When it comes to beauty injectables, there’s something for everything these days – from jaw reshaping to ‘wet nose jobs’, we’re living in the age of non-invasive face sculpting. And yet, for years I thought there was literally no solution to my dimpled chin, or what skin experts refer to as an “orange peel chin.”
I searched the internet high and low for facial exercises and creams that could somehow work to relax my overactive chin muscle, which often caused dimples in the area when I closed my mouth. But I found no suggestions other than Botox, an FDA-approved brand of botulinum toxin, or Botox, injections that treat fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging for people over 18.
But for years I put it up, convinced it would cost me a fortune and disfigure my smile. And honestly, I was also worried that people would judge me as vain enough to venture into the world of injectable beauty products. While my dimpled chin wasn’t necessarily something that bothered me when I looked in the mirror, it occasionally showed up in a selfie or headshot when I wasn’t smiling. It was like my face instantly went into dimpled-b*tch-face rest mode every time my mouth closed. I also started noticing it more during the pandemic, thanks to lots of IG Lives and Zoom calls — and the reminder wasn’t fun.
After years of feeling conflicted about it, all my sister had to tell me was that her wedding photographers specialized in candid photos, which made me cringe at my dimple showing through in the photos. So I finally made an appointment with our family trusted dermatologist, Miriam CasalMD.
I was initially apprehensive because I had no idea what I was getting into. While there are many written articles by beauty editors and reporters about getting Botox to treat fine lines and wrinkles, there were hardly any first-hand reports of getting Botox to smooth out chin muscles. Dr. Casal says she also deals with all kinds of first-time patient concerns.
“Many of my first-time patients are very afraid of Botox because they have seen on TV or on social media people who look disfigured or very artificial. These cases are probably not caused by Botox. Botox is only a muscle relaxant that prevents and improves the appearance of wrinkles,” she tells POPSUGAR, adding that there are no known permanent side effects of Botox. “It really is the safest cosmetic procedure and I think it’s important for our community to know that.”
During my consultation with Dr. Kazal, I also had her explain what was causing my chin to dimple every time I struggled to relax my face. “An orange peel chin is the term used to describe a change in texture with grooves, dimples, and a dimpled appearance of the chin when you squint or sometimes rest,” says Dr. Casal. “The novel function is to raise the skin of the chin and lift, raise and protrude the lower lip. The dimple is caused because part of this muscle is superficial and inserts into the skin of the chin.”
Botox or any other neuromodulator works as a muscle relaxant, adds Dr. Casal. They help to relax – or what some refer to as “freeze” – the muscles in order for the dimple to drop. While I’ve always been very nervous around needles, I was refreshingly surprised at how quick and almost painless I found the Botox procedure to be. Dr. Kazal injected the psychologist, a cone-shaped muscle, in just two places on my chin. To ensure that my smile is not compromised, Dr. Casal always makes sure to inject the mental muscle correctly and avoid spillover into neighboring muscles. This is also why it is important to only seek injectable beauty treatments from a licensed and certified professional.
Technically, Botox is FDA-approved for three areas: the glabella (between the eyebrows), the crow’s feet (the sides of the eyes), and the frontalis (the forehead). “However, Botox Cosmetic is often used by advanced injectors on the lower face,” says the New York plastic surgeon. David Shafer, MD. “One of the most popular areas is the chin to prevent dimples or an orange-peel chin from hyperactive musculature. Special care must be taken to accurately place Botox because any inadvertent injection into the orbicularis, depressor labii inferioris or repressor anguli Oris (DAO) can cause strange changes in the smile.”
Dr. Shafer explains that while the results are always temporary—between three and four months—care is needed to avoid this complication. “If the orbicularis, DLI, or DAO muscles are accidentally injected, the smile may temporarily appear crooked, or the lip may actually lose strength, leading to drooling,” he says. “This is very rare, but this is why patients should see advanced injectables such as plastic surgeons or dermatologists who specialize in Botox Cosmetic to reduce the chance of side effects.”
There is a misconception that Botox works immediately on the spot, but Dr. Casal told me before our appointment that it would take about two to three days for the muscle to begin to relax. The best results usually come after about two weeks, he adds, with results lasting an average of three to six months. I noticed improvements in just one day and within a week my chin was completely smooth and dimpled. The best part was that I looked exactly like myself — only without the pierced chin.
It was also more affordable than I originally expected — it only cost me $200 for the one session. After the first week, I was pretty much sold and committed to making it part of my regular skincare routine every few months.
It’s been about a year since I first had the treatment. I go back every few months for maintenance because Botox is not permanent. But it has improved my chin dimples a lot. Four months can go by, and even when I see a tiny bit of scarring happening, it’s so subtle that it doesn’t even show up in selfies anymore — no matter how good or bad the lighting is. I’m also lucky to be in a place with my self-esteem and body image where there is literally nothing else on my face that bothers me.
I also like knowing that I’m being proactive about it getting worse with age. As Dr. Casal says: “Wrinkles and skin defects are dynamic when we are young, meaning the problem appears when the muscle contracts. Because the skin is elastic when the muscle relaxes, the defect disappears. As we age, the skin loses elasticity and the wrinkle/flaw is present even when the muscle is relaxed. Therefore, starting early when the problem is only dynamic will prevent such an undesirable appearance from developing.”
When I realized how simple and safe my botox procedure was – along with my natural results – I began to redefine my perception of beauty injectables. I’ve never been one to look down on botox or fillers, but I always swore I’d never consider them. I thought my dedicated skin care regimen combined with my tanned skin and Latina genes would be more than enough. and with a few weeks to go before I turn 37, I’m still confused for someone in my late 20s. But while I’ve aged gracefully, I’ve also come to accept that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with making a few tweaks every now and then.
It’s also important to remember that we live in a world dictated by exhausting Eurocentric standards of beauty — lies created by white men to dictate society. But as long as we don’t adhere to those standards, I don’t see a problem. Like many millennial Latinas seeking beauty injections, I have no plans to shed my ethnic features. For now, I don’t see myself doing anything more than botox for my chin.
In an effort to eliminate the stigma surrounding injectables, I have been extremely transparent about my experiences with my girlfriends. After all, facelifts aren’t meant to change your face at all, they just enhance the beautiful features you were born with — while leaving you looking like your natural self.
Do I need botox to feel beautiful? No. Do I think I was beautiful even when dimples showed in candid photos? Yes. But I’m also happy to live in an age where this kind of technology exists, giving me the option to do something about the dimples on my chin. And I’m also fortunate to live in a time where women—especially women of color—have become much more unforgiving about having these kinds of treatments.
As a Latina, I’m tired of being pigeonholed into what I can or can’t do. If what I want at this point in my life is botoxing my chin to avoid unflattering dimples, then that’s what I’ll do. Period.
