Chin Implant Removal Decision & Experience

I got a small chin implant 2 1/2 years ago. I will walk you through my entire experience, as I read a lot of blogs on the topic, which I feel really helped me make the ultimate decision to have the implant removed. I hope to be able to lend the same support.
6 years ago I got a rhinoplasty. I'd hated my nose ever since I can remember. I did a lot of research on top rhinoplasty surgeons, and when I had finally chosen one, my mom came with me to the consultation. During my consultation, the doctor also suggested a small chin implant. I was pretty shocked, since I'd never even realized chin implants "were a thing". I quickly declined, stating I had no problem with my chin, I just wanted to get my nose fixed. The doctor gently persisted, even offering to do the chin implant for free. He said that he thought I would get optimal results by pairing the two surgeries, and that he often performed a lot of these surgeries together, as it often created much better facial proportions. I again declined, stating I didn't want anything "implanted" in me, and I was nervous enough about the nose surgery. That was the end of that, and he respected my decision.
Fast forward 3 1/2 years, and I was unsatisfied with the results of my rhinoplasty. My new nose was a HUGE improvement to what I'd been born with, and it was done very tastefully and naturally, but there were just features about it that I had imagined I wouldn't still be concerned with after my surgery (i.e. I still felt the tip was a little too bulbous, and I hated the way it still seemed to "hang" when I smiled. Overall, I thought a thinner bridge, with a little bit more of an upward rotation would have suited my face better. I had also started noticing that I was losing facial volume as I got a little bit older.
I went back to my plastic surgeon to discuss a modification rhinoplasty and some dermal fillers. The doctor advised against the revision rhinoplasty, but I ended up getting my cheeks tastefully plumped with Voluma. The results were gorgeous! My cheeks looked fuller, but in a very natural way.
When I came back for my follow up, we started discussing other areas of the face that fillers could be used on, since the doctor had also suggested getting a fat transfer to my face. I thought that was a little drastic for what I was looking to achieve. When the doctor mentioned fillers could be used in the chin, I figured I'd give it a try, since let's be honest, ever since he had suggested a chin implant 3 1/2 years ago, that thought was always slightly in the back of my mind (I mean c'mon, if a plastic surgeon recommended a procedure to make you look better, you too would once in a while think, "could this really make me look that much better"?).
I liked the results of the fillers in my chin. To be honest, I didn't notice that much of a difference from the front, but when we compared before and after photos, it was a noticeable difference, especially from the profile. So, now I was thinking, should I get a chin implant? If I like these results and want to keep up with them, I am going to have to pay to get fillers done every year. After debating for a few weeks, I finally decided to get a chin implant, and the doctor agreed to a revision rhinoplasty during the same surgery.
Immediately after my surgery, I noticed a difference in my chin. It was different than what it had looked like with the fillers, but it wasn't really what I was imagining it would look like. In my mind, I had a vision of a beautifully sculpted jaw line, and this just kind of looked wider. I figured it was because of swelling. Over the next few weeks, the swelling went down, and mine chin still hadn't looked too much different than it had prior to surgery, at least that was my impression. HOWEVER, I will never forget seeing myself in a picture for the first time post surgery. My chin looked HUGE. OMG! How could I not notice that my chin looked this big when I stared in the mirror? it was like the camera was totally dismorphing the size of my jawline. And, my previously long face looked even longer!
I literally noticed my chin/face this way in every single picture I took for the next 2 1/2 years. The angle of my chin from the side was something I hated to see. And, when I smiled, my face shape looked completely different.
I was in my friend's wedding 3 months after the surgery, and I'll never forget looking at the wedding pictures with my mom, and my mom couldn't even pick me out. When I pointed at myself she said, "that doesn't even look like you - the shape of your face looks totally different".
I kept asking myself, why did you do this? You never had a problem with your chin, and now you hate it! After 2 1/2 years of psychological torture, I finally decided to call my plastic surgeon and tell him I wanted the chin implant removed. I had read enough reviews and articles online that said how "easy, quick, and straightforward" the removal was with a silicone implant, which is what I had.
At my appointment, my surgeon told me he thought the implant looked nice, but it was up to me. I told him that I had literally hated the implant for the past 2 1/2 years, and he said he would take it out. He had suggested shaving it down so that the wings of the implant that wrap around your jawline were gone, saying that would give my chin/face a more tapered look. I considered that for a few days, and then decided that I just wanted the entire implant out. I was worried that I wouldn't like the shaved implant either, and then I'd have to go through another surgery - it just wasn't worth the chance to me, and I kept reminding myself that I hadn't had an issue with my chin original chin in the first place.
I booked the removal surgery. The office said I would be awake, just numb under local anesthesia, so I could drive myself, and the surgery would only take about a half an hour. I booked the surgery for the following week.
I was excited leading up to the surgery - finally I would be rid of this implant that was causing me so much mental stress about my appearance. I had actually become self conscious of my chin over the past couple of years!
As I actually walked into the doctor's office, my nerves started kicking in thinking, "you're about to have minor surgery, and you're going to be awake for it!".
No turning back now, I wanted to do this!
The whole removal procedure took about 20 minutes from numbing to stitching. The worst part was the numbing. My doctor injected my chin area several times with a medium sized needle. It felt like a pinching, burning pressure - uncomfortable, and somewhat painful, but nothing unbearable. When the doctor actually started pulling the implant out, that was very uncomfortable! It didn't hurt, but i felt him tugging and tugging - i honestly thought the implant was never going to come out, or he was going to end up ripping my jaw off.
The incision was the exact same incision under my chin as the original surgery, which was very small, so on top of how hard he was tugging, i honestly didn't know how the implant was going to fit through the incision coming out (i figured putting it in was easier because he could fish one side in and then the other, but coming out, he had to grab it from the middle).
Anyway, he got it out, and when he did, he told me it was out, but it was like i could feel that it was out, even though my chin was completely numb. My face automatically knew there was no longer a foreign object in there.
As he was stitching me up, he said to his fellow, "when they're infected, they want to walk right out", meaning that mine was perfectly fine because he had to tug for a bit.
When i looked in the mirror, i could immediately see the difference! Nothing super dramatic, but my jawline was thinner, regardless of the swelling the doctor said i'd have for the next few days.
I made my appointment to get the stitches out in 6 days.
I can see that there seems to be slightly more projection than my original chin, which is okay, i was actually hoping there would be. I can still slightly see the shape of the implant when i smile, again, it's totally fine, because it is a much more natural and fitting enhancement.
I will update in the next few days to document my healing progress. I am definitely so happy i got the implant removed!