Scott Trimas, MD

There are two types of chin implant complications and they can be broadly categorized into the way the implant is put in through the mouth or under the chin and the type of implant that is used.

Implants placed through the mouth have a higher incidence of infection, malposition or moving to the wrong area usually too high, injuring the mental or sensory nerve and occasionally extrusion or coming out through the mouth. Implants placed externally under a small incision in the chin have a lower risk of infection and movement of the implant but those risks are still possible. Incidentally, approximately 25% of the population has a scar under their chin from falling or a natural crease there.

Secondly, complications that are related to the type of implant used. Too firm implants like Medpor carry more risks of extrusion and asymmetry and discomfort and are hard to remove if  you change your mind. Meshes like mersilene I would stay away from since they are hard to get exact and often create asymmetries and dimpling and are near impossible to remove in my opinion. Other common complications include numbness, infection, and asymmetry of the implant. My preference are the softer anatomic chin implants made out of silastic which is a silicone plastic polymer or goretex coated implants of the same or similar material. They are much more natural and adhere nicely to the bone and rarely get infected and if placed correctly generally don't migrate. Also, the other advantage of those types of implants include the ease of which they may be removed even years later often under local anesthesia through the same incision that they are placed.

So if I was to make a recommendation, I would suggest a silastic or goretex coated silastic chin implant placed externally under a small incision below the chin. I hope this information helps.