Genioplasty Surgery: The Secret to Having an Improved Chin Contour
Genioplasty Surgery: The Secret to Having an Improved Chin Contour
Genioplasty surgery is a facial contouring procedure that has been rising in popularity for the last couple of years. At times, some people cannot distinguish as to which facial feature needs correcting because they neglect to address the chin and only focus on the most common features that undergo plastic surgery. If you are someone who has been wanting to improve your lower facial contour, a genioplasty surgery might be your life-changing answer.
What is
Genioplasty Surgery?
The desire to alter the chin has become the “fastest-growing plastic surgery trend” nowadays. In fact, in 2011, chin surgeries increased by 71% in the United States alone.
Genioplasty surgery is a cosmetic procedure that is capable of augmenting, reducing, and repositioning the chin. This is done either with the use of a silicone implant or through a cut in the chin bone. Usually, a genioplasty surgery is done alone or paired with a rhinoplasty or orthognathic surgery. When combined with the other mentioned surgeries, a genioplasty can be considered as a “powerful” plastic surgery procedure since it can effectively alter and improve a person’s face.
Benefits of
Genioplasty Surgery
A genioplasty surgery is most beneficial because of how it improves the appearance. Some of the benefits of genioplasty surgery are:
- Improvement in facial balance and harmony
- Correction of chewing and malocclusion
- A decrease in a protruding chin
- Increase in a weak or small chin
- Enhanced self-esteem and confidence in one’s self
- Long-lasting and stable results
- Restored symmetry of the chin
Types of
Genioplasty Surgery
The main goal of a genioplasty surgery is to enhance the overall appearance and improve the chin’s shape, height, and symmetry. By doing so, the contours of the lower face become aesthetically pleasing and balanced with other facial features. To achieve this goal, three types of genioplasty can be used depending on the patient’s needs and preferences. The three types are:
Augmentation Genioplasty
- This type of genioplasty makes use of implants like silicone. Other times, autografts or bone is taken from the patient’s own body and can also be an option to consider. Augmenting the chin using implants is only meant for mild to moderate retrusion of the chin since the appliance has its limitations.
Sliding Genioplasty
- This type of genioplasty involves a process called osteotomy on the lower part of the mandible (lower jaw). The cut bone is advanced to give a solution to a retruded chin. It can also be moved backwards or reduced for patients that have a protruding chin. This method involves the bones and can cater to more complex cases of the chin that are caused by genetics, disease, or injury.
Osseous Genioplasty
- This type of genioplasty can be done either vertically or horizontally. Horizontal genioplasty is much like that of a sliding genioplasty. In contrast, vertical genioplasty involves the addition or reduction of the chin bone to achieve the desired chin length and facial height.
Genioplasty Surgery
Procedure
Before the surgery, you will first have a consultation with your plastic surgeon. During this stage, they will assess your qualifications for the procedure as well as create a treatment plan. You will also undergo an x-ray for your surgeon to know what alterations your chin needs. For clinics with more advanced technology, you may also have a 3D scanning and imaging wherein your surgeon could show you the outcome of the surgical procedure.
The duration of a genioplasty surgery can take about one to three hours, depending on how complicated the case is. For augmentation genioplasty, local anesthesia with sedation is usually administered. On the other hand, for sliding genioplasty and osseous genioplasty, general anesthesia is often much more prescribed. The steps during a genioplasty surgery are as follows:
Augmentation Genioplasty
- The surgeon first creates an incision either inside the mouth, behind the lower lip, or under the chin.
- Once the incision has been made, they will make a pocket between the muscles and the bone.
- They will then insert the implant in the pocket.
- The surgeon makes sure that the implant is placed correctly and secured by using stitches or screws.
- When they have secured the implant, they then close the incision using dissolvable sutures, especially when inside the mouth.
Sliding or Osseous Genioplasty
- The surgeon first creates an incision inside the mouth, specifically along the lower gum line.
- Once they have access to the chin bone, they use a chisel or a special saw for the bone to cut into the lower part of the mandible.
- The cut bone is either moved forward horizontally, vertically, or reduced to achieve the desired chin correction.
- They then secure the bone in its new place with the use of titanium screws and plates.
- The incision is closed using dissolvable sutures.
A genioplasty surgery is considered as an outpatient procedure. Swelling, numbing of the lips, and possibly soreness is expected as with every surgical procedure, but will gradually fade within two to three weeks. The recovery may differ from one person to another, depending on the type of genioplasty they underwent. Healing usually takes between two to eight weeks. You must take a leave from work for at least a week or two for you to be able to rest and heal properly. Strenuous and high impact activities should be avoided for three weeks after augmentation genioplasty and up to eight weeks for sliding or osseous genioplasty. To aid in faster and proper healing, you must follow your surgeon’s instructions and pair it with a healthy, balanced diet as well as enough rest.
Before and After
Genioplasty
With the use of the three types of genioplasty surgery, there can be significant changes done on the patient’s chin. As seen on the before and after pictures below, the procedure is proven to be effective in correcting chin asymmetry, chin shape, and lower facial contour. With the results, facial balance and symmetry have also been restored.
Genioplasty surgery, with the use of its three types, namely, augmentation, sliding, and osseous genioplasty, can become a solution to correct a protruding, retruded, and asymmetrical chin. This can be done through an implant or by cutting the lower part of the jawbone. The benefits that genioplasty can offer are mostly focused on improving the appearance. The procedure takes one to three hours, depending on the complexity of the patient’s case, while the recovery takes about two to eight weeks.
With the results shown in the before and after pictures, the procedure is proven to effectively correct the chin and restore balance to the facial features. If you are considering this surgery, you must have it done by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Make sure they are well experienced in bone osteotomy since osseous and sliding genioplasty require high precision for successful results. For the most trusted doctors and clinics with the best service in Korea, contact Seoul Guide Medical through their website. They offer free consultation and will give you the best and complete services.
FAQ
Both chin implants and sliding genioplasty produce permanent results. Even when you age, your new chin contour will stay the same. Chin implants are durable enough to last long but may need replacing if injury or trauma caused it to become damaged. A bone that has been adjusted during a sliding genioplasty will also stay in its post-surgery location and will not be affected by aging.
Correcting the contours of the chin area is an invasive procedure and should only be done on those who genuinely need this kind of surgery. The best candidates for a genioplasty are the following:
- Those who are in excellent mental and physical health
- Those who have realistic expectations regarding the procedure’s outcome
- Those who have a small or weak chin
- Those who have a chin that is not proportional with other facial features, especially the nose
- Those who have an asymmetrical chin
- Those who have excess chin
- Those who want to improve the shape and contour of their chin area
Like all plastic surgeries, swelling and bruising will be present right after a genioplasty surgery and will significantly affect the visibility of the results. As the effects of the surgery gradually disappear, you will be able to see the outcome of the procedure. However, it will take around two to three months for you to see the final setting of your chin.
During a genioplasty surgery, your surgeon will make sure to hide the incisions either in the natural creases of the skin, under your chin, or inside your mouth. This is done so that minimal to no scarring will be visible when it heals.