Disguising a Weak Chin for Men

Some men feel that a strong jawline presents a more attractive or successful image than a narrow or receding chin. If you do not naturally possess a facial structure with a strong jawline or prominent chin, you can disguise a weak chin with a strategic use of facial hair or, in extreme cases, plastic surgery.

Growing a thick beard allows you more control over the apparent shape of your face. By sculpting your beard to make it longer at the chin, you can disguise a receding chin. Even a short beard or dark stubble can add definition to your face and reduce the visual effect of a weak chin. Light stubble, on the other hand, can actually worsen the appearance of a weak chin by creating a dingy look or reducing the definition of the edges of your face without adding a significant masking effect.

According to career and image expert Lizandra Vega, short sideburns can balance out a receding chin, while long sideburns will emphasize the shortness of the face. A beard that follows the jawline without a mustache, known as a chinstrap, is as effective as a full beard for enhancing receding chins. For a narrow chin or sharply triangular jawline, long, thick sideburns or a chinstrap beard can help add bulk to the shape of your face and give you the ability to sculpt your jawline into a more balanced shape.

If you do not want to grow or maintain a full beard but want to make your chin look more prominent, consider growing a goatee. A medium-length goatee can disguise a receding chin. Trim the goatee into a square or round shape rather than bringing it to a point, to help fill out the jaw and chin area. Goatees may be worn with or without a mustache. An extended goatee, which reaches past the chin to touch the edges of the jaw, can help mask a narrow chin.

In more extreme cases, a form of plastic surgery called chin advancement can alter your facial structure to bring a receding chin forward; however, this is an extreme course of action and a physician should be consulted. Chin advancement surgery can give your face a more balanced appearance. During the procedure, the patient remains under general anesthesia while the surgeon removes a piece of bone from the tip of the jaw, moves it forward a predetermined amount and reattaches it to the jaw with wires or a small plate.