What is mentoplasty?
Mentoplasty, chin augmentation or genioplasty is a surgical procedure that aims to modify the size of the chin to achieve a more proportionate and attractive face, correcting congenital facial asymmetries or caused by an accident.
The technique can be performed in several ways:
- By incorporating an implant.
- By moving part of the bone to the inside.
- By removing part of the bone and reconstructing the area.
It should be noted that the intervention does not solve the problems of the jaw and only intervenes in the chin. Mentoplasty can be augmentation or reduction and is performed in both men and women.
Why is it performed?
Its objective is to balance the appearance of the face, making the chin longer and larger compared to the nose. People who have small or receding chins but have a normal bite are the best candidates for this type of surgery.
The mentoplasty manages to create a more harmonic profile to the patient and in some occasions it is accompanied with a rhinoplasty, generating an adequate global profile with harmonic proportions as a whole. In short, it achieves a more defined chin, a harmonious profile, a decrease of the double chin, an imperceptible scar, symmetrical and natural appearance, among others.
Mentoplasty achieves a harmonic profile to the patient.
What does it consist of?
Depending on the objective of the intervention, the most appropriate technique is applied for each patient. If it is required to correct the shape of the chin or give it a more defined and harmonious appearance, the implantation of a chin prosthesis, the infiltration of the patient’s own fatty tissue or the advancement of part of the jaw bone is used. If the chin deformity is very accentuated it will be necessary to perform a sanding or a section of the bone (osteotomy) through an incision inside the mouth.
The technique may take a few hours but, in general, mentoplasty proceeds fairly quickly. Chin surgery is a safe procedure that is performed under local anesthesia and achieves definitive results.
In most cases it is an outpatient operation where the patient can return home the same day. However, depending on the case, the patient may require a short hospital stay.
Preparation for mentoplasty
To examine the patient’s facial structure, prior to surgery, the patient should have x-rays of the face and chin. These images will allow the surgeon to determine which part of the chin is to be operated and which is the most appropriate procedure to follow. The specialist will also assess the texture of the skin and the underlying bone.
The patient will be informed of the details of the intervention and the care required after completion. The patient should also be clearly informed about the expectations, conditions and general state of health.
Post-procedure care
After the operation, the patient will feel discomfort and pain that can be relieved by taking a painkiller prescribed by the physician. The patient may have to follow a liquid diet for at least one or two days.
During the first week you may feel a stretching sensation around the chin and, for the next three months, you may feel numbness in the chin. The swelling disappears after about six weeks.
The dressing is removed about a week after surgery. In some cases, it is necessary for the patient to wear a brace while sleeping for at least four to six weeks. After seven to ten days, the patient can slowly resume his or her professional activity and routine.
Alternatives to this treatment
The alternatives to chin surgery are essentially the following two:
- Fat injections: the specialist injects fat under the chin, in the chin area, making a filler in the skin. This procedure is limited to simple cases with slight disproportions in the size of the chin. The results are not definitive and injections must be repeated as the fat is absorbed by the body.
- Liposuction of the face: this technique can be performed in conjunction with mentoplasty. The fatty tissue under the chin is removed to make the chin tuck or look more prominent.