1. Why Change Your Face?
Getting chin surgery is a major step in your life, not only because it's surgery that can always lead to complications, but because this particular surgery alters the way you look, the way you look at yourself, and the way others look at you from the point of the surgery onward. Before you go into this, review your reasons why, and not just in the quiet of your own mind. Bounce your ideas off of those closest to you, those who see you daily and need to consider the reality of seeing a "different" you on a regular basis. Ask yourself if you're ready to look like a different "you."
2. Chin And Nose Go Together
It seems that patients for nose surgery often have chins that can benefit from alteration and augmentation. Rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, can be done at the same time as chin surgery. Aesthetically speaking, the visual impression made by the nose is affected by the angle and prominence of the chin. Fixing one usually requires fixing the other, from the point of view of a patient's satisfaction with his or her overall feeling of "looking good." As an artist working a painting or sculpture does, you're working on the balance and aesthetic impression of your own face.
3. What Can You Expect?
The surgery takes a couple hours, and can be done on an out-patient basis. Under local or general anesthesia, the surgeon makes the necessary incisions and reforms the jaw line by either subtracting from the bone that's there, or by adding bone and securing it in place. Following the surgery, patients usually go home within hours. If complications ensue, you may expect an overnight stay. Mentoplasty refers to a chin reduction, and genioplasty is the term for chin augmentation. For genioplasty, the surgeon adds bone from an outside source, or moves and reforms your own bone by cutting and shaping as necessary.
4. Be Ready For Risks
There can be swelling and discoloration for some time following the surgery. Under normal circumstances, these symptoms subside rather quickly. Within a week or two, you can be up and around and feeling "normal." Other complications, which are rare, include excessive sensitivity in the chin or lip area, and possible infections of the areas where incisions have been made. These can be treated with antibiotics and other medications.
5. Don't Rush
Changing the look of your face is a major step in your life, forward or backward, depending on the care you put into making a proper decision. Find a Board Certified physician in your area and ask for a consultation. Remember that you are consulting him or her, so ask questions of his or her qualifications, experience in this particular surgery and if he or she can point out satisfied patients with whom you could talk. The more you know about the before- and after-effects of the surgery, the more comfortable you are going in.
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