Mentoplasty /
Chin Surgery
Candidates for Mentoplasty
Mentoplasty, or chin surgery, is performed to reshape, enhance, or reduce the size of the chin for improved facial balance and profile harmony. You may be a good candidate for mentoplasty if you:
Have a receding or prominent chin that feels out of proportion with your other facial features
Have a normal bite or have addressed bite issues with orthodontic care
Are in good overall health, a non-smoker, and have realistic expectations
Mentoplasty is often performed in conjunction with rhinoplasty to bring the nose and chin into better proportion, especially when profile balance is a key concern. Dr. Ramachandra will evaluate your facial structure and aesthetic goals to determine the most harmonious and individualized approach.
Goals of mentoplasty
The primary goal of mentoplasty is to improve facial balance and harmony by reshaping the chin.
Specific goals may include:
Creating a stronger, more defined jawline
Improving the proportions between the chin, nose, and neck
Correcting congenital or post-traumatic asymmetry
When combined with procedures like rhinoplasty or neck contouring, mentoplasty can provide transformative yet natural-looking results that bring the entire face into greater harmony.
The MENTOPLASTY Procedure
Chin Augmentation
Mentoplasty that augments the chin takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to perform. Either local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia is used. The surgical approach can be either inside the mouth (intra-oral) or under the chin — Dr. Ramachandra prefers the external (chin crease) incision because it hides remarkably well and avoids contamination of the chin implant. A tight pocket is created for the implant (typically made of semi-solid silicone), which is then positioned in front of the jawbone. Once in place, the implant is secured with a sutures, and the incision is carefully closed. Patients return home the same day.
Chin Reduction
Mentoplasty that reduces the chin takes approximately 1 to 2 hours to perform. General anesthesia is typically used. The procedure begins an incision inside the mouth or under the chin. Excess bone and/or tissue and muscle are removed, and the tip of the chin is contoured to the desired shape using a bone burr or drill. In some cases, a piece of the bone is removed, and the chin is repositioned. Sutures are used to close the incision. The patient returns home the same day.
Recovery from mentoplasty
After mentoplasty, a patient may experience tightness and swelling in the chin. Discomfort can be relieved with pain medication, although most patients report that pain is gone within 3 to 5 days. A compression dressing is applied at the completion or surgery and kept in place for 2 days to reduce swelling. Then, a lighter-weight compression garment is work for up to two weeks. Sutures are removed within 10 days. Full recovery from mentoplasty takes 6 weeks, but swelling may persist beyond this time, for up to 3 months.
Risks of mentoplasty
Risks of mentoplasty include implant displacement or bone absorption (in augmentation), extrusion, asymmetry, numbness in the lip and chin, infection and bleeding.