Wil My Lip Numbness After Getting A Chin Implant Ever Go Away?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a question. I had a chin implant done on Aug 6th and I am experiencing lower lip and chin numbness on the left side. My smile is not the same as it was and I am starting to get concerned. The numbness is my real concern as it is driving me crazy. I don’t know what to do and I am becoming depressed. I am only 22 years old and I do not want this feeling for the rest of my life. Do you think it will go away? Should I get the implant removed or will this cause more injury to the nerve? Please if you could get back to me I would really appreciate it.

A:  The recovery from chin implant surgery is almost always more significant than patients realize or have been told. (or what they have heard when the recovery part is discussed with them) It takes a good 6 weeks for about 90% of the recovery to have occurred. Chin stiffness, distortion, numbness and a lower lip or smile that is not normal is all part of the recovery process. Given that you are just one week from surgery, your concerns are way premature and you need to let the process work itself out for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Most of your current issues will either be gone or be well on the way to recovery that you will likely be happy than you had the procedure. Your lip numbness would be more concerning if it was still present in its current degree without any improvement at six weeks after surgery

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana