Perfect sliding genioplasty - feminine, natural look

After 3 "failed" chin implants (shifting; staph infection, etc.) over 20 years, it was time for a subtle, natural, harmonious and PERMANENT solution using MY OWN BONES (not a piece of plastic). Having just turned 50, it was time to think about what will be best going forward in terms of aging and reducing future time/cost in the operating room as well. The sliding genioplasty, also known as an osseus genioplasty procedure, seemed like the perfect solution and so far it has been. I had been considering the procedure for a number of years and interviewed/consulted with four of the top surgeons in the world known for their sliding genioplasty. This is NOT--I repeat--NOT something for your general cosmetic surgeon (the one who gives you botox/fillers, even facelifts) to be doing if he or she isn't doing this procedures on a VERY regular basis. This is a highly specialized procedure that due to the proximity to other structures, can damage your teeth roots, nerves, etc. and/or be done too extreme (making too many women look manly) or cause other unpleasant and hard-to-deal with complications. I feel only a handful of maxillofacial surgeons in the world are truly qualified (and artistically gifted) to do this procedure perfectly. I am American but living abroad, and I finally settled on Mr. Mehmet Manisali (called Dr. in the USA; in UK he's Mr.). This required me to fly to London just for the procedure. I could not have been happier with every step of the process from the initial consultation, through to the hospital stay of one night at Parkside Private Hospital. The cost of my package was "reasonable" for all I received (including the night in the hospital/tests/meds/CT scan) and in line with what I would have paid in the USA for much less in the package. Mr. Manisali is extremely "conservative" in his approach, a deeply kind person, and took every aesthetic aspect of my face/history of the various implants into consideration. We jointly decided on my small amount of change needed to re-harmonize my face which, I was still bothered by a weak chin structure, after my last chin implant was removed due to an infection (done by another Dr.). We decided on a very moderate amount of lengthening and an even more minute amount of projection forward. I felt that my natural lack of projection gave my face a certain aspect of "character" and we voted to maintain that character. My change was secured with high-grade titanium plates (I suggest every patient get allergy tested with the "Melisa" test if you don't know for sure if you are allergic to medical metals or not; just to be on the safe side). I cannot feel the plates at all. The surgery was every bit as easy to recover from as any chin implant procedure I've had (and very minimal pain after day 4; swelling greatly minimized with aggressive warm/cool compresses). This review is being written at Week 4 post-op and while I can still feel some swelling at night, I am completely happy with the subtle but effective result with the exact amount of lengthening I had desired. Post-surgery, I've lost about 5 pounds from the liquid/soft diet (while inner-mouth stitches were dissolving), and I feel it's making my face slightly gaunt but I see where this is going once everything settles and very happy with my result. Mr. Manisali is not a surgeon who will potentially go "rogue" on you and decide while you're on the operating table what (potentially surprising) length of chin/projection you'll have. You will know going in what the ranges of movement will be and there will be numerous stages/reconfirmations of the change desired. One option he offers is a more computerized/engineered planning of the surgery so you know pretty much exactly what you will look like after/see it through computer aided visuals. This would have added some significant cost and I opted not to have the service, especially after consulting with Mr. Manisali and feeling completely comfortable with his artistic judgement. He is all about maintaining a feminine, natural look and putting safety and risk mitigation first. I could not be happier. Thank you!