Would a chin implant create adequate change or will I need a sliding genioplasty? (photos)

Question

I'm 37, have braces to fix an overbite and overcrowding (likely due to tongue thrust). I hate the lip incompetence and mentalis strain, and would love to see them gone or greatly diminished. I also want to see a more defined jawline and prominent chin. I would greatly prefer the recovery time of a chin implant over genioplasty. Could an implant achieve my goals? -Thank you!

Michael P. Morrissette, DDS, FACS · Answer

In cases that require significant forward advancement of the chin (greater than 7 mm), I prefer the sliding genioplasty. In cases requiring 5-6 mm, a chin implant works well. In the photos, it appears that you will need an advancement of 9-10 mm or more. In some cases, I will perform the genioplasty to the furthest extent possible ( 9-10 mm), then place a 5-6 mm length chin implant 6 months later.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

In our experience, chin implant surgery is more precise than genioplasty surgery, and there is much less down time. Additionally, chin implant surgery can smooth the appearance of a hyperactive mentalis muscle. Please consider meeting with several reputable facial plastic surgeons so you could see what to expect after surgery. Thank you for your question. Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

There is no doubt that chin augmentation will improve your facial balance. Providing that your bite is corrected, chin implant may be as good a solution as a genioplasty. Good luck.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You need to start with a chin implant.  They have a variety of sizes, including an extra large.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thanapoom Boonipat, MD · Answer

Hi you have the classic features of what we called type II occlusion. That's why you have lip imcompetence and mentalis strain, and probably some issues with breathing and eating too. Long term, jaw surgery will be much better for you long term--think about your obstructive sleep apnea and sagging jowls when you are 50-60s year old. The recovery for jaw surgery nowadays in experienced hand is not as bad as you think. A chin implant will not solve your functional issues and frankly only suboptimal for your aesthetic concerns. And this might lead to problems down the road. The recovery for a genioplasty nowadays is only 1-2 weeks.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

As long as your teeth are in good alignment, a genioplasty is probably not necessary. Genioplasty procedures are performed by an oral surgeon under general anesthesia in a hospital setting with an overnight stay, and are much more invasive. Placement of a chin implant can be done under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, which takes about 30 minutes. If you end up, not liking your chin implant, it can simply be removed and your back to where you are today.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Both the procedures have advantages and disadvantages.
There’s no way to say one procedure is better than the other.
For those who need more aggressive work, I think a sliding genioplasty may be more appropriate.
From what I see it seems oral surgeons tend to lean more towards the sliding genioplasty And plastic surgeons to lean more towards implants.
That makes sense because plastic surgery training tends to be much more soft tissue oriented while oral surgeons training is much more skeletal oriented.
If it was me, even though I’m a plastic surgeon, I would probably go to an oral surgeon.
I would probably also have three or four consultations before considering selecting a provider.
I would insist, unseen, an impressive collection of before, and after pictures of people who look just like me in the before pictures.
I would bring pictures of myself to use as reference during the consultation.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

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