Chin Implant Removal

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in chin implant removal. I had a large chin implant put in about four years ago. I have finally become convinced that it is too big and I want it removed.

A: When it comes to chin implant removal, I have some pertinent questions about your existing chin implant:

1) What incisional approach was used for placement? (intraoral vs submental)

2) What type of chin implant is it? (Medpor vs silicone)

3) What size is the chin implant (amount of horizontal projection)

4) In managing the chin ptosis that will likely occur with chin impant removal alone, what management strategies were you thinking? (intraoral resuspension, submental tuck up, replacement with sliding genioplasty)

Removal of small chin implants, or those more recently placed, is as simple as just removing the implant. But with larger chin implants, particularly those that have been in for some period of time, it is not so simple. While removal of the implant is simple, what happens to the overlying chin pad must be considered. It has been stretched out and will slide off the chin bone once the support has been removes creating a chin ptosis condition. How this should be managed must be consider as part of the chin implant removal surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana