Chin Augmentation (Mentoplasty) Surgery

Ideal facial beauty starts with an ideal bone structure. This can be achieved by sculpting and contouring your existing bony framework or by adding to the facial skeleton using facial implants. Two common procedures are chin augmentation (mentoplasty) and cheek augmentation. A mentoplasty can bring a receding chin into better harmony with other facial features and create a more pleasing facial balance. Because mentoplasty can improve the results of a facelift and rhinoplasty, it is sometimes done in conjunction with these procedures. Cheek augmentation with an implant can correct flat or underdeveloped cheekbones. It may also be helpful to correct a sunken appearance to the cheeks resulting from aging or acne scarring.

For mentoplasty, an incision is usually made under the chin in a pre-existing skin crease after a local anesthetic has been injected. An implant is placed beneath the soft tissue at the point of the chin to enhance the chin’s projection. For cheek implants, the incision is made inside the mouth between the cheek and upper gums. You will see improvement right after surgery, though some swelling is to be expected.  Some surgeons prefer to utilize a bone advancement technique to correct an underprojected chin.  Discussing the options with Dr. Boyd at the time of your initial consultation will enable you to make the decision best suited for you.