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Logo for Marquis Plastic Surgery, Coral Gables, Miami, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Chin Implant vs Genioplasty: New Trends in Facial Harmony

In general, patients come to plastic surgeons for one of two reasons with regards to their chin: it is either too small, or too big.

The type of surgery you need depends on your aesthetic goals.

First let’s break down these two major categories, and what the surgical vs nonsurgical options are.

Chin Implant Options

Chin augmentation is a procedure to alter the shape of the chin. Nonsurgical augmentation involves hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvederm Volux or Radiesse. This is only temporary. More permanent options for chin augmentation are performed surgically with an implant—either silicone (old method) or PTFE or PEEK (newer methods). There are more complicated surgical procedures using your own bone (called a genioplasty; more on this later).

Regardless of the type of implant or procedure used for augmentation, the incision is typically done through an intraoral incision (inside the mouth) to hide the scar, and/or, through a very small incision under the chin that typically heals very well.

The overall concept of facial harmony when it comes to the chin is to think about the chin as a 3-D structure–there is vertical height (distance from the lip to the end of the chin), horizontal width, and projection (meaning on profile, does the chin project out behind the lips or farther than the lips).

Genioplasty or a chin reduction is typically reserved for patients that want a smaller chin, but a ‘sliding’ genioplasty or a ‘jumping’ genioplasty can be used to add projection to the chin with surgical rearrangement of the patient’s existing bone. 

Chin Augmentation Pros and Cons

The advantage of nonsurgical chin augmentation with filler such as Juvederm Volux or Radiesse is that it is less invasive and is a lunchtime procedure. The procedure involves injecting a bioabsorbable filler that includes local anesthetic for patient comfort. There are very few side effects and minimal downtime. However, the aesthetic results only last 12-18 months at most.1 For a permanent long-lasting solution, the patient must have surgical correction. Chin implant surgery is slightly more invasive and costs more but has a relatively speedy recovery. The cons are the fact that it does require general anesthetic. In our practice, we don’t use silicone because of the risks of infection and implant extrusion. We only use a biointegratable implant (SuPor) which is the upgraded version of MedPor.

The body integrates into the implant and the risks of infection and extrusion are much lower. Chin implants can either be off-the-shelf or can be customizable with 3D printing. There are many good options for off the shelf implants. For example, a patient can choose to have a ‘button’ chin, or a square chin, or a ‘European’ chin, etc. Off the shelf implants can also be semi-customizable by the surgeon during surgery. However, for a patient with marked asymmetry of the chin/jaw, the truly customized approach is often ideal. This involves taking a hi-definition 3-D CT scan of the chin and then using sophisticated computer software to create a custom, one-of-a-kind implant, that is patient-specific. Some patients prefer having the control of choosing their own implant ahead of time and being involved in the implant design process. Of course, with this time intensive process, also comes the added cost.

Genioplasty (i.e. Structural method using patient’s own bone)

Also known as a sliding genioplasty, or a jumping genioplasty, this is a surgical repositioning of your own jawbone. In the sliding genioplasty, the vertical height is maintained, and the chin bone is simply moved forward to achieve more projection. In the jumping genioplasty, which is very similar, the bone is also moved forward, but ‘jumps’ upward so that the vertical height is reduced.

The surgical procedure involves an osteotomy (cutting the bone), and sliding the chin segment into a new position, and securing it with permanent titanium plates and screws. This is ideal for patients with severe recession or vertical issues (i.e. chin too long). The advantage of the genioplsty option is that it utilizes your own bone without an implant; the disadvantage is that it does require permanent titanium plates and screws, and needs to be performed safely under general anesthetic. Since the bone is cut with a surgical saw, these patients tend to have mild to moderate pain for 3-5 days that is typically resolved with anti-inflammatories and pain medication. As a result, the downtime for these patients is slightly longer than the aforementioned implant method. Temporary numbness of the sensory nerves occurs frequently but usually resolves completely within 12-18 months.3

Schedule a Consultation

If you are concerned about the appearance of your chin, facial harmony, and/or facial profile and are ready to explore your options, we encourage you to schedule a consultation. Chin augmentation is highly individualized, and the right approach depends on a careful evaluation of your facial anatomy, the degree of chin asymmetry present, and your personal goals. We take the time to understand what matters most to you and to recommend an approach that aligns with your anatomy and your vision for the results for your facial balance.

To learn more about chin augmentation in Miami, contact our office today, schedule a consultation or call 305-403-2922, or email us at concierge@ArthurMD.com.

[1] Ou Y, Wu M, Liu D, Luo L, Xu X, He J, Long Y, Feng J, Nian M, Cui Y. Nonsurgical Chin Augmentation Using Hyaluronic Acid: A Systematic Review of Technique, Satisfaction, and Complications. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2023 Aug;47(4):1560-1567. doi: 10.1007/s00266-023-03335-w. Epub 2023 Apr 10. PMID: 37036507.

[2] Ramanathan M, Panneerselvam E, Parameswaran A, Kanno T. Genioplasty in Contemporary Orthognathic Surgery. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2023 Feb;35(1):97-114. doi: 10.1016/j.coms.2022.06.009. Epub 2022 Nov 3. PMID: 36336599.

[3] Oranges CM, Grufman V, di Summa PG, Fritsche E, Kalbermatten DF. Chin Augmentation Techniques: A Systematic Review. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 May 1;151(5):758e-771e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010079. Epub 2022 Dec 20. PMID: 36729154.

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