Often dissatisfaction with own appearance becomes the cause of multiple complexes. The face is our business card, and the shape and angle of the lower jaw and chin plays an important role in the formation of facial features, their sharpness and expressiveness. A very sharp, long, or vice versa recessed chin does not suit anyone and to harmonise them, there is a plastic operation to change the appearance of the chin – mentoplasty.
The chin, according to the canons of beauty, is one of the most important parts of the face, which can both improve and worsen the appearance. According to the standards of beauty, it should slightly protrude beyond the face. For the facial contour, in general, to have an attractive appearance, the chin should be tightened and well expressed both in full face and in profile, without asymmetry and sagging skin, excessive fatty tissue and changes in bone tissue.
Mentoplasty is a popular type of plastic surgery, which is based on the correction of the shape and size of the chin. The operation can be carried out as an independent intervention or in combination with others, such as a circular facelift or SMAS lifting.
Chin repair is often performed using two methods:
Implantation: implants are divided by materials into silicone (easy to use and model), and bioprosthesis (material from the patient’s cartilage is used). Correction of the chin with this material is through access on the inside of the lip.
Osteotomy. In surgery, this method is rarely used, usually only when it is necessary to conduct a total reconstruction of the bone tissue of the lower jaw. It involves cutting the bones with subsequent displacement of the parts and fixing in the required position using titanium or collagen plates. It is also used to correct chin asymmetry.
Depending on the desired result:
Reductive mentoplasty. Indications: a large, massive, chin not proportional to the whole face.
How is it carried out? – A cut is made on the bones or the bone is completely removed, then the lower jaw segment is shifted back and fixed in the required position.
Increase mentoplasty. Indications: small or underdeveloped chin, sunken chin.
How is it carried out? – An implant is placed under the periosteum of the patient, or the lower jaw segment is advanced, and then fixation is performed.
Indications for mentoplasty:
- The presence of chin defects.
- The patient’s desire to change the size, shape or proportion of the chin.
- The protruding chin.
- Inadequately formed chin.
- Post-traumatic defects.
- Birth defects.
- Forked chin, the presence of unaesthetic pits.
- “Heavy” lower 1/3 of the face.
Preparation for surgery:
Before conducting mentoplasty, the patient must pass a series of laboratory and instrumental examinations, for the further adequate course of the operation, the choice of anesthesia.
14 days before the operation, it is recommended to stop drinking alcohol and cigarettes. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, thereby the post-rehabilitation period may increase. It is necessary to be sure before the operation about the medicines that the patient takes, even if it is vitamins or dietary supplements.
Mentoplasty has some contraindications common for surgical interventions, but none of them is a direct contraindication, and further surgery is discussed exclusively in a consultation with a doctor.
Such contraindications include:
– Acute inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, for example, stomatitis, gingivitis, etc .;
– Oncological diseases;
– Chronic cardiovascular diseases (hypertension);
– acute infectious diseases;
– Thyroid diseases, diabetes;
– Diseases of the blood system associated with coagulation;
– III stage of obesity;
– pregnancy, lactation.
How is mentoplasty performed?
The operation is performed under general or local anesthesia along with sedatives, by the request of the patient. An incision is made in the natural fold of the skin or on the mucous membrane of the inner surface of the lip, excised or supplemented with the necessary elements, modelled, if necessary, bone tissue is polished, stitched with a cosmetic suture. Implants are selected individually by a specialist doctor for the patient, taking into account the specific anatomical features.
What is the rehabilitation period after mentoplasty like?
There are general recommendations for recovery after plastic surgery:
– it is necessary to wear a retaining bandage until the postoperative wound is completely healed, and also follow all the recommendations of the surgeon;
– during the month after the operation, sports, physical activity, weight lifting, visiting tanning salons and baths are prohibited;
– in the first week, there is a high risk of postoperative hematomas and bruises, this variant of complications is normal, given the specifics of this surgical intervention;
– Reduced motor and sensory functions of some parts of the face;
– During the first seven days after surgery, the patient needs to use mouth rinses after each meal, so that the remnants of the food do not remain in the oral cavity, and do not cause inflammation and the growth of bacteria at the site of the former surgical wound;
Most oedemas after the intervention disappear after 2-3 weeks;
In 7-10 days after surgery, the patient can return to their usual lifestyle.
Evaluation of the results:
The result of the operation is subject to final adequate assessment after 25-30 days, depending on the speed of rehabilitation. The final result is evaluated after 3-4 months.
The result from mentoplasty is lifelong, does not require reoperation, and the implant does not require replacement.
