Chin Augmentation in The Woodlands, Texas, with Dr. W. Marshall Guy
The jaw and chin help to form a portion of the lower 1/3 of the face. When the chin is an inappropriate size it can make other parts of the face appear out of proportion, especially the nose. The chin itself may be small from front to back or from side to side. Furthermore, the jaw itself may be the problem and may be set too far back (creating an overbite) or too far forward (creating an underbite). If the teeth don’t align, then this first must be addressed by an orthodontist or oral surgeon. This may involve a much more extensive surgery than a simple chin implant.
Case Study: This female in her 20s was bothered by her small chin. She felt it made her neck look heavier and poorly defined her jawline. Shen underwent an in-office chin augmentation with a Pre Jowl Chin large implant. You can tell in the animation how much better her profile appears. Despite being a large implant, you can tell from the lateral view and oblique views she still has a feminine result where the chin is still posterior to her lower lip vermilion border. She loves her result. View our gallery.
What is a Chin Augmentation?
For those patients who have a small chin, there are various ways to improve upon it. Fillers can be utilized for those looking for a temporary solution or merely want to see what their chin would look like augmented. This is performed in the clinic with no downtime. The fillers Dr. Guy likes to use include Juvederm Ultra XC®, Voluma®, and Sculptra®, although other options are available.
View: What is Chin Augmentation?
For a more permanent result, the use of surgical implants can be used. There are various implant materials that can be used. Dr. Guy prefers to use silastic implants which is a form of semi rigid silicone. It has a long safety record with few risks. There are various implant types depending on if the area needing augmentation is just the chin or also the areas in front of the jowls. There are also various sizes that can be used to create a customized look. There are two approaches to place the implants. The first option is through the mouth. A small incision is made in the lower part of the bottom lip. The nice part about this incision is that there are no external scars. The risks with this method include a greater risk of infection because the mouth cannot be sterilized. There are also two nerves, one on each side of the chin, that the implant needs to go below. Because of this, the risk of numbness is higher with this approach. Finally, the implant needs to be at the bottom of the jaw. When coming from above through the mouth, there is a slightly higher risk that the implant is placed in the wrong position. The other option is called the external approach. With this option the incision is placed in a natural crease below the chin. The benefit of this approach is that the surgery begins below the nerves so there is less risk of numbness, it is more direct, the skin can be sterilized so there is less risk of infection, and there is less risk the implant will be placed in an incorrect position. Although there is a small external incision, given its location in a natural fold it camouflages well. It can also readily be performed in the office under local anesthetic, lowering cost and making for an easier recovery period. The external approach is the preferred method by Dr. Guy.
Regardless of the appearance of your chin, Dr. Guy can help to bring it into harmony with your face. The various approaches and implants can be discussed in the consultation.
It's Your Time to Look Your Best!
Dr. Guy is a specialist in all areas of rejuvenation and reconstruction for the face and neck. As a double board-certified and fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Guy knows that everyone ages differently and that there is no one size fits all when it comes to restoring a youthful appearance. From surgical options like a facelift to non-surgical options like Botox® and dermal fillers, there’s never a better time to look your best.
Dr. Guy’s Chin Implant Surgical Techniques
To fix a weak chin and create a strong jawline, Dr. Guy can use two implant placement approaches.
THE MOUTH
The first option is through a small incision made in the lower part of the bottom lip. This technique’s advantage is that it leaves no visible scarring. However, there are significant risks associated with this method, including infection, because it’s impossible to sterilize the mouth due to all the bacteria that live there.
Correct implant placement is also vital to avoid numbness. The implant must be at the bottom of the jaw, below the nerves on each side of the chin. When inserted through the mouth, implant positioning is more challenging.
EXTERNAL APPROACH
The second approach, which is Dr. Guy’s preferred method, is through an incision placed in a natural crease below the chin. Dr. Guy favors this technique above in-mouth placement because it begins below the nerves, significantly reducing the risk of numbness.
There is also less danger of an infection with the external method, since it allows Dr. Guy and his surgical team to clean and sterilize the skin under the chin, as skin can be properly sterilized and cleansed more than inside the mouth can. Because this approach comes from beneath the chin, it lessens any chances of incorrect implant placement. Though the incision is external, its size and location in a natural fold will camouflage it well once it has healed fully.
Chin Augmentation FAQs
Dr. Guy uses chin implants with a long track record of safety and customizability. They are small, solid devices made from a biocompatible material, usually semi rigid silicone, molded to fit around a patient’s chin bone. They can vary in size and contour depending on your goals, ultimately providing you with natural-looking and -feeling results.
Anyone in overall good health with a stable weight and reasonable expectations for this procedure is well-qualified for a chin augmentation with Dr. Guy. You are an excellent candidate if you have a weak chin, little to no chin, or narrow chin and you’re looking for more length or defined structure in proportion with the rest of your facial contours.
As this procedure is usually performed in the office under local anesthetic, it is quite a safe operation. With any surgery, there is some degree of risk. For chin augmentation, complications can include bleeding, numbness, infection, and implant misplacement.
A skilled, experienced surgeon will take all necessary steps to minimize these complications, which is why it’s crucial to choose a board-certified facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Guy to perform your chin implant procedure.
With an internal incision, the resulting scar will not be visible. If you choose the external approach, Dr. Guy will place the incision in a natural fold beneath your chin, which will hide any scarring. View our chin implant before-and-after photo gallery to see previous patients’ results.
The cost of a chin enhancement with Dr. Guy depends on many different variables, including the technique used to perform your surgery. The inherent risks associated with the internal approach can make it more expensive because of the precautions and potential complications. The external approach is an in-office procedure requiring local anesthetic, lowering the cost and making for an easier recovery period.