your appearance. [20]
  4. 4
    Get regular exercise and make lifestyle changes. A more active lifestyle can alter the shape of some types of chin, particularly if you have a double chin. While a double chin isn't always caused by excess body weight, losing fat and building muscle can help smooth a double chin. [21]
  5. 5
    Go to an orthodontist if your jaws aren't aligned. For some types of chins, including weak chins and protruding chins, orthodontic work might help. Because these chin shapes are caused by the position of the jaws, resetting the jaws can correct the issue. [22]
  6. There are both surgical and non-surgical techniques that can alter the shape of the chin. "Selecting the right plastic surgeon can be daunting for those starting the process," Dr. Kwak counsels. "Some of the basic criteria would be to make sure the surgeon is board-certified and has an affiliation with a recognized hospital," he explains.
    • "Ask your surgeon how often they perform your planned procedure," Dr. Kwak advises. He also recommends that you "ask to see examples of [their] work."
    • Dr. Kwak cautions that you "understand the process, including what type of anesthesia is recommended for the intended procedure, the healing process associated with the procedure, pre- and post-operative recommendations to ensure proper healing, and potential complications associated with the procedure."
    • If you're concerned about whether a cosmetic procedure would fit into your budget, rest assured that "cosmetic procedures have become more available and affordable for a larger demographic," according to Dr. Kwak.
    7. 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

      How to
      Get Rid of Chubby Cheeks: Diet, Exercise, & More
      Why Some Thin People Have Double Chins (& How to Get Rid of Them)
      How to
      Fix an Uneven Smile and Look Your Best
      Applying Castor Oil to Your Face: Top Tips for Tighter, Smoother Skin
      How to
      Lessen a Double Chin
      How to
      Use Green Tea on Your Face to Achieve Prettier Skin
      How to
      Naturally Unpuff Your Face in the Morning
      How to
      Treat an Asymmetrical Face
      How to
      Prevent a Puffy Face in the Morning
      How to
      Treat Dry Facial Skin
      How to
      Make Face Cream
      How to
      Apply Vitamin C Serum for Facial Skin Care
      How to
      Care for Your Face (Males)
      A Derm-Approved Guide to Treating & Preventing Lines around the Mouth
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.thetech.org/ask-a-geneticist/articles/2023/what-causes-cleft-chin/
      2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-rid-of-a-double-chin
      3. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/retrognathia
      4. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22872-prognathism
      5. ↑ https://exploreplasticsurgery.com/square-chin-implants/
      6. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/alagille-syndrome/
      7. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22692788/
      8. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22692788/
      9. ↑ https://exploreplasticsurgery.com/plastic-surgery-case-study-male-transcutaneous-soft-tissue-chin-pad-reduction/
      1. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/silver-russell-syndrome/
      2. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25329849/
      3. ↑ https://www.omsofny.com/dental-services/conditions/crooked-chin-new-york
      4. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27974501/
      5. ↑ https://www.livescience.com/35332-face-bones-aging-110104.html
      6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-rid-of-a-double-chin
      7. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-rid-of-a-double-chin
      8. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/does-your-face-need-a-workout
      9. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-mewing
      10. ↑ https://www.newbeauty.com/how-to-hide-double-chin-with-makeup/
      11. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/turkey-neck
      12. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-rid-of-a-double-chin
      13. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22872-prognathism

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 95 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement