Chin implants can be secret to Snatched Jawline
A sharp, well defined jawline is attractive and desirable. However, due to either heredity, aging, or weight gain, that sharp jawline you want may not be there. What can you do to reshape your jawline? Interestingly, many people don’t first notice a weak chin, but notice sagging face and neck skin. Or, you may have a nose that you feel is not attractive and sticks out. Many people will consult a plastic surgeon to discuss their nose or neck and not realize their chin may be playing a role.
Despite the widespread popularity of cosmetic surgery on social media and the internet, and more advertising by celebrities, chin augmentation still falls under the radar. The reason is it’s uncommon for patients to self diagnose themselves needing a chin implant because it’s more obvious to see a crooked nose, or sagging face and neck. Frequently, it’s during a consultation that the surgeon will identify you with a weak chin. An important goal for all of us is to achieve facial harmony and balance. A strong chin position plays an important role that many of us don’t realize. It’s that subtle feature that can make a dramatic difference on one’s attractiveness. A chin implant can enhance a facelift result, or make your face even more balanced after a rhinoplasty. Although chin implants may not receive the same publicity as nose jobs and facelifts, the numbers show that more people are getting their chins augmented. In 2023, it was estimated the United States’ market for chin augmentation was about $439 million. This number is projected to reach over $650 million.
How does one augment the chin? By far, the most popular technique is with a chin implant. An implant addresses migrogenia, or an underdeveloped chin. Most surgeons use pre made chin implants that come in various shapes and sizes. Fortunately, the majority of patients with weak chin will get a nice result with these standardized implants. These implants are made of silicone, so can be modified slightly intraoperatively. For example, refinements to the shape and size can be made with careful carving of the implant with a knife. There are a few surgeons that offer custom fabricated implants. The patient gets an individualized implant fabricated based on fine cut CT scan. Obviously, these will be much more expensive than using the standard implants available on the market.
Once the implant is chosen at the preoperative exam, placing the implant is a fairly straightforward surgery. The procedure can be done under local, oral , or general anesthesia. There are two main approaches—the intraoral and external approaches. I use the external approach and believe most surgeons do this too. The reason is this technique is much more accurate because the surgeon can directly visualize where to place the implant and confirm good position. The tradeoff is a small scar under your chin. The only advantage of the intraoral approach (ie going through your mouth), is you don’t have an external scar. However, in my opinion, the disadvantages of poorer visualization, potential for suboptimal position, and higher risk of infection (because you are going through the mouth which is impossible to make sterile) make the intraoral approach less ideal.
The recovery is uneventful. Many patients don’t report significant pain. After swelling resolves, the results are immediate. Once your implant is successfully performed, there is no need to remove the implant like in cases of breast implants. And although the implant is meant to be permanent, a nice relative advantage of implants is you can also remove these if you don’t like the results. If you decide to get a sliding genioplasty- where your jaw bone is cut and moved forward- then those results are permanent and unreversible.
There are less common options to define your jawline. Fillers can sometimes be used to accentuate a jawline. Fillers are nice because you can get this done in a simple office appointment. And this is a reasonable option to try if you’re unsure if you want a chin implant. The filler can give you a preview of what a stronger chin will look like before you decide if you want to get a chin implant. Just be aware that since fillers are a gel, there is a limit to how much projection you can get with fillers.
For more information about San Antonio chin implant, facelift surgery, or rhinoplasty, please visit our interactive website at www.dryuplasticsurgery.com. Dr. Kenneth Yu Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is a qualified team of experts serving the San Antonio, Texas area. To schedule a consultation, please contact our Concierge Patient Coordinator at (210)-876-6868 or info@dryuplasticsurgery.com.
