Deciding between a sliding genioplasty or chin implant. Any suggestions? (photos)

Without an exam your question cannot be answered. However, your photos are helpful and you are probably a good candidate for a Chin Augmentation. You will need to see an Oral/Maxillofacial surgeon to see if othognathic surgery, genioplasty or using an implant is best for your specific case. It should be noted that patients with severely weak jaws or abnormally functioning jaws may be better treated with other facial surgery (orthognathic surgery), although a chin augmentation may be an option at a later time. These patients should seek the advice of a plastic surgeon to determine which course is right for them. Here is some information to help you make this decision:Candidates for Chin Augmentation -Patients whose chin profiles are weak but have normally functioning jaws are candidates for Chin Augmentation. Many of these candidates have used injectable fillers in the past to strengthen the protrusion of their chins, but are looking for a permanent solution. If you are one of these patients, then you are a likely candidate for chin augmentation.Intended ResultChin augmentation most often is used to restore balance to the face due to a weak chin (under-projecting in profile). This disproportion of facial structure—having a small chin—tends to make the nose look larger and results in a poor jaw/neckline. As it doesn’t support the neck skin, often it causes skin to hang down from the upper neck and can lead eventually to a “turkey waddle” deformity. Chin implants can also create a wider, stronger chin. They can also be used to lengthen the face slightly.The augmentation is performed with a sterile, biologically inert implant (such as silicone or Medpor) which is placed over the bone of the lower jaw so it feels like your real chin and not like a separate implant.A wide range of chin implants are available, depending on the patient’s needs and goals. These implants vary in their dimensions and are made of different materials. The proper selection of the correct size and type of implant by your plastic surgeon is critical for you to achieve the look you want.It is very important to select a highly-skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon, or ENT or Oral Surgeon experienced in this procedure, to aid you in selecting the implants and insertion methods that will give you the best possible result. #chinimplant #chinaugmentation

 A sliding genioplasty is performed by oral surgeon as an inpatient procedure under general anesthesia at a hospital with an overnight hospital stay. This is usually performed when patient's have significant dental occlusion problems.  A Silastic chin implant can be inserted through a small submental incision under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure which takes approximately 30 minutes. Chin implants can also be removed if ever desired. For many examples of chin implants, please see the link below

The key aesthetic question is what do you want the result to look like from a frontal view. Chin implants can make your chin wider if you desire while a sliding genioplasty will make it look somewhat more narrow and that change is largely unavoidable. For the amount of chin augmentation that got likely desire (modest), a chin implant seems like the better operation for you despite your young age.