Vinicius Junior's facial procedure explained

Vinicius Junior has reportedly undergone a chin harmonisation procedure after getting back from the World Cup.

Portuguese-language outlet TMC is claiming that the Brazilian forward made a beeline for dermatologist Dr Alessandro Alarcão in the city of Goiânia after returning from the World Cup.

Brazil went out of the World Cup in the Round of 16 after a 2-1 defeat to Norway and Vinicius himself left the tournament with four goals, all scored in the group stages, so he had his work done long before the tournament's end.

Footballers certainly have the money to get cosmetic work done, whomever performed Antonio Conte's hair transplant did a cracking job, so if Vinicius has had this procedure it wouldn't be the first time a football star has gone in for their appearance.

Fans who are sure he's had a chin harmonisation say he'll have to 'get another passport' because the pictures of him before and after are 'two different faces', but what is this all about?

The chin harmonisation procedure

According to Dr Sheila Lee of Mediject, chin harmonisation is one of several procedures people can have done on their face which involves a non-surgical approach.

Doctors inject fillers in the the part of the face being 'harmonised' which then give it the shape the person was hoping for, often to increase the definition of a certain part of a person's face.

Since it's not a surgery procedure it's something that a person can get and walk out of the clinic right afterwards with some new facial features.

It means there's no recovery process, which would be a problem for an athlete like Vinicius whose head is going to take some impacts from things like heading the ball.

The doctor explained: "It uses hyaluronic acid and other methods, like fillers, laser treatments, chemical peels, microneedling, or mesotherapy."

Dr Emmaline Ashley told Wigmore Medical that getting a chin harmonisation was 'about enhancing, not altering, one’s appearance'.

How long a chin harmonisation lasts

Dr Lee also mentioned that a chin harmonisation isn't a permanent procedure, so if he doesn't keep up with it then Vinicius will have his chin return to the way it used to be in time.

She explained: "The results vary depending on the procedures used and the individual’s facial structure.

"Results from procedures using dermal fillers to add volume and reduce wrinkles can typically last from several months up to a few years."

So if the footballer wants to keep his chin looking the way it does then this won't be his last procedure, though given his successful career in sport he'll be able to afford it without much bother.

There are maintenance treatments and other works that can be done, but Vinicius has not got a chin that'll last him a lifetime.

Thank goodness he's not a boxer, eh?

The risks of a harmonisation procedure

It's not without downsides, this chin harmonisation business, as Dr Ashley explained.

She said: "One potential downside of facial harmonisation is the temptation to over-treat or seek symmetry that may not be necessary, or even desirable.

"Our faces are inherently asymmetrical, and minor variations are part of what makes us recognisable and unique."

There are also other risks inherent in medical procedures, as there is a risk of infection from the injection, and a person getting work done even if it's not surgical may feel some discomfort.

In very rare cases when something has gone so wrong that the filler enters a blood vessel it can trigger something called vascular occlusion, which is where a vessel gets blocked up.

It's a rare occurrence but when it happens it can do a lot of damage, as a disruption to blood flow can cause skin to die.