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Chin Implants
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Feeling good about your appearance is a key part of self-confidence. For some of us, the shape of our faces can be a source of unpleasantness due to the lack of a strong chin that can throw off the harmony of the rest of the face. The projection and prominence of the chin can subtly, but significantly impact your appearance. There’s been a long association of strength, youth, and confidence in a “strong chin.” In a more aesthetic sense, an appropriately balanced chin gives your face a better overall harmony. With a chin implant, a simple procedure, you can achieve your aesthetic goals.
Chin implants are used to provide a more harmonious balance to facial features. It is often combined with liposuction of the neck to strengthen the appearance of the jawline and bring the chin into balance with the rest of the face.
The implant is a synthetic bone that is inserted through a small incision beneath the chin or through the mouth. Your tissue grows around the implant making it feel like a part of your body. Our office is located 2 miles from North Bethesda, MD and 5.3 miles from Rockville, MD.
About Chin Implants
Chin implants are prosthetics that augment your chin’s projection. The procedure itself is called chin augmentation, and it is a relatively simple surgical procedure to place the chin implants. Chin augmentation, also known as the mentoplasty or genioplasty, is often combined with other facial procedures such as rhinoplasty or liposuction.
In recent years, the popularity of the chin implant has exploded. Over the last decade, chin augmentation procedures have consistently grown in popularity. More than twenty thousand people have chosen to undergo a chin augmentation in recent years. The popularity of this procedure is consistent between both men and women. The procedure has grown in popularity amongst celebrities as well, with major names electing to undergo chin augmentation to maintain a more youthful appearance for longer.
The Method Behind Chin Implants
The general idea behind a chin augmentation is to place an implant under the skin in a “pocket” that lies on top of the chin structure to give the chin more projection and shape. The implants are typically made of silicone but are sometimes made of other synthetic materials such as polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or acellular dermal matrix. There are also alternative or complementary techniques that can be combined with a chin augmentation.
Implants
The implants come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and feel, but typically look like those chin guards you might see attached on a football helmet. Implants can further be reshaped to fit a patient’s chin with custom precision. Modern chin implants have evolved to recreate a naturally strong chin, better than ever before. Computer imaging technology and advanced manufacturing methods produce natural shapes and contours. Gone are the days of the “glued on” appearance of button implants.
Silicone
Silicone implants are the most popular and are smooth, soft and come in a wide range of shapes. These implants do not stick to the bone or tissues, so the implant pocket needs to be accurate. These implants are easily removed, which can be beneficial later on if you change your mind. These implants can sometimes cause capsules or hardening around the implants, so thus the doctors at Cosmetic Surgery Associates typically use Polyethylene or “Medpor” implants.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene chin implants are sometimes referred to by their brand name, “Medpor.” These are harder, but still flexible and have pores. The pores enable surrounding tissue to grow into them for a firmer hold in place. The tissue that grows into the pores is supplied with blood, which also prevents infection. The drawback of this is that they are very hard to remove once placed.
Polytetrafluoroethylene
Polytetrafluoroethylene is the technical name for the brand of implant known as “Gore-Tex.” This is a very strong material that is flexible and soft. The Gore-Tex has pores that allow the tissue to grow into them for a stronger hold.
Acellular Dermal Matrix
Acellular Dermal Matrix is a chin implant that is made from human cadavers immediately after a donor’s death. Sometimes called AlloDerm, the donor implant is thoroughly cleaned and treated to prevent rejection.
These materials are all ideal for implants because they are “biocompatible,” meaning that they have a low chance of creating issues once they are inside the human body. The FDA has cleared these materials for use as implants.
Other Methods
There are non-surgical means of reshaping the chin. Non-surgical chin augmentation methods typically involve using injectable fillers to create a shape. These injectable fillers are derived from commonly used cosmetic materials such as hyaluronic acid, and calcium hydroxyapatite. Older methods such as silicone injections are no longer used because they have shown to migrate to other areas of the body or cause infections.
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View GalleryBenefits of Chin Implants
Chin augmentation and chin implants are a great option offering several benefits that can fit all kinds of cosmetic goals. Those with a recessed or naturally smaller chin will have the most to gain from strengthening the jawline with a smoother shape. Those who have a little chin are described as having “microgenia,” a condition where the chin is underdeveloped or malformed
A recessed chin tends to appear as a double chin because the small size of the bone is unable to hold a smooth form. A lack of chin definition also impacts the neckline. Ideal candidates are those who are bothered by a lack of chin definition, but also in overall good enough health for a surgical procedure, have positive, realistic expectations and are choosing to undergo this procedure to achieve personal goals.
Consultation
If you’re seeking a chin augmentation and chin implants in or around the Bethesda, Virginia region, you can schedule a consultation and be on your way to achieving the look you’ve always wanted. Your consultation is an opportunity to meet with the team at Cosmetic Surgery Associates and discuss your goals.
The consultation is an essential time for you to make the most of your treatment because this is when you are in control. Coming in with photos of what you aim to achieve is a good way to start the consultation.
The strategy will not be as simple as attaching a chin implant to enlarge the chin. Balance is a key factor, and if a chin implant is too large, it can make small or weaker jawlines appear even more exaggerated. Your facial structure will be assessed and closely measured to determine the best shape of the implant and surgical strategy that will achieve the best results.
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The Procedure
Chin augmentation and implantation is a surgical procedure that involves four general steps: anesthetic, incision, implant, sutures, and recovery. Before the procedure begins, a customized surgical plan is created according to your goals and body. Surgical marks may be made under the chin to map out the shape and exact position of the incision. An alternative incision technique may be used where the incision is made inside the mouth, just behind the lower lips.
Local anesthesia is used to numb the immediate area to ensure optimal patient comfort during the procedure. After the anesthesia sets in, an incision is made. The location of the incision is decided before the procedure based on what is discussed during a consultation. The pros of making an incision inside the mouth are that potential scarring is nicely hidden, but incisions inside the mouth pose a greater risk of infection.
Once the incision is made, a pocket is created in the tissue above the jawbone. The implant is placed inside this pocket and held in place with a sterile clamp. Some implant types may require metal screws to fasten them into place. Once the implant is in the pocket, there is some opportunity to assess the shape and appearance of the implant to make any final adjustments. Finally, the incision is sutured shut with dissolvable sutures. After the procedure is complete, a compression garment will be wrapped around the face to aide with swelling and any bruising that may arise.
Complementary Procedures
The chin implant is popularly combined with other cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, rhinoplasty or dermal injectables. These treatments can further achieve a degree of overall facial harmony and balance.
Rhinoplasty
The rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that can reshape the nose by removing excess tissue or reshaping a crooked structure. This is a commonly paired procedure with chin augmentations because the chin and nose work in conjunction to achieve facial symmetry.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers or liposuction are great ways to add volume or remove fatty tissue. Dermal fillers are injectable materials that can fill out gaps or sunken areas.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes fat to sculpt the face and neck. This treatment can be combined with chin implants to further the results and create a more youthful, define aesthetic.
Recovery and Results
After the procedure, you will be instructed on how to take care of your surgical wounds and self-care methods that will ensure you achieve great results. The swelling will completely subside after a few weeks. Your ability to chew will be limited, and it is recommended that you stick to soft foods. If you have any questions or concerns during this time, please contact our office and speak with one of our helpful members of staff.
The change of appearance of your chin will immediately be visible but will become more pronounced as you recover. The overall balance of your facial structure will be clearer when all swelling is complete, especially if you’ve opted for a comprehensive procedure that is combined with a rhinoplasty.
Schedule a Chin Implant Consultation
If you have been thinking about chin implant surgery now is the time to see if you are a good candidate. Give us a call to set up a personalized one on one consultation with one of our Maryland board-certified plastic surgeons. During the consultation, they will go over the procedure in detail, answer all of your questions and help determine if you would be a good candidate. Our office is located just 2 miles away from North Bethesda and 5 miles away from Potomac & Rockville. We look forward to meeting with you soon!
Our Plastic Surgery Associates team includes Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. A. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge. Each of our plastic surgeons is board-certified, and together they have over 60 years of combined experience. Drs. Richards, Jabs, and Magge are all highly qualified in procedures for the face, breast, and body, and pride themselves in providing excellent results through our state-of-the-art, Quad A certified operating centers