Chin Implants - Where Are the Satisfied Patients?

The poor level of satisfaction in the past may have been related to older implant shapes and design. Implantech has a wide variation of anatomically conforming implants that look great in the appropriate patient.  Patient selection for the procedure is also critical, because a good candidate generally looks much better after the procedure. As others have noted, it is a fairly straight forward procedure.  However, as with any procedure, there is a variation in skill and experience related to the Surgeon involved.

Chin implant surgery is a very satisfying procedure for a patient who has a recessed chin that needs better balance with the rest of the face.  The best results are usually achieved by a board certified facial plastic or general plastic surgeon who has significant experience with the chin.  Make sure you ask your potential surgeon about his or her experience with chin implantation and look at many pictures.    Your surgeon will also discuss your options regarding the best size implant that you will need, as well as realistic expectations which is important in any plastic surgery procedure.

The newer types of chin implants are much softer and sit directly on the bone so that there is less palpability and less visibility of the implants. They often hug the bone in an anatomic fashion. You should be sized prior to your implant as this will often eliminate the need for guess work. I would recommend a board certified facial plastic surgeon due to their frequent work with facial surgery specifically the chin and nose and receive extensive training in that area.

When I talk to patients about chin implants, I am very realistic in telling them what they can expect.  The amount of projection and shape that can be achieved with a chin implant is moderate at best most of the time.  If a patient is looking for an extreme amount of re-shaping or projection, then other forms of plastic surgery need to be addressed (eg orthognathic surgery, adding a facelift or necklift.)  Further, the materials used for a chin implant are usually silicone or medpor (hard plastic.)  Both of these materials have their own specific risks, including eroding of the mandible, infection, malposition, pain, numbness, etc.  I know it sounds like chin implants are not good, but when everything is taken into account and the patient has realistic expectations, then a good outcome is very likely.  When you do end up visiting a plastic surgeon for a possible chin implant, ask to talk to previous patients who have had the procedure done by that specific plastic surgeon to get a good idea of what the procedure is all about.  Good luck!

You are right. I never noticed that it had a 50% rating on this site. Typically, patients seem to be pleased wiht the surgery and it is a relatively straightforward procedure with minimal recovery time and a higher satisfaction rate consistent with other cosmetic procedures