How Do I Get A V-Shaped Chin After A Chin Implant That Has Made My Chin Too Wide And Long?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a double chin, recessed chin and no jawline, so I got a chin implant, buccal fat removal (sank one side of my face, I hate it), and now my chin looks too wide and longer. My neck is short and I feel it doesn’t suit my face shape or posture. 

I would like a v-shaped chin, but much like my own (since I always felt pretty except in my late 30’s my neck started melting). 

The other doctor helped my jawline look at bit better, he said I didn’t need a necklift. 

The doctor said a genioplasty won’t stretch my lower face too much. I want to age nicely in my neck, since my family are fat faces, necks, no jaw. 

I don’t know what is the best shape for me. Please help! What do you suggest?

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. I am little unclear as to exactly what you are trying to achieve. You have the classic female chin problem where the implant used is too wide due to having wings and is probably positioned too low on the bone…hence making your chin wider and longer. But in trying to get a chin that is horizontally shorter (which I assume is what your natural chin is) that is also more narrow/v-shaped is going to be a problem. Implant removal is going to cause an excessive/lax soft tissue chin pad because it has been stretched out from the implant and will not magically shrink back down.

This leaves you with three options:

1) Get a new chin implant that is v-shaped and sits higher on the bone and live with the exiting horizontal projection,

2)  Remove the existing chin implant and replace it with a t-shaped sliding genioplasty, or

3) Through a submental approach remove the existing chin implant and shave down the sides of the chin to a v-shape and tighten the soft tissue chin pad by a submental tuck.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana