What Is A Chin Implant?
Chin implant surgery, also known as genioplasty, chin augmentation, or chin enhancement, is a surgery to reshape the contour of the chin and jawline. An implant is placed around the patient’s chin bone to create a more defined or balanced chin shape. Most chin implants are made of solid, medical-grade silicone. GoreTex implants have also been used but are far less common.
How Do You Prepare For A Chin Implant?
Before setting an appointment for surgery, your doctor will have an in-depth consultation with you to discuss your medical history and get a detailed understanding of your expectations for the procedure. Prior to the surgery, you will be asked to refrain from smoking cigarettes or taking certain medications which negatively affect blood flow. You should also avoid drinking alcohol for at least 48 hours before the procedure.
To plan for recovery time, you should arrange to have at least one week off from work following the procedure. Make sure that you have someone to accompany you to your appointment, as you will not be able to drive yourself home afterwards.
Why Is A Chin Enhancement Performed?
Chin enhancement surgery may be a good option if you are concerned about a recessed or crooked chin, or if you do not like the way that your chin appears in proportion to your other facial features. A recessed chin may make the nose appear larger than it is. Hence, recently facial surgeons routinely perform chin implants along with rhinoplasty. A chin implant can be done to strengthen a weak chin, improve jawline definition, center an asymmetrical chin, or bring your chin and jawline into better harmony with the rest of your face.
Chin Implant Surgery vs Sliding Genioplasty
Many surgeons will recommend an implant for reshaping the chin, but Dr. Jamali strongly disagrees. While he will perform chin implant surgery in certain cases, he believes there are numerous advantages to doing sliding genioplasty instead. Dr. Jamali also believes that only small chin implants give a natural look. Chin implants almost always cause eroding of jaw bone to some extent. And if placed above the periosteum, they may cause wrinkling of skin.
Different from other types of chin augmentation, the sliding genioplasty procedure involves making a cut (osteotomy) through the chin bone. By freeing up the malposition bone, Dr. Jamali can reposition the area to an ideal orientation. Typically, only 2 screws are placed to secure the chin. This simple procedure can dramatically improve the balance, proportion, and harmony of facial features. The restored alignment of the forehead, mouth, nose, and chin will be long-lasting.
Why Is Chin Implant Surgery Performed Over Other Procedures?
There is a less common, nonsurgical chin enhancement procedure in which filler is injected into specific parts of the chin to increase its fullness and improve its appearance. However, chin enhancement injections have a limited shelf life, lasting only about a year before they wear off and a re-treatment is necessary. Due to fillers wearing off and having to get them done over and over is can become an expensive option. Meanwhile, chin implant surgery’s results are permanent and do not generally require any followup procedures.
What Can You Expect During Chin Implant Surgery?
You will arrive for your appointment accompanied by someone who can give you a ride home. General anesthesia will then be administered prior to surgery. The procedure itself consists of an incision inside the mouth at the meeting point between the gums and lower lip. The custom-fitted implant is inserted through the incision and attached to the bone. After the implant is put in place, the incision is closed with sutures. The full procedure takes around an hour and you will be comfortably sedated throughout the process.
What Is The Followup And Recovery Like For Chin Implants?
Your surgeon will apply a dressing that will stay on for at least a couple days following the procedure. You will likely need to stay on a liquid and soft food diet for up to a week, as chewing will be impaired immediately after surgery. You may feel an unnatural tightness in the chin and jaw area, but this should go away after a week or so. You should be able to resume your normal diet and routine after ten days, and swelling should have fully subsided after roughly six weeks. If you experience bleeding or swelling following your surgery, you should consult your surgeon immediately.
What Are The Potential Costs For Chin Implants?
Chin implant surgery is not covered by most insurance plans. Costs range depending on the extent of the operation and should be discussed with your care provider during your consultation prior to surgery.
What Are The Potential Risks For Chin Implant Surgery?
There is a small risk of complications following surgery, which may include infection, allergic reactions, or nerve damage. There is also a possibility that you will not be happy with the appearance of your chin and jaw following the procedure, and you may require revision surgery.
Are There Other Related Treatments To Chin Implant Surgery?
Dr. Jamali also offers sliding genioplasty, a surgical procedure that reshapes the chin without use of an implant.