Chin Surgery

Chin Surgery can be one of the most striking cosmetic facial procedures. Many individuals have very recessive profiles due to the fact that their lower face and jaw have not developed properly. This is frequently a genetic situation and other family members may exhibit similar traits. In addition to complimenting the profile, chin surgery can also tighten and enhance the sagging or fatty tissues in the neck .

The simplest approach to chin augmentation is the placement of a chin implant. This minor operation is performed in the office with IV sedation. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and requires a 5-10 day recovery. New technology in biomaterials has shown silicone implants to be very successful and extremely well tolerated by the body. The new chin implants are natural feeling and follow the contours of the normal jaw line. These new type of implants are known as anatomic implants which means they come in many shapes and sizes to personalize the esthetics of each patient. Contemporary chin implants come in a vast array of sizes and shapes to allow the surgeon and the patient many options in facial enhancement.

The implants can be placed through an incision inside the mouth to avoid a scar on the face or under the chin in the natural skin crease. After chin surgery, the patient will experience minor swelling, bruising and temporary numbness of the lower lip. These conditions usually resolve over 1-2 weeks.

An additional way of moving a chin forward or backward is called a SLIDING GENIOPLASTY. This procedure is performed from an incision inside the mouth below the lower lip. The sliding genioplasty is used in more severe cases or in cases where the chin needs to be lengthened or moved backward.  Our doctors make an incision in the front portion of the jaw and advances or moves back the bony chin segment. This segment is then secured with a micro bone plate. The photograph below shows a model of a sliding genioplasty. The SLIDING GENIOPLASTY advances the patient’s actual chin by moving the lower portion of the Jaw.

While many patients need more chin in the horizontal direction (back to front) some patients need an increase in the vertical dimension of their chin (bottom to top). Patients with a shortened lower facial height lack the proper esthetics for a natural chin and lip support. Their lower lip looks folded over and unnatural.

Implants may be used in minor cases to slightly increase the lower facial height, but in more severe cases a lengthening genioplasty is the proper procedure. This procedure not only advances the chin, but also makes it longer. The chin is lengthened and secured with a micro bone plate. A gap is left from the lengthening and this is sometimes filled with an artificial graft material.