Chin Ptosis: Etiology, Classification, Diagnosis and Surgical Management-A Literature Review

Background/Objectives: Chin ptosis is a heterogeneous deformity characterized by inferior displacement of the presymphyseal soft tissues and may reflect abnormalities of skeletal support, the mentalis muscle, the submental crease, the soft-tissue envelope, or facial animation. This narrative review aimed to synthesize the anatomy, etiology, classification, diagnostic assessment, and the management of chin ptosis and to translate the available evidence into a component-based clinical framework.

Methods

MEDLINE via PubMed was searched from inception to 6 October 2026 and yielded 62 records. Targeted Google Scholar searches and backward citation searching identified 22 additional unique sources not retrieved by the PubMed strategy. Forty-two publications were included. Anatomical studies, technical reports, clinical series, comparative studies, reviews, and relevant book chapters were evaluated. Evidence was classified as direct when it concerned diagnosed chin ptosis and as indirect when it concerned related conditions such as chin retrusion, macrogenia, facial aging, or mentalis hyperactivity.