Chin & jaw contouring
Genioplasty, jaw reduction and jaw augmentation change the shape and proportions of the chin and jawline. They can be done on their own or alongside corrective jaw surgery.
Who it may help
- A chin that sits too far back, too far forward or off-centre
- A prominent or square jaw angle that you would like reduced
- A weak or underdeveloped jawline or chin
- Asymmetry after injury, previous surgery or uneven growth
Recovery
Swelling peaks at two to three days and mostly settles within two to three weeks, though the final shape takes three to six months to appear. Most people return to work after one to two weeks and eat a soft diet for about a week.
What is involved
Your face and jaws are assessed and planned in 3D from photographs and scans so you can see and discuss the intended change. Operations are under general anaesthetic and are usually carried out through incisions inside the mouth, so there are no visible scars. Will talks through your reasons for wanting surgery and what is realistic, and for cosmetic procedures there is always time to reflect before you decide.
Procedures
Depending on your goals, options include:
- Genioplasty – the chin bone is cut and moved forwards, backwards, up, down or sideways, then fixed with a small titanium plate
- Jaw reduction – reshaping a prominent jaw angle or chin by carefully contouring the bone
- Jaw augmentation – building out the jawline or chin with a patient-specific implant designed from your scan, or with bone
Risks and side effects
All surgery carries some risk. The main ones for this treatment are listed below; your own risk depends on your health and the details of your operation.
- Numbness of the lower lip and chin – often temporary, occasionally long-lasting
- Swelling, bruising, bleeding or infection
- Asymmetry, or a result that differs from what you hoped for
- Implant infection or movement, sometimes needing removal
- Damage to the roots of the lower front teeth after genioplasty – rare
- Plates needing removal later
Alternatives
You can choose not to have treatment. If your bite is also affected, orthodontic treatment and corrective jaw surgery may be more appropriate. Non-surgical options such as dermal fillers exist for some concerns; Will can explain how they compare.
Guidance and standards
Where surgery is cosmetic, Will follows the GMC’s guidance for doctors who offer cosmetic interventions: a two-stage consultation with time to reflect before consent, consideration of your psychological wellbeing, realistic information about outcomes and no promotional offers. On the NHS these procedures are offered where there is a functional or reconstructive need, such as asymmetry after injury or a congenital condition; purely cosmetic surgery is not NHS-funded.
Questions worth asking at your appointment
- Benefits – what will this treatment do for me?
- Risks – what could go wrong, and how likely is it for me?
- Alternatives – what other options are there?
- Nothing – what happens if I wait, or decide not to have treatment?
Based on the Choosing Wisely UK BRAN questions.