Some people just aren’t born with much of a chin. In other people, the bone in the chin is reabsorbed by the body, or they have suffered an injury to their chin. The good news is that there’s a procedure called genioplasty that reshapes or resizes the chin. There are several ways to augment a person’s chin.
Injectable
This procedure uses a soft tissue filler to add volume to the chin. The filler is temporary and is absorbed by the body over time, but the patient has the option of returning for touch ups.
Chin Implant
Some patients opt for a chin implant made of silicone or another material. The implant is placed either through an incision in the mouth or a incision under the chin. The doctor forms a pocket in the jaw for the implant, inserts it then manipulates it to the shape the patient wants. When this is done, the implant is sutured in place or held in place beneath the fibrous layer in the jawbone. It only takes between 30 minutes to an hour to perform a chin implant, and the patient can leave the doctor’s office soon after.
Chin Bone Repositioning
Some plastic surgeons recommend that their patients have their chin bone repositioned. During this surgery, the surgeon makes an incision inside the patient’s mouth, cuts the tip of the chin bone, moves it forward and wires it into position. The doctor then closes the incision with sutures. Because the operation is done through the patient’s mouth, there’s no visible scarring. The sutures are dissolvable and go away after about 10 days.
Results
The results of a chin implant are immediate, though the patient may think it’s too large at first because of the unavoidable swelling after the surgery. The final result will be seen after about two months, and the great majority of patient are thrilled with their new look. If the doctor made an incision under the chin, it may be prominent for some time but will fade after a few weeks. It’s important that the patient not smoke, for smoking interferes with healing and does not allow the surgical scar to fade the way it should.
The good news about chin augmentation is that it heals faster than other types of facial cosmetic surgeries. The patient needs to wear a protective dressing over their chin for about two to four days, and they’ll experience swelling, bruising and some pain, though discomfort can be taken care of with painkillers and cold compresses. They can go back to work in about four days and return to the gym after about a month.
