Chin Implants
Conveniently located to serve the areas of New York, NY
Chin implant surgery (also referred to as chin augmentation or chin enhancement), is a cosmetic surgery intended to enhance the chin and jawline’s appearance.
Your chin is important to the overall appearance of your face. As people look for ways to improve their facial features, this type of cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more popular among our patients in New York.
If you’re thinking about getting a chin implant, you should inform yourself about the procedure’s requirements, advantages, and potential risks.
The Goal of Chin Augmentation
The main goal of chin augmentation is to help your face achieve a good appearance both from the front and in the face profile. To accomplish this, the size or shape of your chin may be altered. For achieving the maximum effect, it may be combined with nose surgery (rhinoplasty).
The chin is crucial to the feminine face as well, even though we frequently associate it with creating a masculine appearance. The feminine apple or heart-shaped face is created with a nice chin. Additionally, a weak chin can exaggerate the size of a large or average-sized nose. Chin augmentation might be helpful if you feel self-conscious because of a small chin.
Contents
Before and After Photos
Benefits
Numerous advantages can result from chin enhancement, including:
- Balanced Features – a chin implant can help balance the facial features and produce a more symmetrical appearance, improving facial symmetry;
- Better Defined Jawline – this improvement can make you appear younger and more attractive;
- Increased Self-Confidence – most patients report feeling more confident as a result of their improved appearance following chin implant surgery;
- Scarring is kept to a minimum – chin implant surgery typically uses a small, undetectable incision. It may also be performed through an intraoral incision (inside the mouth) which leaves no scar.
Ideal Candidate
If you are considering chin implant surgery, you should:
- be in good health;
- have realistic expectations about the results;
- have a well-defined aesthetic goal for the procedure.
Candidates for chin implant surgery typically have a small or weak chin and wish to improve its size and shape. This type of surgery is also suitable for people with a recessed chin or unbalanced facial features.
If you feel uncertain whether you are a good candidate for this procedure, do not worry! Your surgeon will conduct a thorough evaluation during the initial consultation. This is to see if you are a candidate for chin implant surgery.
Types of Chin Augmentation
There are three common options for chin surgery:
- Facial filler injection
- Chin implants
- Chin advancement
Facial Filler Injection
This is a non-surgical option that involves injecting hyaluronic acid or other fillers (such as JUVÉDERM®) into the chin to add volume, increase its size and create a more defined look. It is a minimally invasive and quick procedure that does not require downtime as well.
Although this procedure is temporary, it is still a popular option for those who want a subtle change without the commitment of surgery. It can be used to give you an improved chin appearance for a special occasion or to help you determine whether chin surgery is something you desire.
Chin Implants
Chin implants use a solid silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene (better known under the brand name “Teflon”). The implant is inserted through a small incision inside the mouth, and the implant is placed in front of the bone. To avoid shifting, the implant is typically secured in place.
Chin implants are a good choice for patients who have a small or weak chin because they can produce more dramatic results than previously mentioned facial filler injections.
Chin Advancement
In chin advancement, a section of your jawbone is cut loose and shifted forward, then secured in place with metal plates and bone screws. For some patients, this type of chin augmentation can achieve good results.
However, it is a more invasive procedure that requires a longer recovery time, typically three to four weeks, during which patients may experience swelling, discomfort, and difficulty speaking or eating. For these reasons, Dr. Lefkovits does not perform chin advancement surgery.
Chin Revision Surgery
Chin revision, or genioplasty, is a cosmetic facial procedure that works to enhance, improve, and correct defects in the chin. Chin revision may be recommended to increase or decrease the size of your chin and is often performed in combination with other facial cosmetic procedures (such as facelift, brow lift, and eyelid surgery).
Chin revision is usually an outpatient procedure, and most patients are able to return home on the same day as their appointment.
For chin revision that decreases the size of your chin, our plastic surgeon will reposition the chin button, or “chin bone” that sticks out. We may also remove a wedge from the chin button to enhance its appearance.
If you wish to increase your chin size, our plastic surgeon may recommend one of several procedures, such as moving the chin button forward or inserting an implant to augment the size of your chin. As chin implants vary in size and design, we are there to help you select the model that will create the look you are hoping for.
Risks and Possible Complications
When it comes to chin augmentation with facial fillers, it requires no recovery time. As we have already mentioned, this is a quick, almost non-invasive procedure. Risks are minimal, although people are likely to see short-term swelling that may obscure final results for several days. The results of chin augmentation with facial fillers can be good but may only last for up to six months.
Chin augmentation with a facial implant may require up to a week off from work. There will be some bruising and swelling in the chin that will go down over time. You should avoid strenuous activities, including exercise, for at least a week after the surgery. By the time you are ready to return to work, you can cover bruising with makeup.
The most common complications include:
- Infection
- Prolonged or permanent numbness in the chin
- Unfavorable cosmetic results
- Facial implants may shift
The likelihood of these complications is very small.
Results
Patients’ responses to chin implants may be slightly different, but in general, it takes up to several months for the implant to settle into its final position and for the swelling to completely go down. Because of this, you will notice changes in the way your chin looks after the first week or two.
You will experience some swelling and bruising in the first few days following surgery as well. It may take a week or two for these symptoms to start vanishing.
As part of the initial healing process, you might also need to wear a compression garment or bandage to support the implant and help with swelling reduction.
Duration
Chin implants can typically last for many years. However, their lifespan can vary depending on the patient’s unique circumstances and the type of implant used.
The most popular chin implants are created from silicone or other synthetic materials that are made to be strong and biocompatible. The material chosen for the implant and how well it fuses with the surrounding tissues determines how long it endures.
Schedule FREE Consultation
When it comes to plastic surgery, it matters which plastic surgeon you choose. Board-certified doctor George Lefkovits from Park Plaza Plastic Surgery is experienced in chin surgery, having been in plastic surgery for more than 30 years.
If you are interested in enhancing your facial appearance with a chin implant surgery, contact our New York office at (212) 750-9494 and schedule your free initial appointment.
