Pogonion: the most forward point of the chin
- Nerve
- Highlighted area
Quick facts
- Definition
- Most forward point of the chin contour, seen in profile.
- Types
- Bony pogonion (Pog), on the mandible, and soft-tissue pogonion (Pog'), on the skin.
- Abbreviation
- Pog and Pog'.
- Used in
- Ricketts E-line, Steiner S-line, Holdaway H-line and the facial convexity angle.
- Relevance in HOF
- Reference for telling whether the chin is recessed, balanced or projected, and for planning and documenting chin filler.
The pogonion is the most forward point of the chin contour seen in profile. There are two: the bony pogonion (Pog), on the bone of the mandible, used in cephalometry, and the soft-tissue pogonion (Pog'), on the skin, used in facial analysis. In orofacial harmonization (HOF), the soft-tissue pogonion is the reference for telling whether the chin is recessed, balanced or projected, and for describing the projection achieved with filler.
Where is it and how does it differ from neighboring points?
| Point | Where it sits in profile | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| B (supramentale) | Deepest point of the concavity between the lower lip and the chin, on the bone | Position of the mandibular base |
| Pogonion (Pog) | Most forward point of the bony chin | Chin projection |
| Gnathion (Gn) | Between the pogonion and the menton, on the curve of the chin | Growth axes |
| Menton (Me) | Lowest point of the symphysis | Facial height |
| Soft-tissue pogonion (Pog') | Most forward point of the chin on the skin | Aesthetic profile lines |
The soft-tissue pogonion is not exactly in front of the bony one: the thickness of the chin tissues varies between people and changes when the mentalis muscle is contracted. This is why the profile photo should be taken with the lips relaxed.
Which lines and angles does it enter?
- Ricketts E-line: from the tip of the nose to the soft-tissue pogonion; shows the position of the lips relative to the nose and chin.
- Steiner S-line: from the middle of the columella to the soft-tissue pogonion.
- Holdaway H-line: from the upper lip to the soft-tissue pogonion.
- Facial convexity angle: glabella, subnasale and soft-tissue pogonion.
- Mentolabial angle: the curve between the lower lip and the chin, which changes when the pogonion moves forward.
Measurements vary with sex, ethnicity and age, and the reference values come from orthodontics. They serve to describe and document, not to impose a single profile.
Why does it matter in HOF?
- Retrogenia: a recessed soft-tissue pogonion is the central sign of retrogenia (a recessed chin), common in facial pattern II.
- Planning: projecting the pogonion can balance the nose, lips and chin in profile. The assessment is covered in retrognathic profile, and the procedure in chin filler.
- Limit: in large skeletal discrepancies, the injectable only camouflages; the volume required can lengthen or weigh down the lower third.
Also called: pogonion, Pog, most prominent point of the chin, cutaneous pogonion (Pog').
Frequently asked questions
What is the pogonion point?
It is the most forward point of the chin seen in profile. On the bone it is called the pogonion (Pog); on the skin, the soft-tissue pogonion (Pog'). It is used in the lines and angles that describe the profile.
How can you tell if the chin is recessed?
By assessing the profile with the head in a standardized position and comparing the soft-tissue pogonion with references such as the lips and vertical profile lines. Measurements help describe it, but the decision depends on the proportion of the whole face and the facial pattern.