Getting chin implant instead of jaw surgery?

Question

I have a MASSIVE overbite and MASSIVE openbite, along with a terribly recessed jawline. I am thinking can I simply get a chin implant, and then braces? Or will the teeth go back to their old bad position after braces are taken off, because the jawline is so recessed? What do you guys think? BTW I am a 18 year old male, when is the earliest I could get an implant? Thanks.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

A full examination by a facial plastic surgeon can determine your candidacy for a chin implant. A full examination by an oral surgeon can make a determination with your overbite  and underbite with regards to upper and lower jaw surgery. A chin implant is performed only for cosmetic purposes to bring your chin forward. Mandibular surgery can be performed on the upper jaw and the lower jaw to bring your teeth in better alignment. A genioplasty is performed under general anesthesia as inpatient procedure in a hospital setting. A chin implant is performed under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. For more information about Chin implants, please see the link and video below

Robert Kotler, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear 2mixes;If you have a massive overbite, an open bite and a recessed jaw line, you have many issues that need to be
discussed. It's not likely you are
going to get by with just a chin implant because it won't have any
influence on the improper relationship between the upper and lower teeth. Braces may be necessary at some point, but
they again would not cure all the problems.
As an 18-year-old male, you are
probably eligible to have any or all of the appropriate procedures.
I recommend that you start the
search with your personal dentist.Regarding a chin implant, that's something that should be discussed with your oral
surgeon. The best is a silicone plastic
chin implant inserted either through the mouth or through a horizontal hidden
incision under the chin.Typically that
procedure is done by plastic surgeons or facial plastic surgeons, although some
oral surgeons who have a significant cosmetic segment to their practice may be
capable of doing that. 
At this point, you need a game plan and should start with your personal dentist to give you some guidance. There is no question that you can be
helped. We see many patients who have
had great improvement both in the correction of the overbite and the
improvement for a receding chin. 
I recommend that you have consultations
with super-specialists in this area.The average oral surgeon may not be the most qualified to do some of the necessary
procedures and that, again, will depend on how much has to
be done, if the jaw must be broken or repositioned and so on. This is very sophisticated, but generally
successful work.In modern medicine, knowledge about a particular specialty
doubles every 18 months. Thus, the days of Jack-of-All-Trades now equals Master
of None. In plastic surgery, no one surgeon can truly master all 138 cosmetic
plastic surgery procedures. In today's medicine, there is the specialist and the
super-specialist. The best cosmetic super-specialist can master and be
efficient at four to seven procedures, doing only those operations daily.
Another hint: look for a surgeon who has had a fellowship in the procedure you want. That means your surgeon –
once he or she became a specialist -- has worked at the side of an older Master
Surgeon for a year, studying and performing only several procedures. It’s one
of the highest caliber credentials a cosmetic surgeon can have and makes him or
her a true super-specialist which is a medical -- and not advertising -- term.
Regarding seeing a cosmetic
surgeon: also see a super-specialist in that realm.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

A chin implant would likely be a poor choice for someone who has a 'massive' overbite/openbite. This type of jaw problem is best treated by orthodontics and orthognathic surgery to realign the bite and address the chin issue at the same time by the bone surgery. However, if you absolutely convinced that you will never have jaw surgery, then a chin implant or sliding genioplasty can be considered. But you would have to submit pictures for analysis to determine which chin augmentation technique would be best for you.

Inessa Fishman, MD · Answer

Your questions are best answered by an experienced orthodontist or maxillofacial surgeon after an in-person exam and likely imaging; such an evaluation would better address any functional issues related to your overbite and openbite.  An overbite and recessed lower jaw may be better treated with lower-jaw advancement surgery alongside orthodontic treatments; ideally, this may improve the functionality of your and improve the cosmesis of chin projection.  A sliding genioplasty (a cut in the central part of the lower jaw to bring forward and/ or down the chin segment) may be another good adjunct procedure in your case.  This is in contrast to a chin implant, which camouflages an under-developed chin but does nothing for the orthodontic problems.  As a young person, you may be better served by a comprehensive, functional approach as opposed to a quick, camouflaging fix.  Also, at 18 years old, there is no clear contraindication to a chin implant.

Donald Nunn, MD (retired) · Answer

If you have a significant malocclusion as you describe, you would have the best result with a combination of orthodontics and jaw surgery to correct the malocclusion.  This in most cases will give a much better cosmetic result and better function than to try to camouflage a dentofacial deformity with a chin implant alone.  Good luck.  Donald R. Nunn MD,DDS  Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear 2kmixes, Since you describe your over bite and open bite as massive it sounds like jaw surgery would need to be done first and then secondary possibly a chin implant depending on the degree of improvement. This would be determined by consultation and examination. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

It is hard to give you advice without seeing you, but a chin implant will add projection to the chin.  If you place your finger from your lip down, your chin should almost touch your finger.  Adding a chin implant will better balance the lower half of your face.

Gerald Wittenberg, MSc, DMD (retired) · Answer

It is a significant compromise to consider a simple chin implant when you have the described problem. It is best to wait until you are ready to do it properly even if it takes you some time. Remember it lasts forever and should be done correctly.

Sheldon S. Kabaker, MD FACS (retired) · Answer

See an experienced facial plastic or plastic surgeon. The chin implant is simple and can be reversed. See if you are a candidate.

Getting chin implant instead of jaw surgery?

Answers (9)

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