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Vertical lengthening genioplasty
Intro
Throughout my childhood and young adulthood I had always felt insecure about my face. At first, I was so focused on my big nose that I feel like I literally couldn't even "see" what the rest of my face looked like. Finally, awhile after having my nose done in 2018, I realized I was much happier but still didn't feel like I was happy with my face but couldn't pinpoint "why".
After some reflection, research, and asking for feedback on Reddit and realself I realized I really did not like my chin. It was too "short". This made my face look too big and round and my chin look weak. My lips didn't have enough room to close really so when I did close my teeth they kind of smooshed together to make me look like I was frowning. I think my short chin also aided in people thinking I have an innocent or more submissive look, when that isn't really a match for my personality at all. I am a sweet person but matter-of-fact and not on to let people walk over me.
I also have spent a lot of investment on being good looking and for the most part I think I was before my genioplasty. I work out, run, eat healthy. But I always felt like something still was holding me back.
Pre-Op
In 2020 I had a virtual consultation with Dr Barry Eppley, who is out of Indiana. He explained to me that a chin implant would not be the best fit for my goals as I have good horizontal projection and was only lacking in my chin's vertical height. During the consult, Dr Eppley came across as extremely knowledgeable and informative. He answered all of my questions in a straightforward manner. Previously to talking it him, I consulted with another doctor who was more local to me and he was not as knowledgeable on genioplasty and did not even do the procedure, he only did chin implants and claimed that wolf work for my goals but after doing my own research I often found out that was unlikely. After talking to Eppley I knew he was the surgeon I wanted to go with.
Surgery Day
My boyfriend and I drove down to Indiana the day before my surgery and had my first in person visit with Eppley. He measured my teeth when I showed him about how far I wanted to move my chin down. It was about 7mm, he told me that I could do either 6mm or 8mm and needed to think about that and let him know what I wanted to go with. The next day I arrive at the surgical center. The nurses who checked me in were so sweet. Then Eppley came to talk to me and I told him I thought 8mm would be better and wouldn't be too long for me, since my face is so short and I am also a tall woman (5'9"). He agreed. He sat with me for a good amount of time and chatted with me about the surgery and then made some small talk with me. I really appreciate him taking the time to do that. I have had two other cosmetic surgeries with other doctors who were great doctors but neither had spent as much time sitting with me to make me feel comfortable before surgery. I knew everything was going to be fine. After Eppley left my waiting area the anesthesiologist did the same thing and answered any of my questions. Again, very pleasant experience that he did that. Very quickly after that they took me back for surgery, the anesthesiologist gave me some drugs before he put me under and I felt pretty good lol. Note that I ended up going with 8mm vertical lengthening, no forward/horizontal projection.
Post-Op
I woke up in very little pain. There was a nurse right there with me who sat with me and asked if I wanted to take a Percocet and I said yes, she said I had to eat a little applesauce first, so I wouldn't be nauseated. I did and took the Percocet and felt even better. My boyfriend came to get me and the nurse was so sweet and helped me to the car and talked to both of us about post-op. I went back to my hotel which is only a mile away and got in bed. My boyfriend immediately thought my chin looked really good, even though it was covered in a head wrap/bandage, you could still see the improvement. I slept on and off all day and watched tv and ate protein shakes, yogurt, applesauce, and ice cream and drank a lot of water. I was surprised how much it didn't hurt. There was some pain and soreness but honestly not bad. I had had my wisdom teeth extracted by a doctor in my area a couple months prior and that doctor did a terrible job with my pain management and it was excruciating, so before my genioplasty I was nervous about having that same kind of pain, but this experience and the wisdom tooth one were a completely opposite experience. I took my bandage off temporarily at night time just for maybe an hour and we were able to see my face. I absolutely love the difference so far. I think my face looks really pretty. It makes my lips prettier and gives them more space. My nose looks a bit smaller and makes my cheekbones look higher and cuter. My whole face looks almost "smaller" and more balanced. I finally feel beautiful and I hope I continue to heal well and like my results.
Throughout my childhood and young adulthood I had always felt insecure about my face. At first, I was so focused on my big nose that I feel like I literally couldn't even "see" what the rest of my face looked like. Finally, awhile after having my nose done in 2018, I realized I was much happier but still didn't feel like I was happy with my face but couldn't pinpoint "why".
After some reflection, research, and asking for feedback on Reddit and realself I realized I really did not like my chin. It was too "short". This made my face look too big and round and my chin look weak. My lips didn't have enough room to close really so when I did close my teeth they kind of smooshed together to make me look like I was frowning. I think my short chin also aided in people thinking I have an innocent or more submissive look, when that isn't really a match for my personality at all. I am a sweet person but matter-of-fact and not on to let people walk over me.
I also have spent a lot of investment on being good looking and for the most part I think I was before my genioplasty. I work out, run, eat healthy. But I always felt like something still was holding me back.
Pre-Op
In 2020 I had a virtual consultation with Dr Barry Eppley, who is out of Indiana. He explained to me that a chin implant would not be the best fit for my goals as I have good horizontal projection and was only lacking in my chin's vertical height. During the consult, Dr Eppley came across as extremely knowledgeable and informative. He answered all of my questions in a straightforward manner. Previously to talking it him, I consulted with another doctor who was more local to me and he was not as knowledgeable on genioplasty and did not even do the procedure, he only did chin implants and claimed that wolf work for my goals but after doing my own research I often found out that was unlikely. After talking to Eppley I knew he was the surgeon I wanted to go with.
Surgery Day
My boyfriend and I drove down to Indiana the day before my surgery and had my first in person visit with Eppley. He measured my teeth when I showed him about how far I wanted to move my chin down. It was about 7mm, he told me that I could do either 6mm or 8mm and needed to think about that and let him know what I wanted to go with. The next day I arrive at the surgical center. The nurses who checked me in were so sweet. Then Eppley came to talk to me and I told him I thought 8mm would be better and wouldn't be too long for me, since my face is so short and I am also a tall woman (5'9"). He agreed. He sat with me for a good amount of time and chatted with me about the surgery and then made some small talk with me. I really appreciate him taking the time to do that. I have had two other cosmetic surgeries with other doctors who were great doctors but neither had spent as much time sitting with me to make me feel comfortable before surgery. I knew everything was going to be fine. After Eppley left my waiting area the anesthesiologist did the same thing and answered any of my questions. Again, very pleasant experience that he did that. Very quickly after that they took me back for surgery, the anesthesiologist gave me some drugs before he put me under and I felt pretty good lol. Note that I ended up going with 8mm vertical lengthening, no forward/horizontal projection.
Post-Op
I woke up in very little pain. There was a nurse right there with me who sat with me and asked if I wanted to take a Percocet and I said yes, she said I had to eat a little applesauce first, so I wouldn't be nauseated. I did and took the Percocet and felt even better. My boyfriend came to get me and the nurse was so sweet and helped me to the car and talked to both of us about post-op. I went back to my hotel which is only a mile away and got in bed. My boyfriend immediately thought my chin looked really good, even though it was covered in a head wrap/bandage, you could still see the improvement. I slept on and off all day and watched tv and ate protein shakes, yogurt, applesauce, and ice cream and drank a lot of water. I was surprised how much it didn't hurt. There was some pain and soreness but honestly not bad. I had had my wisdom teeth extracted by a doctor in my area a couple months prior and that doctor did a terrible job with my pain management and it was excruciating, so before my genioplasty I was nervous about having that same kind of pain, but this experience and the wisdom tooth one were a completely opposite experience. I took my bandage off temporarily at night time just for maybe an hour and we were able to see my face. I absolutely love the difference so far. I think my face looks really pretty. It makes my lips prettier and gives them more space. My nose looks a bit smaller and makes my cheekbones look higher and cuter. My whole face looks almost "smaller" and more balanced. I finally feel beautiful and I hope I continue to heal well and like my results.
Update: Day 5 post op
Every day and throughout the day the swelling changes but I am still pretty swollen. Today is the best day yet, though now under my chin, under my jawline feels very sore today. I am impatient to see what I look like without the swelling but already feel like i can go out in public. Eating is mostly fine, though I am gentle and need to eat slowly/take small bites and only with my back teeth. My energy levels are mostly normal and I am back to work today.
After pics, day 2-5
Provider Review
