Chin surgery (mentoplasty)
Chin surgery, also called mentoplasty, changes the shape, size, or projection of the chin to balance it with the rest of the face. It can be done with an implant or by repositioning the bone. The technique is defined at your evaluation.
This page covers chin surgery by both routes: with an implant, and by moving the bone forward, known as sliding genioplasty.
What it involves
With an implant: through a small incision, inside the mouth or under the chin, the surgeon creates a pocket in front of the bone and places an implant of the chosen shape and size. This gives the chin more projection.
By moving the bone forward, known as sliding genioplasty: working from inside the mouth, the surgeon cuts the chin bone, moves the segment to its new position, and secures it with small plates and screws.
When the chin is too prominent, surgery can also reduce it by contouring the bone. It is often combined with rhinoplasty or chin liposuction, because the chin shapes the proportions of the profile.
Who it is for
It is usually considered for adults in good health who have a small, receding, or underprojected chin and want a more balanced profile. When the bite is also affected, jaw surgery, which is a different treatment, may be needed. At your evaluation your face and your bite are studied to define the technique.
- A small, receding, or underprojected chin.
- Good general health, stable weight, and realistic expectations.
- People who do not smoke or who can stop nicotine before and after surgery.
- May be considered together with rhinoplasty to balance the profile.
- If the bite is affected, jaw surgery may be needed instead of chin surgery alone.
What to know beforehand
Length of surgery
In general terms it usually takes 1 to 3 hours, depending on the technique and on each case. The time increases if it is combined with other surgeries, such as rhinoplasty. Your evaluation gives an estimate for your surgery.
Type of anesthesia
It depends on the technique. Placing an implant can be done under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia. When the bone is worked on, general anesthesia is the usual choice. The type of anesthesia is defined for each case at the evaluation.
Hospital stay and recovery
It is usually an outpatient surgery: you go home the same day. Swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the chin are normal, along with a feeling of tightness or numbness in the area and in the lower lip. You start with liquids and soft foods.
Many people return to work and their usual activities 3 to 10 days later, depending on the technique and on each case. The swelling starts to go down after the first week, and most of it settles over several weeks. Strenuous exercise is resumed gradually, generally after several weeks and once your surgeon clears you.
Aftercare
Your medical team gives you the exact instructions for your case. These are the usual ones:
- Follow a liquid or soft diet during the first days, as instructed.
- If the incision was made inside the mouth, use the mouth rinses you are prescribed.
- Keep the dressing or support tape on your chin until your surgeon removes it.
- Apply cold to the area during the first days, as instructed, to help control swelling.
- Sleep on your back with your head elevated during the first days, and avoid bumps or pressure on your chin.
- Avoid physical exertion and strenuous exercise until your surgeon clears you.
- Do not smoke: tobacco slows healing. Keep your follow-up visits and ask about any change that worries you.
Expected results
At first, swelling hides part of the change. As the swelling goes down the contour takes shape, and the final look can take a few months to show. Numbness in the chin or lower lip is usually temporary and can last weeks or a few months.
If the incision is made inside the mouth, the scar cannot be seen from the outside; if it is made under the chin, it leaves a small mark in an area that is not very visible. Implants are considered permanent. The result depends on your bone structure, the quality of your skin, and your age, and the face keeps changing over the years.
Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of chin surgery?
Like any surgery, it carries risks. Swelling, bruising, and temporary numbness in the chin or lower lip are expected. Possible complications include bleeding, hematoma, infection, asymmetry, lasting changes in sensation, and unfavorable scarring. An implant can shift or become infected, and sometimes it has to be removed or replaced. Significant complications are uncommon. At your evaluation they are reviewed for your case.
What is the difference between an implant and moving the bone?
They are two ways of giving the chin more projection. With an implant, a solid piece is placed over the bone through a small incision. With bone advancement, or sliding genioplasty, part of your own chin bone is cut and moved, then secured with plates and screws. The choice depends on your anatomy, the change you are looking for, and the surgeon's judgment, and it is defined at your evaluation.
Will I have visible scars?
It depends on the incision. If it is made inside the mouth, where the gum meets the lower lip, the scar cannot be seen from the outside. If it is made under the chin, it leaves a small scar in an area that is not very visible, noticeable mainly when you lift your head. Your surgeon will explain which one suits your case.
Can it be combined with rhinoplasty or other surgeries?
Yes, that is common. The size of the chin affects how the nose is perceived and the balance of the profile, so it is sometimes planned together with rhinoplasty. It can also be combined with chin liposuction to define the contour between the chin and the neck. Combining surgeries changes the duration, the anesthesia, and the recovery, and is decided at your evaluation.
Does a chin implant last a lifetime?
Chin implants are considered permanent and, in most cases, do not need to be replaced. Even so, they can shift, become infected, or, rarely, be damaged by a blow, and in those cases they may need to be removed or replaced. That is why it is worth keeping your follow-up visits and checking in if you notice any change in the area.
This information is general and does not replace a medical assessment. The timing, technique and recovery for your case are defined in consultation with the surgeon.
Let us talk about your case
Every body needs a personal assessment. Tell us what you are considering and we will review the options that suit you best.