Genioplasty means reshaping the chin.

In genioplasty surgery, an incision is made from the inside of the lower lip to reach the chin, followed by a horizontal incision on the latter to separate the chin from the main body of the jawbone that houses the teeth. Then, this bone segment is moved forward, backward, up or down and fixed in its new position with titanium plate and screw systems. The procedure does not change the position of the teeth. 

We often perform this procedure to extend the chin forward and slightly downwards and to balance the bone structure of the face.

Since a prosthesis is not used, we do not end up in prosthetic complications (capsular contracture, bone abrasion, skin thinning, etc.) in or after this surgery. 

A key advantage genioplasty offers is the stretching of the muscles of the floor of the mouth attached to the chin as well as the advancement of the chin itself. Surgery alone can eliminate the jowl appearance in some cases. 

Another advantage of genioplasty is that it creates a relatively elegant chin appearance, as we use the patient's own bone and do not insert any additional materials to the chin. Prostheses can sometimes create a highly masculine appearance in female patients. This is very rare in genioplasty.  

Since we employ an intraoral incision in genioplasty surgery, we recommend patients consume liquid food for the first 3 or 4 days after surgery.  The titanium plates and screws we use in surgery keep the bone stable and strong during the recovery period. It is not possible for the bone to slide or move with daily activities.  Unless there is a complication, patients can return to work and social life between 10-14 days. 

Most patients have numbness on lips, changes in speech and mimic asymmetries in the early postoperative period, but these problems usually resolve spontaneously in 3-6 weeks. 

 

 

The main postoperative complication is infection. Fortunately, it's pretty rare. When an infection develops, mouthwash and antibiotic treatment are often enough to solve the problem. In the literature, rare bone union problems due to infection and the need for rare secondary surgery have been reported.  

On the other hand, once the chin prosthesis, an alternative to genioplasty, is infected, it is often necessary to remove the prosthesis with a secondary surgery. Fortunately, infection is also rare after chin prostheses.

Genioplasty is also a salvage option used in the treatment of complications after chin prosthesis. Imagine that a prosthesis was placed on the chin, but this prosthesis had to be removed later for some reason. Since the prosthesis expands the tissue, once you remove this prosthesis, the enlarged soft tissue of the chin will lose support and sag. This is called chin ptosis. In order to prevent chin ptosis, after removing the prosthesis, either a new prosthesis should be placed or perform genioplasty to advance the bone to the former place of the prosthesis. Genioplasty is an invaluable option here.

Therefore, plastic surgeons dealing with chin aesthetics must have full knowledge of both prosthesis and genioplasty techniques. 

For eligible patients, genioplasty is a procedure that changes and balances the structure of the face very positively. In addition, it supports the neck during the aging process and delays neck sagging. Therefore, it is frequently combined with rhinoplasty, midface lift and facial rejuvenation surgeries.

Please feel free to contact us for more detailed information on chin surgery.

Take good care...

... of yourself and your beauty. 

OB