Chin Implant Revision

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a silicone chin implant placed on June 12th and it has been discovered that the right wing was malpositioned, it protruded through my gum line. I have the revision done on June 18th, and there is no improvement whatsoever, the right wing is still siting very high above the jaw bone. What would be the best chin implant revision option?

A: I am sorry to hear of your unfortunate chin implant experience. It usually does not proceed down this complicated postoperative course. To have have had your type of chin implant complications would suggest two things. First the chin implant was placed through an intraoral incision. This is the most way chin implant wings get too high. Second, the implant was not secured to the bone with screw fixation. (which is ideally needed in intraorallly placed chin implants) Thus migration of the one wing of the implant into the mouth.(vestibule) The chin implant revision solution is to remove the implant, close the intraoral wound and immediately replace the chin implant through a submental skin incision and then rigidly secure it to the bone with a screw. With some form of fixation efforts at repositioning a chin implant in a slippery encapsulated pocket are prone to failure.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana