Chin wrinkles and dimpling
Chin wrinkles may appear as a horizontal crease below the lower lip or as a pebbled, dimpled texture over the chin. Dimpling often becomes clearer when the lips close or the chin muscle contracts. Chin shape and bite can influence the pattern.
What you may notice
- Pebbled or orange-peel texture
- A horizontal crease below the lower lip
- Dimpling during lip closure
- Chin strain or asymmetry
Why it can happen
The mentalis muscle raises the soft tissue of the chin and can create visible dimpling. Skin attachment, chin projection, dental occlusion, lower-lip position and age-related volume changes may also contribute. Strong muscle activity can sometimes compensate for difficulty keeping the lips together at rest.
What may help
Muscle-relaxing injections may soften dynamic dimpling; filler or structural treatment may be considered when chin projection or support contributes. Surface treatments address texture rather than muscle or bone. Assessment of lip competence, bite and facial proportions helps avoid treating a compensatory pattern in isolation.
When to consult
Consultation is useful for persistent aesthetic concerns or marked chin strain. New numbness, weakness, pain, swelling or a rapidly changing lump should be medically evaluated.
Evidence and sources
- DermNet. Facial lines and wrinkles [Internet]. Auckland: DermNet New Zealand Trust; 2004 [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/facial-lines-and-wrinkles (new tab)
- DermNet. Ageing skin [Internet]. Auckland: DermNet New Zealand Trust; 2018 [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/ageing-skin (new tab)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Skin rejuvenation and resurfacing [Internet]. Arlington Heights (IL): American Society of Plastic Surgeons; [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/skin-rejuvenation-and-resurfacing (new tab)
- US Food and Drug Administration. Wrinkle treatments and other anti-aging products [Internet]. Silver Spring (MD): FDA; 2024 [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/wrinkle-treatments-and-other-anti-aging-products (new tab)