Chin Surgery (Genioplasty)

Enhancement surgery using Chin Implants
Chin can be enhanced using either an implant or adjusting the jaw bone or both. Chin implants are usually made of a Silastic (silicone) material or more recently of a material called Porex.

Implants surgery usually takes approximately 30 minutes, and is performed under local or general anesthetic. Implant is inserted in a pocket created over the bone and under the muscle and fat covering the chin. The size of the pocket is determined by the structure of the face and the esthetic goals. The advantage to this procedure is that there is no external scar.

Once the procedure is complete, a light pressure dressing is applied to control swelling and bruising. The dressing is removed within 2 days.

Liquid or soft diet and frequent rinsing with antiseptic lotion is advised after surgery.

Jawbone Surgery
The second procedure used for correcting a disproportionate chin is an adjustment to the jawbone. Unlike the chin implant, which augments the chin region with foreign material, an adjustment to the jawbone utilizes the patient’s own bone tissue. Apart from enhancement , this surgery can also be used for chin reduction.

The procedure is done as daycare surgery, and usually performed under general anesthesia. As with chin implant, the surgery is carried out through an incision inside the mouth.Steps of the operations include cutting the bone horizontally just under the roots of the lower teeth. Once separated, the chin may be shortened by removing some of the bone, lengthened by pulling the bone forward, tilted up to shorten the vertical dimension of the face, or tilted down to lengthen the vertical dimension of the face. A permanent stainless steel wire or screw is used to fix the bone into its new position. Once the bone has been wired into place, the incision within the mouth is closed. There is no visible scar after this procedure.

A pressure dressing is applied around the chin to control subsequent swelling and bruising. The dressing is removed after 1 to 2 days. As with implants, a soft diet is recommended until the dressings are removed.

Frequently Asked Questions( FAQ’S)

• Will there be pain after surgery?
  Moderate discomfort is experienced during the first few days after the surgery due to the severed bone and the pressure exerted in the chin area by swelling. In chin implant procedure, a mild discomfort is experienced for 1 or 2 days which can be controlled by taking pain killers. A jawbone adjustment may cause discomfort for a couple of weeks or more. In both the procedures the incisions within the mouth will be irritating for the first few days. Pain medication is generally recommended as an effective means of controlling discomfort. The swelling and bruising will be greater in Bone surgery as compared with chin implant and it generally subsides within 10 days.

• Will there be a scar?
  Scar is in the side of the mouth and so not noticeable.

• When can normal activities be resumed?
  Most patients are able to return to their normal routine after a period of 1 week.

• Are there any potential complications?
  The most common complication is a loss of sensation in the lower lip and chin region. Due to swelling, pressure is exerted on the nerve supply to the area. This loss of sensation is usually temporary and will return to normal in several weeks.
  
  Other complications with this procedure are rare but may include, Extrusion or expulsion of the implant, usually as a result of infection.
  
  Implants may easily be replaced or removed through the original incision in the event of any of these complications or if the results are disappointing.

• Can chin surgery be combined with other surgery?
  
  Both chin implants, bone adjustments are often combined with rhinoplasties and liposuction to the jowls, under the chin, the cheeks, and the neck. This total approach often achieves the best cosmetic result.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of a jawbone adjustment over a chin implant?
  A jawbone adjustment eliminates the risk of erosion of the bone, damage to the teeth, and extrusion or expulsion of the implant. It also uses the patient’s own tissue rather than a foreign substance, which leaves the chin with a more natural feel when it is touched. Also reduction of chin can only be performed by bone surgery.
  
  The disadvantage of a jawbone adjustment is that it is a more extensive procedure and requires a general anesthetic with its inherent risks. Other risks are loss of sensation to the lower lip for a longer period of time and potential infection. This procedure has more restrictions on the size to which the chin may be enlarged.

• Who inserts chin implants ?
  Plastic surgeons trained in cosmetic surgery of the face are specialists who would perform this procedure. One should look for credentials of the surgeon before committing to the surgery.

• If someone has dental malocclusion?
  Chin surgery with dental malocclusion is entirely different surgery where bones are cut and shifted in a different way. This surgery is covered under Orthognathic Surgery.