I am a 24 year-old male looking into cosmetic surgery to correct weak chin/jaw, but I have a couple of questions.

Question

I have a full beard which makes me feel better about my appearance, given it hides my weak chin/jaw (biggest insecurity). In assessing the shape, size, etc. of my chin and jaw implant, do I need to trim or shave my beard? I really hope there is a way around this since my beard is my security blanket. From the consultation to actually having the surgery, how long does it generally take? I take 125mg of Sertraline (Zoloft) and 50mg of slow-release Metropolol daily. Are these risks?

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

You may need to trim your beard if it’s too full to appreciate your chin as it is now. As for the medication, Zoloft can thin your blood and may lead to excessive bruising. Work with your physician to find ways to manage depression without blood-thinning medications. If you can’t find an alternative, you may need to do your chin augmentation nonsurgically with dermal fillers, such as Voluma and Sculptra.I hope this helps.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

If you beard is really full, it may be better to trim it to evaluate your chin prior to chin augmentation surgery.  If your beard is already trimmed, it is probably okay to evaluate you.  Your medications should not be an issue with surgery.  The amount of time from the consultation to surgery can vary by surgeon, but I would say you should give yourself at least a month in advance.  In some cases, it may be possible to shorten this time period.

Jeffrey Jumaily, MD · Answer

You do not need to shave your beard. We can estimate what you need based on the exam and experience. The medications that you take are safe and should not interfere with surgery. We are happy  to consult with you in person or over Skype if you wish. Best wishes

William Portuese, MD · Answer

In order to perform computer imaging in the office setting, it be best to have the beard shaved off or trimmed close. That way you can better see what the new chin would look like upon your facial features. Trimming the beard would be helpful at the time of the consultation so that the surgeon can  make the correct termination about which size of the implant  to place. In our practice, it usually takes a couple weeks to make an appointment for a consultation, and then another couple weeks to get on the surgical schedule. Chin implants are usually placed under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.

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

Hi, I have performed many facial shaping procedures, including Chin Augmentation with dermal fillers or silastic chin implants, for over 30 years.  Non smiling photos of your face from the front and side would help in the evaluation.  An experienced Chin Implant Surgeon will be able to tell if your chin and jaw line are weak even with your beard.  When the chin is weak, this creates an imbalance making the nose appear larger, the mid face top heavy, the lower face looks short, de-emphasizes the lips and allows early formation of a "double chin".  
 Proper placement of a silastic chin implant adds forward projection to the chin thereby creating harmony and balance to the lower face.  Using the same incision, liposuction can be performed to reduce the fat and further shape the neck.  Excess skin, from below the chin, can also be removed through the same incision.  
 I have found that placement of a silastic chin implant, through a small curved incision under the chin (also allows excess skin removal) to be very safe, quick, highly effective and far less invasive than a sliding genioplasty (requires extensive tissue dissection, bone cuts and placement of metal screws and plates to secure the cut segments of bone).  I perform chin implant surgery in 30 minutes or less, often using a local anesthetic alone.  
Hope this helps.

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear calakid, During the consultation it would be helpful to have your beard trimmed. If you would like imaging performed to show you the proposed changes surgery would provide then this will also make this process more advantageous for your viewing. See an example of the imaging process in the video below and the patients actual results as well as many before and afters in the link below. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M. D.

I am a 24 year-old male looking into cosmetic surgery to correct weak chin/jaw, but I have a couple of questions.

Answers (6)

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