Chin Surgery
What is chin surgery?
Who is a good candidate?
Risks
Preparing for chin surgery
Recovery
What is chin surgery?
A very prominent or receding jaw or chin creates
a facial imbalance that chin surgery may improve.
An implant is one method surgeons use to augment
the chin. They make an incision inside the mouth
and along the lower lip or beneath the chin
from the outside, then insert implants. After
surgery, the surgeon may tape the chin to hold
the implant in place until it's firmly in its
new position.
Plastic surgeons can also perform a surgical
procedure to lengthen or shorten the chin or
adjust it forward or back; this type of surgery
is more complex and requires a longer recovery
period. The surgeon splits the bone, then moves
the chin to its new position. If the chin is
too prominent, the surgeon may remove a wedge-shaped
piece of bone from the jaw or slide the bone
backward.
Who is a good candidate?
If you feel that your chin isn't the right
size, shape or position for your face, you may
want to talk with a plastic surgeon about your
alternatives.
Risks
Every type of surgery has risks,
but you can usually help prevent complications
by carefully following your physician's instructions.
It's important to talk with your plastic surgeon
before surgery to be sure you understand the
potential risks and complications. If you don't
understand something, ask!
Chin surgery also has several specific risks,
including infection and implant displacement.
Preparing for chin surgery
If you smoke, you should stop at least two weeks
before your surgery to allow your body's healing
process to be as successful as possible..
Recovery
After surgery, you'll need about a week before
you go back to work. At this point, much of
the swelling and bruising will have disappeared.
However, you may feel numbness and have some
swelling for several weeks. You'll have incisions
in your mouth, increasing the risk for infection
from the bacteria that normally reside there,
so be especially vigilant about caring for your
mouth (oral hygiene) according to your doctor's
instructions.
During the recovery period, you'll need to
eat only soft foods and protect your face from
bumps and other injuries.
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