New England’s Leading Mentoplasty Surgeon
Chin augmentation, mentoplasty, or chin surgery, is a procedure that alters the contour of your chin. Many people have a chin that does not match the rest of their face, particularly from the profile view. Retrogenia is the formal term for a recessed or “set back” chin that does not project forward enough. Other names that can be used to describe different appearances of the chin are hypogenia and microgenia, meaning “small chin”.
When the chin does not project forward enough, or is too narrow, it can significantly alter one’s appearance. Often times chin augmentation is performed in combination with a nose job, or rhinoplasty to provide an overall more balanced facial appearance. It can also be performed with other facial procedures or by itself.
The two main types of chin surgery involve either the placement of an implant or altering the bone itself. In a bony genioplasty the mandible is cut and the bone moved forward and secured in position with a plate and screws. The results are excellent and permanent but involve significantly more pain, swelling and recuperation time. A chin implant, on the other hand, can be performed in a short procedure under sedation with much less down-time and discomfort. The implants used are typically made of silastic and should also last for more than twenty years and may never need to be replaced. Typically placed through a small incision under the chin which is well-hidden, the implant can also be placed through the mouth. Multiple sizes and shapes are available and one that is specific to your facial structure is chosen at the time of your consultation.
Chin augmentation has become a very popular procedure and is commonly performed by plastic surgeons with experience in cosmetic facial surgery. It can allow you to feel better about your facial harmony in a short and minimally invasive procedure. Please contact us for an appointment if you are interested in chin contouring surgery.
Looking for a non-invasive chin augmentation procedure? We offer that as well!
