Had chin implant yesterday and seems lopsided. Is this just swelling? (Photos)

Question

I just had a chin implant yesterday. I don't know if its the way its taped or whats going on but there is a large dent on the right side that seems to be getting larger. I am getting very nervous. I like the way the left side looks but I'm worried the scar tissue and stuff from my acne causing a problem on the right side. I was told my all the doctors i consulted with that it would make my acne scars look better because it would stretch the skin. Is this just swelling?

Alejandro Nogueira, MD · Answer

It is true the vast majority of surgeons use the implants instead of the osseous surgery to adjust the chin, but this is a matter just of lack of experience and comfort ease; implants play no role when there is an autologous alternative which, actually, has plenty of superior advantages.
Being an option, chin implants have serious disadvantages, especially in the mid and long term, patients are rarely happy with them after 5-6 years, all are out sooner or later. A quick research just on this website sheds light on the common, frequent and serious complications and side effects chin implants entail, like dislocation, malpositioning, infection, over or under corrections, visibility, fake looks, nerve damage, chronic pain, poor aesthetic results and in general patients' dissatisfaction; not to forget chin implants are not versatile, they are unable to provide vertical increase, horizontal axis modifications and in most cases sufficient anterior projection; as obvious as it sounds but we have to bear in mind chin implants play absolutely no role when the chin needs reduction of one of the spatial axes; actually it is very common receiving patients who seek chin implant removal and replacement by an osseous genioplasty in the same procedure.
Fillers, another tempting resource, are a very dangerous option in chin reshaping, potentially destructive, unable to reshape and enhance respecting the basic principles of anatomical beauty, leading to mid and long term serious complications (granulomas, deformities, fistulae, etc) and the worst is they can't be removed in most cases.
Burring the chin is, strictly said, osseous chin surgery but should neither be performed, ever, since just flattens the chin by destroying the natural dome of the jaw, deletes the labiomental crease and due to the detachment of the mentalis tendon this technique commonly leads to a droopy double chin, a serious aesthetic complication.
A multidimensional sliding genioplasty allows to a versatile surgeon full customization for augmenting, reducing and leveling the chin in any of its spatial axes, leading to a myriad of combinations to suit every individual's chin anatomy and facial balance requirements; you can masculinize, feminize, round or make square, increase, decrease, supply bone graft, remove bone portions, slide fragments, etc. This absolutely impossible with other method than multidimensional sliding geniplasty, a technique providing a series of advantages among which worth mentioning:-lifetime procedure, no more revision or renewal procedures, unlike implants-more natural than implants, the procedure is totally undetectable -no visibility of implant edges during gestures, expression is even improved, nicer smile-improves the double chin effect at the sub-mental muscles (floor of mouth) hammock caused by lack of tension there; also improves the shape and tension of perioral muscles and tightens up the jowls, creating a beneficial side effect in form of an indirect facelift and neck lift, all patients see their face indirectly rejuvenated; implants do not offer this feature-no future displacements or neuritis of mental nerves-no droopy double chin (the mentalis tendon is not detached) -way lower rate of postoperative complications if compared with implants, like infections, displacements, neuritis, etc-no need for complex plates and screws or teeth braces that may need future removal; just steel wires synthesis may suffice, they stay buried into bone callus producing no disturbance
The cons for the patient are essentially the costs associated with osseous genioplasties, however it sounds cheap if you consider the lifetime benefits; obviously the main disadvantage happens on surgeon's side, since it is more technically demanding than chin implants, few surgeons are experienced or comfortable with multidimensional osseous genioplasties (though I personally perform 100% of the chin procedures by this osseous method); patients have difficulty in finding surgeons experienced and comfortable in osseous genioplasties able to freely modify the chin shape and size based on their aesthetic and gender goals.
You'll find in this website hundreds of negative experiences with chin implants in the short and mid term, do read my profile's Q&A and you'll find them too. I am doing osseous genioplasties for more than 15 years with the highest success and no one patient sought afterwards switching to chin implants, totally the opposite, I did many chin implant removals and one-staged osseous genioplasties to replace the implant and enhance the result.
See the link below to find few cases of my own practice very similar to yours which I had the opportunity to operate successfully on, sharing a lot of common features with the technical problem you have posted.
If you wish better grounded opinion well lit, focused and standard images have to be assessed: frontal, both lateral and both oblique views, also from underneath.
Feel free to request any additional information from me.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Yes, you will have swelling, which will gradually resolve over the next few weeks. If you remain concerned, I recommend following up with your surgeon. Hope this helps.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It's too soon to tell what your final results will be. You will have swelling, which will gradually resolve over the next several weeks. Icing, cold compresses, venus legacy and ibuprofen will give improvement. Best, Dr. Emer

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

It is normal to have swelling one day after placement of a chin implant and it is not uncommon for the swelling to be different on each side.  In most cases, swelling will begin to improve after the third day or so after surgery.  I would recommend waiting  a few weeks to get a better idea of the true appearance of your chin.  If you still feel there is some asymmetry after a few weeks, you should discuss this with your surgeon.

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.  There will be some swelling for several weeks and you should speak with your chin implant surgeon about any concerns or clarification on your post op instructions.  Only your chin implant surgeon can explain where and how the chin implant was placed. Placement of a silastic chin implant through a small, curved incision under the chin can be done in less than 30 minutes using local anesthesia. 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).  
Hope this helps.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

The asymmetry looks like swelling in the photo. Give it a couple of weeks for that to resolve before considering the look given from the chin implant. Be sure to keep your head elevated at night, the higher the better, in order to speed up the resolution of the swelling.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

I can see the asymmetrical swelling you have and would suggest you call your doctor today to be seen and evaluated. They can tell you if something is wrong like bleeding or if that is normal for your starting point.

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