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Chin Augmentation, Implants and Reduction Guide

By Chin Surgeon Dr. Michel Siegel – Houston, Texas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Siegel believes that proper patient selection, as well as the proper size and shape of a chin implant can subtly improve your overall facial proportions.
The key to an attractive and balanced face is proper face proportions. Many times rather than removing, adding is the key. Such is the case with chin and other implants. A chin implant, on the right candidate will balance the facial appearance without the need of other procedures.

Chin Implant Example

Chin Augmentation or Reduction?

Chin surgery, also known as mentoplasty or genioplasty, is a surgical procedure to reshape the chin either by enhancement with an implant or reduction surgery on the bone. Many times a plastic surgeon may recommend chin surgery to a patient having nose surgery in order to achieve facial proportion, as the size of the chin may magnify or minimize the perceived size of the nose.
Chin reduction surgery, which involves removing excess bone from the chin, may provide an improvement when the chin protrudes excessively. Chin reduction is accomplished by using an instrument much like a dental drill which is inserted through a small incision in the fold beneath the chin, or through a small incision in the mouth.
If the problem is not the chin itself, but rather the excess skin that has collected under the chin, a facelift may be necessary rather than chin surgery.

Are You A Good Candidate for a Chin Implant and Augmentation?

The best candidates for genioplasty augmentation are patients with weak or receding chins (microgenia), but with a normal dental bite. Expectations of looking and feeling better after surgery should be discussed with the plastic surgeon before any surgery, keeping in mind that the desired result is improvement, not perfection.
The facial profile can be balanced by extending the chin in relationship to the nose.

Ideal Chin Position
The proper chin size can be measured by its position relative to the lower lip. If we draw a line straight down from the lower lip, and we look where the chin is in relationship to this line, we can determine if chin augmentation is needed.
For men, the chin should be close or at the blue line. For women the chin should be a couple or so millimeters close to the blue line.

Ideal Chin Position

If the chin is too far behind the blue line, for either men or women, it will give the appearance of a small or retrusive chin. In this case a chin implant may be desirable to better balance the face.

Chin Implant-Before & After
To better understand this, let’s look at the photos of patient. We begin by drawing the blue line, which shows the position of the lower lip in relationship to the chin. It is obvious form the picture on the left that in this patient the chin is very far behind the blue line, giving her an appearance of a small or retrusive chin. (The red line, drawn from the chin to the blue line, shows this distance).
The photo on the right shows the same patient after a chin implant. Notice the better position of the chin in relationship to the lower lip. (The red line is much shorter after chin implant)

Chin Implant Surgery

Thousands of augmentation genioplasties are performed successfully each year. Surgery takes about 45 minutes to an hour and may be performed in the surgeon’s office-based facility, a hospital, or an outpatient facility.
The chin implant can be placed through a hidden incision underneath the chin or through a small incision made inside the mouth. A sterile surgical implant is secured just in front of the jawbone. The skin overlying the implant retains its smooth contour and the implant itself becomes undetectable after a short time. This operation can be combined easily with the removal of fat and a small amount of skin from underneath the chin. This procedure is called submental liposuction, which can eliminate a double chin and can improve the overall effect of the chin augmentation.

Recovery After Chin Implant Surgery

Return to work and usual activity usually occurs within 5 to 7 days. Within a week of surgery, the external dressing is also removed. After the operation, some swelling and bruising can be expected. Most of the swelling usually subsides within the first week, the bruising within a couple of weeks. There may be some mild discomfort for a short time after surgery, but this is usually controlled easily with medication. Significant pain is uncommon.

Risks of Chin Implant Surgery

Movement or displacement of the implant, bruising, and swelling of the chin are the most common complications. Infection and numbness of the chin area are rare postoperative complications. Nicotine from smoking can delay healing.

For additional information about procedures, to arrange in-office consultations, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Siegel, call toll-free 1-866-920-3223 or Click Here To Use Our Contact Form.