Chin augmentation surgery, or “mentoplasty,” is a cosmetic procedure to enhance chin projection, size, and shape, improve definition at the jawline, or create a more elegant line from chin to neck. Every chin augmentation is a custom procedure, as your facial features and balance are unique. The procedure involves placing a specially designed chin implant to create a more attractive facial balance.

Why undergo chin augmentation surgery?

Some of the most common reasons clients reach out to us at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery about chin augmentation include:

  • Receding chin
  • Sloping line from chin to neck
  • Chin too small for facial features
  • Weak chin
  • Lack of jawline definition
  • Lack of lower lip support
  • Double chin

What is the ideal facial profile?

Your facial profile is a balance between your features, including the forehead, nose, and chin. The ideal facial profile is far different for men than for women.

Men

The most aesthetically pleasing male jaw looks structured and defined, balanced with your other features in shape, volume, and projection. To create a masculine, structured jawline for men with a receding or smaller jaw, a custom chin implant will be designed and surgically placed to create a more ideal look.

Women

Women who inherited a smaller chin, receding chin, or a slope from the chin to upper neck can enjoy an enhanced profile with a custom chin implant. The goal is to create a more ideal facial balance and create a new jawline that is beautiful from every angle. Generally, a soft V-shaped jawline is universally recognized as the ideal.

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What is the chin augmentation procedure?

Chin augmentation procedure involves placing a chin implant. For those with an abundance of submental fat (double chin), liposuction may be performed. A small incision is placed in the crease under the chin to allow for a virtually invisible surgical scar. Dr. Moynihan prefers this incision when performing chin augmentation surgery over incisions within the mouth, as it prevents migration of the implant or damage to the muscles responsible for lower lip movement. Once the incision is made, a custom-designed silastic (silicone rubber) implant is inserted into the chin area.

Chin augmentation surgery may be performed on its own, though it is often combined with rhinoplasty for more comprehensive facial balance.

Chin augmentation – what to expect in recovery?

The majority of discomfort from the surgery will occur during the first three days, with seven days of overall downtime. Swelling is expected while bruising is unlikely, and you will need to eat a soft food diet in the first stages of healing. It is difficult but try to avoid smiling and speaking (within reason) over the first week to ensure the implant becomes nicely integrated into the tissues. Most social, professional, and physical activities can resume in seven to fourteen days, determined on a case-by-case basis.

Why choose us for chin augmentation?

Gold Coast Plastic Surgery is located in downtown Chicago and features an AAAASF-accredited private surgical suite where your chin augmentation can be performed in privacy and safety. Dr. Moynihan is double-board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and has a longstanding reputation for excellent surgical work, with thousands of procedures performed to date. He was educated and trained at Villanova, Loyola, and the renowned Rousso Facial Plastic Surgery Center. He also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Loyola University Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center. He brings artistry, professionalism, and expertise to every chin augmentation surgery.

While Dr. Moynihan is passionate about helping patients to look their best, he will never perform a procedure that he doesn’t wholeheartedly believe will be safe and successful for the individual. He carefully screens each patient, reviewing their medical history and assessing their overall health and candidacy before proceeding with any treatment. His painstaking attention to detail is part of what has made him a sought-after and trusted provider in and beyond Chicago.

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Chin Augmentation FAQs

How much does the surgery cost?

What type of anesthesia is used to perform the procedure?

Is the implant placed from an incision outside or inside the mouth?

How is the implant secured?

Which type of chin implant will be used?

What complications are possible from the surgery?

How much does the surgery cost?

The cost of a chin augmentation involves several fees, including surgeon fees, anesthesiologist fees, medications, and the cost of the implant. Chin augmentation performed by Dr. George Moynihan typically costs in the range of $6,500 to $8,000 for all expenses in the chin augmentation. A more specific quote may be provided prior to the consultation when photos are submitted, and a final, all-inclusive quote is provided during the consultation.

What type of anesthesia is used to perform the procedure?

Chin augmentation surgery is performed under sedation (or “twilight” anesthesia). The medicine is delivered through an IV which allows you to breathe naturally while comfortable and basically unaware of what’s happening during the procedure.

Is the implant placed from an incision outside or inside the mouth?

At Gold Coast Plastic Surgery, the implant is placed through the outside of the mouth rather than the inside for two vital reasons:

  • To place an implant, a pocket to receive the implant needs to be made larger than the implant. If the implant is placed from within the mouth, the larger pocket may allow the implant to migrate upward. An implant that migrates upward will create an unnatural look. If the pocket is made from below, through an external incision, the only place an implant can migrate is downward, which is not noticeable cosmetically.
  • It is possible to damage facial musculature that is responsible for your characteristic smile when placing an implant from within the mouth. This risk is avoided with our external approach.

How is the implant secured?

The implant is placed under the lining of the bone-periosteum. The periosteum is a dense layer of tissue that is tightly adhered to the bone. Once the implant is placed, the implant is secured with a 6-month dissolving stitch that allows the periosteum to ‘shrink-wrap’ around the implant. After several weeks, the implant becomes completely secured and extremely difficult to dislodge.

Which type of chin implant will be used?

The most common chin implant for women used by Dr. Moynihan is a Mittleman prejowl extended implant. Using a silastic implant (a safe, silicone rubber) has two advantages:

  • It allows sculpting of the implant to beautifully match your unique facial anatomy.
  • In the rare event that you are unhappy with the implant, no matter how much time has passed, it can be removed with little difficulty and the ability to restore the previous anatomic setup.

For males, who typically want a squarer, more structured jawline, a Terrino implant can create a more dramatic masculinization.

What complications are possible from the surgery?

Complications are extremely rare with chin implant surgery. Infection is a possibility, and if it occurs, it requires removal of the implant. Chances of infection are significantly reduced by the use of an operating room and various OR techniques that can be explained in the office. One risk is numbness of the lower lip and chin region. Another risk is the marginal mandibular nerve being stretched during the procedure which results in a temporary asymmetric smile. Both of these postsurgical inconveniences resolve within 1-4 weeks and are extremely rare.

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