For those unhappy with their facial structure, chin augmentation can permanently improve the contour of the chin area. Augmentation helps balance facial proportions, fill out a weaker jawline, and address contour and size issues. Chin augmentation typically involves chin implants inserted via a small incision made underneath the chin or inside the mouth.
There are various chin augmentation techniques, which you will discuss with your surgeon before deciding on a treatment plan catered to your needs. Below, we will go over the basics of chin augmentation to help you decide whether the procedure is right for you.
What Are Chin Implants?
Chin implants are made from silicone rubber or polypropylene material and come in various shapes and sizes depending on a patient’s desired results. Chin augmentation does not always require chin implants. Sometimes, you can contour and improve the appearance of the chin via liposuction, reshaping the chin bones, or even some non-invasive procedures. However, chin implants yield dramatic, permanent changes than can be difficult to obtained through other methods.
Chin implants are very safe. Implant materials have been used in medicine for decades and is often used to replace heart valves and assist with ear, eye, and dental surgery, as well as in joint replacements, and breast augmentations.
How To Prepare For Chin Implant Surgery
Before getting chin implants, you will have a consultation with a surgeon to discuss your desired outcome and form with a treatment plan. This is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the procedure, the recovery, and the risks.
In addition to conveying your aesthetic goals, you will discuss your health, medical history, lifestyle, and current medications to ensure you are healthy enough for surgery. You will also undergo a physical exam, and your practitioner may order routine blood work.
On the day of your procedure, follow any specific instructions your surgeon gave you closely. Your surgeon may request that you stop eating or drinking for a set period before surgery or that you cease or reduce the use of certain medications.
What Happens During Chin Implant Surgery?
Chin augmentation can be performed under local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. The best choice varies from patient to patient, and your surgeon will make a recommendation based on your needs.
Your surgeon starts by making an incision either inside your mouth or under your chin. Incision techniques vary depending on factors like a patient’s needs and a surgeon’s preferences. Once the incision is made, your surgeon will insert the chin implant and then close the incision with sutures and skin adhesive, or tape.
Recovery From Chin Implants
Immediately following surgery, you will have gauze dressings or bandages applied to the surgical site. Some patients also require a compression garment to minimize swelling and support the chin during recovery. Your surgeon may prescribe you oral medications to help manage post-surgical pain.
For the first one to two weeks, sleep with your head elevated. This helps control swelling and protects your incisions as they heal. After surgery, patients who received an intra-oral incision need to consume a liquid-only diet for one to two days.
Most people can resume daily activities within two weeks, but it can take up to three months for swelling to subside so you can see your final results.
Do Chin Implants Cause Substantial Scarring?
Scarring is a common concern for patients undergoing chin augmentation, but scars are usually very minimal. If your surgeon inserted your implants via an incision inside your mouth, you will have no visible scars. Incisions made on the chin are typically very small and do not result in substantial scarring.
Talk to your surgeon and medical team if you are concerned about scarring. They can suggest ways to reduce the appearance of postoperative scars.
What Risks Are Associated With Chin Implants?
As mentioned earlier, chin implants are very safe, but every medical procedure carries inherent risks. Risks associated with chin implants include:
- Bleeding
- Implant displacement
- Asymmetry
- Infection
- Poor healing of incisions
Prompt medical intervention can treat most issues. The best way to avoid complications is to work with a reputable surgeon and follow all aftercare instructions closely.
Chin Implants: The Bottom Line
Chin augmentation can improve your facial structure and correct issues like a weak chin or an asymmetrical face. While chin implants are not always part of augmentation, they can yield more dramatic results than other methods.
Ready to get started? Leif Rogers, MD, is an Ivy League-educated, board-certified plastic surgeon and a standing member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. If you’re considering chin implants, get in touch with his team to schedule a consultation.
