eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Cosmetic Surgery

Chin Implants: Follow-up

Author: Suzanne K Doud Galli, MD, PhD, Consulting Staff, Cosmetic Facial Surgery, Private Practice
Coauthor(s): Philip J Miller, MD, FACS, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, New York University School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 8, 2009

Outcome and Prognosis

Chin augmentation is seemingly simple, and indeed, many patients have been treated successfully. However, analysis of the chin is more complicated than a simple visual estimate of the defect. A chin implant can be considered a failure. This may be secondary to infection or extrusion, displacement, or patient dissatisfaction. Disfigurement is a risk following a failed implant. This can occur with the formation of a capsule, contracture and scarring, or an abnormally draped mentalis muscle.

In the event of a failed implant, treatment is removal. This requires removal of the capsule or debridement of wound in the face of infection. Implant replacement is not recommended. Rather, the patient can be reevaluated and recommended for osteoplastic genioplasty.

Future and Controversies

Placement of the implant and, specifically, which available material is most suitable for chin augmentation, is controversial. The perfect alloplastic material has yet to be developed, but currently available alloplastic implants have provided excellent results when used for chin augmentation.

 


More on Chin Implants

Overview: Chin Implants
Workup: Chin Implants
Treatment: Chin Implants
Follow-up: Chin Implants
References
[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

References

  1. Aufricht, G. Combined plastic surgery of the nose and chin; resume of twenty-seven years'' experience. Am J Surg. Feb 1958;95(2):231-6. [Medline].

  2. Gonzalez-Ulloa M. Quantitative principles in cosmetic surgery of the face (profiloplasty). Plast Reconstr Surg. 1962;29:186-198.

  3. Gonzalez-Ulloa M, Stevens E. The role of chin correction in profileplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. May 1968;41(5):477-86. [Medline].

  4. Gibson FB, Calhoun KH. Chin position in profile analysis. Comparison of techniques and introduction of the lower facial triangle. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Mar 1992;118(3):273-6. [Medline].

  5. Ricketts RM. The biologic significance of the divine proportion and Fibonacci series. Am J Orthod. May 1982;81(5):351-70. [Medline].

  6. Pitanguy I. Augmentation mentoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. Nov 1968;42(5):460-4. [Medline].

  7. Cohen SR, Mardach OL, Kawamoto HK Jr. Chin disfigurement following removal of alloplastic chin implants. Plast Reconstr Surg. Jul 1991;88(1):62-6; discussion 67-70. [Medline].

  8. Costantino PD. Synthetic biomaterials for soft-tissue augmentation and replacement in the head and neck. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. Feb 1994;27(1):223-62. [Medline].

  9. Costantino PD, Friedman CD. Soft-tissue augmentation and replacement in the head and neck. General considerations. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. Feb 1994;27(1):1-12. [Medline].

  10. Garner WL. Gore-Tex facial implants. Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation DATA Committee. Plast Reconstr Surg. Dec 1997;100(7):1899-900. [Medline].

  11. Gross EJ, Hamilton MM, Ackermann K, et al. Mersilene mesh chin augmentation. A 14-year experience. Arch Facial Plast Surg. Jul-Sep 1999;1(3):183-9; discussion 190. [Medline].

  12. Li KK, Cheney ML. The use of sliding genioplasty for treatment of failed chin implants. Laryngoscope. Mar 1996;106(3 Pt 1):363-6. [Medline].

  13. Maas CS, Merwin GE, Wilson J, et al. Comparison of biomaterials for facial bone augmentation. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. May 1990;116(5):551-6. [Medline].

  14. Mahler D. Chin augmentation--a restrospective study. Ann Plast Surg. Jun 1982;8(6):468-73. [Medline].

  15. Matarasso A, Elias AC, Elias RL. Labial incompetence: a marker for progressive bone resorption in silastic chin augmentation. Plast Reconstr Surg. Nov 1996;98(6):1007-14; discussion 1015. [Medline].

  16. McCarthy JG. Microgenia: a logical surgical approach. Clin Plast Surg. Apr 1981;8(2):269-78. [Medline].

  17. McCarthy JG, Ruff GL. The chin. Clin Plast Surg. Jan 1988;15(1):125-37. [Medline].

  18. McCarthy JG, Ruff GL, Zide BM. A surgical system for the correction of bony chin deformity. Clin Plast Surg. Jan 1991;18(1):139-52. [Medline].

  19. Moenning JE, Wolford LM. Chin augmentation with various alloplastic materials: a comparative study. Int J Adult Orthodon Orthognath Surg. 1989;4(3):175-87. [Medline].

  20. Morganroth GS. Combining chin-jowl implants with local anesthesia facial rejuvenation. Skin Therapy Lett. Jul-Aug 2005;10(6):6-9. [Medline].

  21. Pitanguy I, Martello L, Caldeira AM, et al. Augmentation mentoplasty: a critical analysis. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 1986;10(3):161-9. [Medline].

  22. Rosen HM. Aesthetic guidelines in genioplasty: the role of facial disproportion. Plast Reconstr Surg. Mar 1995;95(3):463-9; discussion 470-2. [Medline].

  23. Sclafani AP, Thomas JR, Cox AJ, et al. Clinical and histologic response of subcutaneous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) and porous high-density polyethylene (Medpor) implants to acute and early infection. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Mar 1997;123(3):328-36. [Medline].

  24. Strauss RA, Abubaker AO. Genioplasty: a case for advancement osteotomy. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. Jul 2000;58(7):783-7. [Medline].

  25. Zide BM, Pfeifer TM, Longaker MT. Chin surgery: I. Augmentation--the allures and the alerts. Plast Reconstr Surg. Nov 1999;104(6):1843-53; discussion 1861-2. [Medline].

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Further Reading

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Keywords

chin implants, chin implant, chin augmentation, augmentation mentoplasty, genioplasty, osteoplastic genioplasty, ptotic chin pad, chin ptosis, prejowl sulcus, pre-jowl sulcus, microgenia, retrusion of the chin, chin retrusion, chin deformity, small chin, profile-plasty, profile plasty, mentoplasty, chin mentoplasty

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Suzanne K Doud Galli, MD, PhD, Consulting Staff, Cosmetic Facial Surgery, Private Practice
Suzanne K Doud Galli, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Rhinologic Society, and Triological Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Philip J Miller, MD, FACS, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, New York University School of Medicine
Philip J Miller, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Jennifer P Porter, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Division of Communicative Science, Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery
Jennifer P Porter, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

David W Stepnick, MD, Associate Professor, Departments of Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland Case Medical Center
David W Stepnick, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society for Head and Neck Surgery, and Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Christopher L Slack, MD, Otolaryngology-Facial Plastic Surgery, Private Practice, Associated Coastal ENT; Medical Director, Treasure Coast Sleep Disorders
Christopher L Slack, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Head and Neck Society
Disclosure: Covidien Corp Consulting fee Consulting; US Tobacco Corporation unstricted gift unknown

 
 
HONcode

We subscribe to the
HONcode principles of the
Health On the Net Foundation

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright© 1994- by Medscape.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.