A chin is more than just an object to rest upon your hand and stare into the computer screen or your lover's eyes. Chins can make a statement about who you are, from powerful to perky. Some people feel that their chins are not adequate and some people truly have malformed or asymmetrical chins. With chin implants , patients receive treatment for their perceived or real chin deficiencies.
Whether it is fair or not, many people infer weakness or spinelessness on people who have disproportionately small chins. Pointed chins give off negative impressions that go beyond merely being unattractive. In most of Western Civilization, a prominent, well-proportioned chin gives the impression of strength. Cosmetic options are available to turn small, unattractive, or pointy chins into the more desirable and aesthetically pleasing type.
Mentoplasty is chin augmentation surgery and can use either autololgous sources or alloplastic sources to build up the chin. Over the last half century, autololgous sources, those that are harvested from other parts of the body, are giving way to various synthetic materials, or alloplastic implants. One of the primary reasons is to reduce the surgical risks of harvesting material from other parts of the body. Alloplastic materials are also more malleable and can be formed into almost any shape necessary.
There is a wide range of alloplastic materials available today and the list continues to grow as technology advances. Some of the synthetic material available includes, silicone, Proplast, Gore-Tex, Teflon, acrylic, Alloderm and others. The cosmetic surgeon will typically have certain preferred materials that he or she uses, depending on the patient's overall health and the aesthetic goals to be met.
In some cases, the jawbone may be adjusted in a procedure called sliding genioplasty in conjunction with the implant. During the procedure the bone is surgically cut and extended, then held in place with metal screws. The synthetic implant is then shaped and placed to give the chin the desired appearance.
Chin implant surgeries are often performed with other procedures to provide the patient with an overall facial makeover. Rhinoplasty or nose reshaping is one of the most common procedures performed with mentoplasty. Other surgeries or procedures may include a facelift , cheek implants, forehead lift , or eyelid lift. The three most prominent features of the face, the forehead, the nose, and the chin should look proportionate, which is one of the goals in providing chin implant surgery.
In most instances, mentoplasty can be performed on an outpatient basis under local or general anesthesia. General anesthesia provides more control over the circumstances of the surgery. Other approaches to applying the implant are the submental approach, which is named after the mental nerve that services the chin, and the intraoral approach, which is inside the mouth. Usually the preference of the cosmetic surgeon dictates which approach is used.
When considering which cosmetic surgeon to use for chin reshaping, it is best to find one that does both cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. That way if the procedure requires both chin implants and sliding genioplasty or other complex treatment, the patient does not have to shuffle between different cosmetic surgeons.
