Can My Chin Implant Be Placed So As To Not Elongate My Face?

Q: Dr. Eppley, So this is my x ray and I’m wondering if the implant can be placed at this angle? Instead of following the angle of the mandible downwards, my doctor said he had to place it at the same angle as the mandible (which also elongates my face). 

What are your thoughts? I like the result, but I’d like a little more projection (enough to where my chin lines up with my bottom lip)

A: In your case of chin augmentation you absolutely do not want to elongate your chin. You either have a sliding genioplasty that moves the chin upward as it comes forward or you place an implant higher up on the bone. Be aware that all standard implants have their greatest projection on the lower half of the implant so moving the implant up further on the bone is not a guarantee that some elongation will not occur due to soft tissue chin pad rollout. (which is how chin implants create their effect) If you put the chin implant too high then some horizontal projection is lost and it may create a bump effect up to high in the chin. You have to be wary of trying to use a standard implant in a way that it was not designed to be used.

Biut as a general statement having to place the implant in line with the mandibular plane angle shows la ack of understanding that aesthetic consequence or full knowledge of chin implant placement techniques.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon