It is said that a prominent chin contributes to a stronger, more attractive profile. This is why celebrities, models and other individuals renowned for their beauty are reputed to sport this feature. Fortunately, those of us who did not win the genetic lottery can turn to cosmetic surgery to enhance this area of our face in which we may be deficient. The rewards of this procedure are increased confidence, a more impressive visage, and a presence that will generate more positive attention.

Weak chins are often the result of a congenital defect, aging or some form of facial trauma. To correct this condition, an implant is normally prescribed, which is made of many different types of materials. Some chin implants are made from human bone, taken from your own body or produced from cadavers, shaped as necessary and grafted into your chin. Bone implants gradually blend in with your existing chin bone and promote partial new bone growth to produce excellent natural results. However, there are risks of excessive new bone formation in the area, as well as rejection of the bone tissue if taken from a donor body. Additionally, infection appears to be a common risk with bone implants, even if the implant is taken from the patient.

There is a wide variety of artificial chin implants available. Silicone is one of the more common implant materials, which are flexible but very durable, and manufactured in varying degrees of hardness, then shaped to fit the chin of the patient. Silicone implants are not meant to improve the underlying bone structure, but are used to fill out the soft tissue areas, which then cover the implant with layers of scar tissue. Another popular material is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or ePTFE, a porous element that is more flexible than silicone but very strong, and is inserted either in sheets or carved blocks and fastened with titanium screws. Because of the material’s composition, the implant is filled out by the growth of soft tissue and bone through it. Polyethylene implants, a third option, are lightweight and porous, and are not held together with pins or screws, but are designed to be held in place by the growth of natural tissue to avoid shifting. In all such cases, the materials used are biocompatible and do not normally lead to complications such as infection or allergic reaction.

The actual surgery takes between 45 minutes to one and a half hours and begins with the application of general anesthesia or an intravenous sedative. An incision is then made, either inside the mouth along the crease that joins the lower lip and gums, or just beneath the chin. Then, the implant is positioned above the bone, and checked to make sure that it is suitable to the ideal features of the patient. The implant may be removed and adjusted further several times during the operation for this purpose. Afterwards, the incision is sutured closed, and possibly reinforced with surgical tape or bandages to provide further support to the chin of the patient while it is healing.

The sutures will be removed within one to two weeks, and the difference in the silhouette of the patient’s face will be immediately apparent, though swelling in the region may obscure the full effect of the surgery. The swelling will subside over a period of several months. As with other types of facial surgery, strenuous physical activity is generally discouraged for at least a week to promote the proper growth of tissue around and through the implant. The resulting new chin will be one that the patient can flaunt with pride, as the visual change will be dramatic.