Chin surgery that repositions the chin bone or adds an implant to improve facial balance, profile and, in some cases, breathing during sleep.
The chin has a large effect on how the face looks in profile and from the front. A chin that sits far back can make the nose look larger and the neck less defined. One that is too long, short or asymmetric can throw off the balance of the lower face. Genioplasty, or chin surgery, changes the position, length or shape of the chin to bring the face into better proportion.
Two approaches
Sliding (osseous) genioplasty is the approach most often used by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Through an incision inside the lower lip, your surgeon makes a precise cut in the chin bone below the tooth roots, moves the segment into its planned position, and holds it with a small titanium plate. The chin can be moved forward or back, lengthened or shortened, or straightened. Because the bone is your own, the result moves naturally with the face, and the attached muscles move with it. Moving the chin forward also pulls forward the muscles under the tongue, which is why genioplasty is sometimes used in sleep apnea surgery.
Chin implants place a shaped implant over the existing bone to add projection. They suit some patients who only need a modest forward change. They can't shorten or lengthen the chin, and like any implant, they carry a small risk of shifting or infection.
Genioplasty is often combined with corrective jaw surgery. When the bite is right but the chin is not, it can be done on its own. Sometimes filler is a reasonable non-surgical alternative for a small change, and your surgeon will tell you honestly if it is.
Planned around your face
At Molly, chin surgery is offered at our Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, Newport Beach and La Jolla offices. Your surgeon studies your face from the front and side, at rest and smiling, and takes a 3D cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan. The movement is planned with virtual surgical planning, and you'll see a simulation of the expected change so you can discuss it before deciding.
Surgery and recovery
A stand-alone genioplasty takes about one to one and a half hours, usually under general anesthesia or deep IV sedation, and you go home the same day. Because the incision is inside the mouth, there is no visible scar. Expect swelling and tightness around the chin for one to two weeks, with most visible swelling gone within three weeks and the final result after three to six months. Most people return to desk work in about a week. Numbness of the lower lip and chin is common at first and usually improves over weeks to months; occasionally some change in sensation remains, which your surgeon will discuss with you.
As with all Molly care, you'll receive one written quote first, your surgeon calls the evening after surgery, and the 24/7 surgeon line answers any night.
