Chin Augmentation “Genioplasty”

What is Chin Augmentation or “Genioplasty”?
Augmentation of the chin is a procedure where a silicone implant is placed to enhance projection of the chin to result in a more proportionate distribution of facial units.

How long will surgery be?

Genioplasty takes about an hour, longer if combined with related procedures.

What kind of anesthesia will I have?

General anesthesia is used for a genioplasty because it is safe and very well controlled. West Magnolia Surgery Center, on site at West Magnolia Plastic Surgery, is fully accredited by the AAAHC. Local anesthesia in injected into the incision once the patient is under anesthesia for enhanced postoperative comfort.

What is recovery like?

The incision to place the implant is inside the mouth in the lower portion of the lower lip. The incision is closed with layers of dissolving sutures. Patients are instructed to follow a soft or liquid diet for the week after surgery to help protect the healing incision.

What are the risks of a Chin Augmentation?

The implant is placed after identifying the mental nerves that provide sensation of the lip; these nerves can be stretched during placement of the implant and this may result in numbness of the lip. In my experience this has always returned to normal in time. Over correction or under correction of the chin dimensions can occur but sizers are used prior to final implant placement to assess then final result and potentially avoid this.

How do I prepare for surgery?

A preoperative appointment is scheduled approximately 2 weeks prior to surgery. At this time, all consents and recommendations, instructions for before and after surgery are reviewed. A long list of medications to avoid is reviewed and prescriptions are given for postoperative management.  The day before surgery, all patients are called to review final questions, confirm nothing has occurred since the patient was seen at preop that might require rescheduling of the procedure and to finalize arrival time at the facility. All patients are given ample information at the preoperative appointment regarding a time line of what to expect in the recovery process and when.