What Is The Recovery And Discomfort Like After Having An Osteoplastic Genioplasty and Jaw Angle Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, My question is about the after surgery effects from getting jaw angle implants. I am also going to get an osteoplastic genioplasty at the same time for a complete jawline makeover. What level of pain do most patients experience and how long does the recovery and healing process typically take?

A: To answer the recovery question, it all depends on one’s definition of recovery. But if defined in terms of return to work and being in public without significant residual swelling, that is going to be in the range of 2 to 3 weeks. It could be shorter or longer based on what one does and what activities one wants to engage in. This does not mean that all swelling is gone in three weeks, just a large part of it.  It takes up to three months after surgery for final swelling resolution and tissue adaptation to the implants to occur. This is as true for a chin osteotomy as it is for jaw angle implants.

From a discomfort standpoint, jaw angle implants are the most uncomfortable of all facial implants because the major chewing muscle (masseter) must be lifted up to put them in. It also affects one’s ability to chew well for a few weeks, again because of the masseter muscles being traumatized. A chin osteotomy causes more swelling than an implant and similarly takes up to three months after surgery to really see the final result.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana