Are you feeling self-conscious about your chin? Desperately looking for a way to improve its appearance? If you answered yes, then chin augmentation might be the right solution for you. Chin augmentation is also referred to as chin enlargement surgery or genioplasty. It is a kind of surgery that helps to improve the appearance of your chin by making it look bigger or more balanced with the rest of your face.
If you’re considering chin augmentation with implants, it’s important that you understand the procedure and what it involves. Also, by consulting a board-certified plastic surgeon, you can get more information and learn whether you’re a good candidate for the surgery.
There are two main techniques that can be used for chin augmentation surgery:
- Chin implant surgery: Chin augmentation implant surgery is a procedure that involves placing an implant into the chin to improve its appearance. The implant is usually made from silicone and is available in a variety of shapes and sizes. During the surgery, your surgeon will make an incision either inside your mouth or under your chin. They will then create a pocket for the implant and insert it into place. The incision will be closed with stitches and you will usually need to wear a splint for a week or so to support the implant.
Chin augmentation implant types vary by three categories:
- Implant shape
- Implant material
- Implant size
Chin implants are made using different kinds of materials and some of the common materials used include:
- Silicone chin implants: These are the most common type of chin implants and are made from soft, pliable silicone. Chin augmentation silicone implant provide a natural look and feel and are very safe.
- Medpor chin implants: These are made from a porous polyethylene material and are often used for patients who have severe chin deformities.
- Alloplastic chin implants: These are made from a variety of materials including Gore-Tex, ePTFE, and polyethylene.
The size of the chin implant is also important and should be based on the size of the patient's chin. The implant should not be too large or too small for the patient's chin.
- Sliding genioplasty: A sliding genioplasty is performed by making an incision in the front of the chin, and then separating the skin from the underlying bone. The bone is then cut, and the front part of the chin is moved either forward or backward, depending on the desired result. The incision is then closed, and the skin is reattached to the new position of the bone. You will usually need to wear a splint for a week or more to support the chin bone. The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and usually takes about two hours to complete.