Should I Get My Chin Implant Reshaped Or Replaced With A New One?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have medpor chin implant that was put in 6 years ago intra-orally. The implant is a bit big for my liking, making my chin look a bit too boxy and masculine, and the projection from the side is too much.   Can this implant simply be shaved down rather than completely removed?  And if it was inserted through the mouth, does that mean it would have to be approached from the outside?  Thanks so much for your expertise.

A: Trying to shave the existing implant in place will usually end up with an undesireable result. If one wants to modify an existing implant, it is always best to remove the implant, modify it outside the patient and put it back in. Since medpor implants are quite adherent to the tissues, removing them almost always requires it to be done in pieces this virtually destroying the implant. It would be better to figure out what the proper dimensions of the chin implant that are needed (based on what you know doesn’t work well) and remove the existing implant and replace it with a new one that has the desired form. Most women need smaller more triangular chin shapes (less boxy) and many chin implant designs are really made more for men.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana