What is a mentoplasty?

Mentoplasty is chin reshaping surgery, sometimes chin augmentation and sometimes chin reduction. It can take several forms from altering the bone of the chin to changing the soft tissues to placing implants to improve the chin’s contour. The type of surgery depends on the surgical goals.

What is a sliding genioplasty?

A sliding genioplasty is a surgery aimed at changing the projection of the chin. The projection of the chin is how much (or little) the chin extends from the face in the profile view. In some patients with extreme chin underprojection, surgery of the bone is necessary to produce the proper chin projection. In a genioplasty surgery the chin bone is cut and the bone is advanced. The bone is then help into place with either wires or metal plates until it is healed. With the bone in a new position, the soft tissue of the chin is projected further away from the lip.

What are the risks of mentoplasty?

Every surgical procedure has risks. In order to determine the exact risks associated with a mentoplasty, an experienced and trained physician must be consulted who can sit down and determine if the procedure is right for you and what risks you may run when undergoing the procedure. Most patients who undergo mentoplasty run the risk of numbness of the lower lip and lower cheek area, infection of the implanted material requiring removal, and possibly not getting the desired results.

What are the incisions for a mentoplasty?

Mentoplasty can be achieved either through an incision on the inside of the mouth or through an incision on the skin surface of the chin. Either way, the incisions when healed are not noticeable. Which incision is best depends on the type of mentoplasty performed.

Why should I get a mentoplasty?

If you have a cosmetic concern about your chin, a mentoplasty may be for you. In addition, in some patients with complaints that their nose is too big, a mentoplasty can actually make the nose appear smaller by changing the viewing lines of the face. Therefore, in some instances, a mentoplasty is combined with a rhinoplasty to obtain optimal results.

What materials can be used as implants for a chin implants?

Implants for mentoplasty range from solid implants such as artificial bone and bone cements to hard silicone to other synthetic materials. Some chin implant materials allow for in growth of soft tissues while the body forms capsules around others. In either event, the best materials are those which feel natural, can be left in place with no long term effects, and produce the desired results.