Chin Surgery in Denver

chin surgery
A Balanced Profile
Denver Chin Surgery (Mentoplasty)

Chin surgery, which is also known as mentoplasty, provides balance to your facial features by enhancing a so-called “weak” chin or reducing an extended chin.

Commonly, patients come to us with concerns about having a “weak chin”. The good news is- we can help! Our expert Denver facial plastic surgeons Dr. Smith and Dr. Bovenzi are well-versed in chin surgery and can help evaluate your needs in a complimentary consultation.

 

Chin surgeries can vary in technique and depend on your individual anatomy and needs. We specialize in cosmetic chin surgery for both men and women to help improve the appearance of your chin projection and jawline contour. For jaw surgery needed to correct tooth misalignment, sleep apnea, or other medical conditions we would be happy to refer you to the proper avenues for those evaluations.

Augmenting a weak chin can make a world of difference in your everyday life. People tend to perceive a strong chin as a sign of confidence and trustworthiness. We can help you achieve this aesthetic whether you are looking for a feminine or masculine appearance. Our surgeons use state-of-the-art implants to help improve your chin’s appearance. These FDA-approved biologically inert implants are very well-tolerated and can make a permanent improvement to your jawline and neckline. The exact implant for your chin anatomy is custom selected by your surgeon to match your jawline and achieve your goals. Placement of these implants is generally done under twilight anesthesia to ensure you are as comfortable as possible. The procedure takes less than an hour, but can provide lifelong results! The surgery is performed through a small incision just underneath your chin, which is well-camouflaged. The implant is placed along your jawbone and under your muscle to ensure a subtle, natural appearance. The sutures are removed one week after surgery and the swelling after surgery typically takes 1 to 2 weeks to settle.

If you are interested in learning more about chin surgery, please do not hesitate to contact us to set up a complimentary consultation.

Board-certified Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Brent Smith specializes in facial cosmetic surgery, including highly individualized chin augmentation and reduction procedures. To learn more about mentoplasty or to schedule a consultation and discuss your aesthetic goals, please call Smith Cosmetic Surgery at (303) 741-2211.

mentoplasty candidates

Ideal candidates for chin surgery are those whose facial features are fully developed and who are unhappy with the appearance of their chin and facial profile. Patients should be nonsmokers in good general health and have realistic expectations about the surgery. Dr. Smith will review the benefits and limitations of chin surgery with you during your personal consultation.

mentoplasty candidates

Chin surgery and rhinoplasty

Chin surgery is often recommended as a complement to a rhinoplasty, or nose surgery. Changes to the nose can affect the balance of the entire face, and the size of the chin can either magnify or minimize the appearance of the nose. Undergoing a mentoplasty in conjunction with nose surgery can ensure your facial features have a natural-looking, harmonious balance.

Chin surgery and rhinoplasty

Chin surgery recovery and results

Everyone’s healing process is different, and Dr. Smith will discuss your recovery guidelines with you in detail prior to your surgery. That said, most patients will need to wear a dressing on the chin for a few days following surgery and avoid strenuous exercise for two or three weeks; Dr. Smith will clear you for increased activity as you heal. Dietary restrictions may also be necessary for a few days after your mentoplasty, which can make chewing temporarily uncomfortable. Lingering swelling will fade over a span of about four to six weeks and the full results of your chin surgery will become evident. For more information about chin surgery, or to schedule a mentoplasty consultation, please contact Smith Cosmetic Surgery today. Nationally recognized for his expertise in facial cosmetic surgery, Dr. Smith welcomes patients from the greater Denver area and across the country. The bone structure, cartilage and skin tissue are then reshaped to achieve appropriate form and symmetry. The exterior tissue is then repositioned, and the incisions are closed.

Chin surgery recovery and results

The chin surgery procedure

Each mentoplasty procedure is different and is tailored to the patient’s unique features and cosmetic desires. Chin surgery may include:

  • Placing a chin implant to improve the definition of the chin and enhance the overall balance of the face
  • Shifting bone forward to reshape a recessed chin
  • Reducing bone mass in a jutting chin

Incisions for chin surgery are typically made just under the chin or inside the mouth along the boundary of the lower gums and lower lip. These locations provide good access to reform the bone structure and help conceal residual scars.

Before And After Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions
               

Chin implants are made of various substances. At Smith Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Aesthetic Center, we use flexible solid silicone implants for chin augmentation in Denver. During your consultation, you will be able to take a look at a sample chin implant and feel it to better understand its texture.

Some patients worry about experiencing allergic reactions caused by their chin implants. However, silicone implants don’t tend to cause allergic reactions, since they are completely biologically inert. This means that they have little to no interaction with surrounding biological material.

The risk of a chin implant moving after being surgically implanted is incredibly low. To ensure that chin implants cannot move, facial plastic surgeons use a permanent suture to carefully sew the implant directly to the lining of the bone. This lining is known as the periosteum.

The size of the tissue pocket created for the implant during chin surgery also ensures a lack of movement. Our facial plastic surgeons make the tissue pocket small enough to fit the implant snugly.

During the first week of chin augmentation recovery, patients wear a small dressing in order to hold the implant in place. Trauma to the jaw could potentially cause a shift in the implant at this time, so patients must avoid all activities that could result in this type of trauma. After all post-surgical healing is complete, the chin implant will not move.

Chin augmentation with implants is a method of creating new volume and projection for a weak or underprojected chin. This form of jawline contouring adds definition to a patient’s chin and overall profile. A chin implant can even improve the appearance of areas like the nose and the neck by restoring aesthetic balance to the facial features.

At Smith Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Aesthetic Center, our surgeons strive for very natural results. Their surgical techniques are designed to avoid an overdone appearance. They select chin implants from various styles and sizes to find the best fit for each patient’s unique facial anatomy.

Chin augmentation with implants is performed in our surgical suite. Our state-of-the-art ambulatory suite is fully accredited. At the start of the procedure, twilight anesthesia is administered. This ensures patient comfort throughout the surgery.

Next, a small incision is created beneath the chin. This is typically preferable due to the higher incidence of infection that accompanies incisions created inside the mouth. Post-surgical marks resulting from chin incisions are very well-hidden and naturally camouflaged.

A pocket is created in the tissues of the chin, and the implant is inserted through the incision and positioned appropriately. After the chin implant is affixed to the lining of the bone with a permanent stitch, the incision is closed with the aid of surgical sutures.

Chin augmentation downtime varies from patient to patient depending on the specifics of their surgical procedure. At the start of the chin augmentation recovery process, patients must get plenty of rest to encourage swift healing.

Generally, patients will need to take around one week off from work. The type of work they perform can have an impact on the exact amount of downtime needed; desk jobs require less time off than very physical work.

Additionally, patients must not participate in any sort of physically taxing activities for two to three weeks from the date of their procedure. This includes playing sports and performing strenuous exercise routines. During follow-up appointments, the facial plastic surgeon will discuss resuming various activities.

Initial results can be seen immediately in the form of enhanced chin dimensions and increased volume. However, post-surgical facial swelling can temporarily affect the appearance of the procedure’s results. Because of this, patients will need to wait until all swelling has ameliorated to see the final results of their chin extension.

Typically, all swelling will fade in around four to six weeks. During a consultation with one of our experienced facial plastic surgeons, the patient will learn about the various ways that they can effectively treat their post-surgical swelling and bruising.

Because most people’s reference point for silicone implants is silicone breast implants, some patients worry that they may need to replace their chin implants after a time.

However, the main difference between these two types of implants is that while breast implants are silicone shells filled with a silicone gel, chin implants are instead made of solid silicone. Because of this, chin implants are permanent and will never need to be replaced.

However, in the rare occasion when a patient is unhappy with their results, chin implants can be easily surgically removed. This is rarely requested by our patients, though, since chin augmentation in Denver has a very high satisfaction rate.