Few people are born with fully proportioned features and the chin is no different. There are many different types and sizes of special chin implants, manufactured from a variety of materials, available to help put your face in balance. You can discuss all the options with Scottsdale, AZ board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Mata, to achieve a realistic, improved appearance to help you feel better about the way you look. Chin shaping, or genioplasty, can be performed with the implant inserted either through a tiny incision underneath the chin or through an incision inside the lower lip. Dr. Mata, a.k.a. Dr. Scottsdale® will explain prior to your surgery which incision will be better for you. He can also make a large chin smaller with a chin reduction and sculpt the profile of your existing chin bone. For those who want a less invasive treatment, a chin augmentation can be accomplished temporarily using injectable fillers that leave no surgical scars.
During chin augmentation, the implant is positioned over the bone below the lips. A pocket is created, which will hold the prosthesis in place. Sometimes the bone is shaved to create a groove for the implant. Incisions are commonly placed in two areas that can easily conceal scars – on the underside of the chin or inside the lip, just between where the lower lip meets the gum. The results after this procedure are almost always positive for patients. An experienced surgeon will create subtle results, yet dramatic enough to make a significant improvement to a person’s self-esteem.
Yes. With the implant and surrounding tissues adjusting to its new position, there will be a loss of sensation around the chin area and the skin around it will feel tighter than usual. This is an expected reaction post-surgery and shouldn’t be a cause of anxiety. Eventually, the sensitivity will return to normal, but it may take several months before the patient may regain sensation. The improvement will be gradual during the course of a year.
The incisions made during a chin augmentation procedure are placed inconspicuously within the inside of the lip or under the chin, therefore, there is limited to no scarring that occurs with this procedure.
Mentoplasty is a procedure that adds fullness and shape to the chin. Genioplasty, on the other hand, is a surgical procedure that reconstructs the chin bone. Both procedures may be done at the same time as a combination surgery or as a single procedure depending on the patient’s chin condition and aesthetic goals. Genioplasty is not always cosmetic in nature as there are conditions in which the procedure resolves a patient’s bite or other medical concerns.