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Numbness After Chin Augmentation

I've had a chin augmentation 10 days ago, and I still can't feel the left side of my lip and chin. I also had liposuction done on the neck, as well as a platysmaplasty. It feels like I am at the dentist with anesthetic. How do I know this is not a pemanent nerve damage? Also, today I started to develop a bit if a rash - feels like an allergic reaction in my cheeks and my right ear is flaking, red and hot. The doctor put me back on antibiotics. What's going on? I am quite nervous.

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17 Doctor Answers | Asked by Carli_FL in Deerfield Beach, FL

Doctor Answers (17)
Community Comments (1)

Swelling and numbness after chin enlargement and neck liposuction: double whammy

The combination of these two procedures can cause alot of injury and swellin in the area of the chin which is very common and generally tends to resolve. This can commonly last 2-3 weeks but it can persist for a longer period. Generally there is nothing to improve the recovery of nerves but to wait it out. Early recovery is preceded by a tingling sensation similar to the way your leg feels after it falls asleep and wakes up. Stay in close contact with your doctor to monitor for possible... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Numbness can occur after chin implant

Greetings Carli, I would echo the sentiments of the previous doctors. It is not uncommon to have some numbness as you describe after a chin implant. It is likely that the mental nerve is either bruised or stretched. While this is likely temporary, there is a small chance it can be permanent. If temporary though, it can take several months to even years to fully return so don't give up hope.

D.J. Verret, MD

3 reviews

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

innovationsfps.com

Asymmetry and numbness is not unusual following facial surgery

With all facial surgery some early aspect of asymmetry and numbness is not unusual. Nerves themselves are very sturdy structures but they do not like being disturbed. With a chin augmentation the implant is close to the mental nerve. Give this 4 - 6 weeks and it will usually return to normal.

Much too soon to worry about permanent nerve injury

There are two nerve roots that come out of the lower jaw and provide feeling to the lower lip. The correct placement of a chin implant is below these nerves but sometimes they get stretched and take time to recover. Occasionally this can take months. Very rarely the numbness can be permanent. Time will tell but you can help the nerve regeneration by taking B complex vitamins. Follow closely with your doctor who will help you through the recovery process.

The odds are in your favor that the sensation will return.

Numbness after chin augmentation or liposuction is not uncommon. 10 days does seem like a long time, but you sound as if you have significant swelling. Warm compresses at this point will be helpful to reduce swelling. Be careful that they are not to hot to burn the skin. Cold does not help at 10 days. Local massage can help reduce swelling and decrease sensitivity issues. Continue to follow closely with your doctor and have him check you chin frequently. It may be an allergic reaction... more

The sensation should come back

What it sounds like you are describing is some bruising or swelling along some of the sensory nerves of the face, which can occur with several types of facial surgery, including the ones you described. The good news is that in the majority of cases, the sensation fully recovers, but it will take several weeks or even months.

Chin implant

On antibiotics? If there is a doubt of infection, then the implant needs to be removed. Numbness in 10 days is normal. If it persists, remove the implant. It could be pressing on the mental nerve. IF THE MENTAL NERVE IS INJURED, THIS IS PERMANENT NUMBNESS. REMOVE THE IMPLANT. Wait 6 months then reconsider next step.

You are still very early post-op

Carli, You are still very early post-op and it is common to still have swelling and occasionally numbness. As for your redness and rash, it is best if your doctor examines you to determine if there is an infection. The swelling and numbness will improve with time. David Shafer, MD New York City

Mental Nerve injury

There is a mental nerve on either side of the chin that provides sensation to the lower lip and front of the chin on each side. This nerve can be temporarily injured but also can be permanently traumatized. Only time will tell. If you have electrical shocks when you tap on the side of your chin, the nerve could be more severely injured. The majority of time it is temporary and could take months to recover at a general rate of 1 mm. per day.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Chin augmentation numbness

You had a bit of work done in a compact area. You are very early in your post operative course. Nerves are the most unpredictable of tissue. Numbness in this operation can take weeks to months to improve. Please let your surgeon know your concerns.

Numbness After Chin Augmentation

Since the chin implant is usually in close proximity to the mental nerve then some sensory variations are usually present after placement of the implant. These parasthesias or numbness usually will settle down in a few weeks.

Post op chin iplant , neck lipo and platysmaplasty - Am I OK

You have had several procedures that might have brusied or streeched the nerves to the left side of your face. There are 2 kinds of nerves; sensory and motor. Your lip does not appear in your photo to have had any motor damage, but one can't really tell from photos. I agree if you don't have any sensation you may have a neuropraxia, transient decrease in the sensation of your left face. As the other doctors have stated , most likely this will resolve. Your most... more

Numbness

Numbness after placement of a chin implant for more than 72 hours is not a good sign. In hundreds of chin implants I have never seen complete numbness as a standard post-op sequelae. Even if the nerve was brused or stretched it should still have some sensation after the surgery. When the implant is placed properly from an external incision there is usually very little strress or trauma to the nerve. There may be a significant injury to the lower branch of the trigemminal nerve that gets... more

Infection

If the implant was placed intraorally, there is a possiblity of nerve damage and infection. Antiobiotics should be affective but if the redness continues, then the implant must come out!!!

Temporary nerve damage after chin implant and liposuction.

Hi. Most likely, your left mental nerve was bruised during surgery, and normal feeling will return within 3 months. There is a remote chance that the nerve was cut. Then the numbness is permanent, but this is unlikely.

You are early....

Hello, At this early stage numbness and swelling are normal. In most cases these things resolve, but this may take 6-8 weeks or so. Have your doctor take a look to be sure that the infection issue is resolved soon though.