Chin Implant with Liposuction, 35 Yr Old Female - Raleigh, NC

I can relate to so many people's reviews here on Real Self. The first time I remember realizing that I hated my profile was probably back in middle school when I could see my reflection in a sideways mirror. I vividly remember that moment. From then on, I always tried to raise my chin up to decrease my double chin, or stick my chin out to try to make it appear better. I'm tired of doing that! One on hand I feel so vain and I shouldn't be doing this. Yet on the other hand I feel like if there is something that you don't like about yourself, and you have the ability to fix it -- you should do it!! Life is short!!

I have a slightly weak chin and a very sloped neckline--its hereditary in my family. I feel like most of my weight is carried in my face and my neck. I have seen how this face ages over the years in the other members of my family, and I just don't want to look like that. I don't want just a quick fix for now. I want to do something that will also help me age better in the future.

I am so excited to have finally picked a surgeon and have booked my procedure for 2/22/17!! I'm so excited, I wish it was tomorrow! I am nervous about the recovery, but I'm ready to get it over with. I really wanted to have my surgery during the winter when its easier to hide from people and you can wear scarfs and hoods to cover yourself -- and it wouldn't be weird. I only plan on telling the people that I absolutely have to. I'm hoping no one else will notice. Maybe just think I have lost weight, but not that I had "work done."

The process of picking a surgeon was really hard. I saw 5 different surgeons and got 5 different opinions. I didn't expect that. And each surgeon's personality was different. Four out of the 5 PSs that I consulted with were facial plastic surgeons. That is really important to me, to have a specialist. The one that I saw who was not a facial surgeon had really great reviews on RealSelf, so I decided to give him a try.

Here is what each consult told me- in case anybody cares. I find it really interesting.

#1- Chin implant, direct fat excision, medial platysmaplasty, and shaving of the submandibular gland. This doctor had over 20 yrs experience. I think he is probably a surgical genius, but he was rude and dismissive of my questions. I was worried about how he would treat me if I wasn't 100% happy.

#2- Chin implant, chin liposuction, and necklift (included platysmaplasty and cutting around the ears). This facial PS had maybe 5-7 yrs experience. I liked him but his price was twice what all the other quotes were. And he wanted to cut me around the ears. I really don't want that.

#3- Chin implant and Chin Liposuction- This was a facial PS with 20 yrs experience. I didn't go with him bc he said that he doesn't like to do playsmaplasties. He thinks they cause more problems in the long run. I am still on the fence about whether I need a platysmaplasty.

#4- Platysmaplasty and Neck Liposuction- This PS did not specialize in faces. He did not think I needed a chin implant. He thought it might masculinize my face. I did not go with this surgeon bc I did not like his office staff and his quote was very high. He seemed really nice though.

#5- Chin implant and Liposuction- This is the surgeon that I ultimately ended up going with. He is a facial PS with over 20 yrs experience. He was respectful, to the point, and not dismissive of my questions. And I liked his office staff. And the price was right.

#5 also said that he did not think that I needed a platysmplasty, but would be willing to do one if I felt very strongly about it. I appreciated his honesty and opinion. He feels very certain that I would be able to acheive my results of a tighter neck without needing to have a platysmaplasty. But he also said that he could either go ahead and do it now if I really wanted it, or we could wait and see how I like my results and do it later IF needed. It would be fairly simple to do, he says. I am going to trust his judgement about not doing the platysmaplasty right now, but in the back of my mind I am wondering if this is the right choice. I had really convinced myself that I needed one -- bc of other people's reviews on RealSelf AND bc so many of the other PSs that I consulted with said that I needed one.

I hope I am not annoying anyone with my long post. This website has helped me so much, I just want to pay it forward. I guess if its too long, you would just stop reading, right?!? lol

I would love any advice on things I need to prepare, or advice for during my recovery. Thanks!

I can't decide between a small or medium sized implant.

My PS uses the Implantech Flowers Mandibular Glove implant --And he suggests a medium. But I am afraid that the medium would be too big for me. I think I want a small. I don't really want to add a lot of projection. I just want to give my chin some "structure" -- if that makes sense?!? I'm afraid that the medium might change my face too much, and my husband would not be cool with that!

All of the other PSs that I consulted with use the Implantech extended anatomical chin implant. One PS suggested no chin implant at all, one PS suggested small, and the others said medium. But the extended anatomical in medium gives 0.5 cm of projection, and the Flowers Mandibular Glove in small gives 0.6 cm of projection. The medium FLowers implant would give 0.8 cm of projection. That just seems like a lot! The Flowers implant is also longer in depth from top to bottom (1.75 cm) than the extended anatomical (Medium is 1.2 cm). I don't want to make my chin too deep either. I didn't realize how different the sizes compared to each other until I went to the Implantech website. All mediums are not created equal! At least in my amateur observation.

Obviously the PS is the expert, and he says that I need to trust his judgement. He will ultimately do whichever I want, but he thinks Medium. I haven't had my pre-op yet. So hopefully we will be able to come to an agreement then.

Any suggestions, or shared experiences would help! Has anyone else had the FLowers Mandibular Glove implant? It seems that most women on Real Self have gotten the extended anatomical.

I am also planning to have neck liposuction during the procedure-- just FYI.

Thanks!

I had my pre-op appointment today. It went well! Mostly signing a lot of paperwork, paying my final balance, and talking to the nurse. I did talk to my PS again, which I don't think I was supposed to, but I had some more questions. So he seemed happy to talk to me again.

I was mainly concerned about the size and style of the implant he is planning to put in. He said the final decision about size would be made in the OR. He uses sizers to see which size implant works best for me. He said that he usually leans to the conservative side, so if one size seems at all too big, he will go down to the next size. He does not change the size or shape of the implant by shaving it down or anything. I told him that I don't want my chin to extend past the "invisible line" draw vertically down from my lips. So my implant will either be in line with that "line" or slightly behind it.

He is going to use a Flowers Mandibular Glove by Implantech. He says he really likes the shape of this implant bc he thinks it looks the most natural of all the implants. I was concerned bc the measurement from top to bottom of the implant is larger than some of the others. And I don't want my chin to be too "deep." He says that its bc this style implant tapers really well all along the edges and it takes some extra space to properly taper. Does that make sense? He says that some implants don't taper very well on their edges, then the implant is more visible under the skin. He said that he does not use the "Conform" implants bc if he needs to remove the implant for any reason, it is too hard to get the implant out if it has conformed, or stuck, to your bone.

So hopefully, I will love my implant. I just have to trust my surgeon and hope for the best!

12 more days until surgery! I can't wait!!