Do I Need A Chin Implant With My Rhinoplasty?

Q:  Dr. Eppley, I went in recently for a consultation from an Indianapolis rhinoplasty surgeon. During the consultation he recommended a chin implant with my rhinoplasty surgery. While he seemed very honest in this suggestion, I was completely floored as I never thought I had any chin problem. I certainly didn’t think that I had a weak chin. Having had the idea settle in for awhile, I am now more comfortable that maybe I do need one. I like the way my face looks in every way except for my profile which is why I want my nose done. What I am concerned about is that the combination of a rhinoplasty and chin implant will change my face too much. I have attached a profile picture of me for your thoughts. What would you do if you were me?

A:  It is not uncommon to perform a rhinoplasty and chin implant together and it can be a powerful changer of one’s profile. But whether it is aesthetically beneficial can actually be determined by you. Make sure that you have done a series of predictive computer imaging. Have shown to you how your profile would look both with and without a chin implant with your rhinoplasty prior to actually undergoing surgery. These images will answer your question better than anyone simply telling you one way or the other. One cautionary note, if you opt for chin augmentation your plastic surgeon needs to be careful about the style and size that is selected for implantation. You have a retruded but long chin. It would be easy to end up with too strong a chin appearance afterwards if the right chin implant is not chosen.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana