Chin Shaping

One of the keys to a balanced lower face is proportionate shape and position of your chin. Weakness of the chin can lead to the perception that your entire face is imbalanced. Chin enhancement (or genioplasty) is a procedure that corrects the chin position either through surgery on the bone or placement of a small implant. Many patients choose to combine chin shaping surgery with another procedure such as nose reshaping or a face lift. Often the surgery can be performed through an incision inside your mouth, which hides the scar from virtually everyone. More rarely, the scar is hidden underneath the chin. In some cases the changes can be performed through reshaping of the bone of the chin itself, and in others a small implant is placed to enhance the size of the chin.

At Richmond Plastic Surgeons, we match the degree of correction to the rest of your face to achieve an overall balanced result.

Surgical Placement of a Chin Implant

Insertion of a chin implant may take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. During the procedure, the surgeon selects the proper size and shape implant to enhance your appearance and inserts it into a pocket over the front of the jawbone. The small incision to create the pocket and insert the implant is placed inside the mouth (along the lower lip) or in the skin just under the chin area.

Usually, the chin is taped after surgery to minimize swelling and discomfort. Sutures in the skin will be removed in five to seven days. If an intra-oral incision is used, the sutures will dissolve.

Recovering from Chin Surgery

You will experience some discomfort and swelling in the affected area for several days. It's normal to experience some temporary difficulty with smiling and talking. Black and blue marks may be visible around the chin and neck. Your plastic surgeon will instruct you about dental hygiene, eating and any restrictions to your activities after surgery. The recovery time depends on the type of surgery, but is usually quick. Most patients can return to usual activities in about one week, but you may be asked not to chew tough foods for about 3 weeks.