Chin Surgery

 

A patient's chin is considered "weak” or "retrusive” when it fails to adequately protrude forward to give good balance to the lower third of the face. This is most apparent when the face is viewed from the side, and it is frequently unrecognized by patients who believe their real problem to be just excessive nasal size.

 

For many years, there has been a surgical procedure to bring the chin forward (chin augmentation) that involves cutting the bone of the chin and moving the chin bone segment forward. This method can be somewhat challenging with respect to technique and equipment, not to mention its expense.

 

 

For the vast majority of patients, a retrusive chin can be most simply corrected through the use of a synthetic chin implant. These implants are typically made of silicone rubber, but may be composed of other substances, as well. It's a short, simple (and relatively inexpensive) procedure to place a chin implant, either by way of an incision just under the chin or one made in the mouth, located on the back surface of the lower lip near its attachment to the gum. Such implants are well tolerated, and, when properly placed, take on the characteristic feel of the chin bone, itself. Because of its simplicity, reliability and low cost, I prefer this "implant” method for chin augmentation.