Will The Nerve Damage From My Chin Implant Be Permanent?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a chin implant done four years ago. My lower lip has never regained full sense (feels like it was numbed at the dentist) and apparently the implant was just some sort of “stock” implant and not crafted to my jawline so I have to have filler put in on both sides of the implant to keep it from having a severe divot in each side. Wondering if it can be removed and replaced with a properly fitted one. I assume the nerve damage is more than likely permanent, unfortunately, but if not that would be fantastic news as well.

A:Thank you for your inquiry and detailing your chin implant surgical history. I obviously cannot speak to the style size or location of your existing chin implant on the bone. Although t is a fair statement to say that a custom implant design would better address placement and location of an implant on the bone and would blend better into it. It may also be possible that your mental nerve damage is due to the location of one of the wings of the implant right next to the nerve causing compression. By removing the implant this may help some of the numbness improve although that should’ve been done long ago for that to provide a good chance of nerve recovery. But in rare cases I have seen patient’s numbness improve in similar situations at postoperative time periods when you would think it would be very unlikely to occur.

The first place to start is to get a 3-D CT scan of your chin/lower face to evaluate your chin implant’s size style and location on the bone. This will provide significant insights into how to proceed forward.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon