CHIN AUGMENTATIONS, CHOOSING BETWEEN INVASIVE AND NON-INVASIVE PROCEDURES

With today's surgical advancements, there are numerous options for chin augmentation that include both invasive and non-invasive techniques. Orthographic surgery (breaking and advancing the mandible) is rarely indicated except with severe malocclusion problems. Chin implants are the most corrective but with the advent of safe semi-permanent injectable fillers and stem-cell concentrated fat grafting, the patient does have less invasive options. Also, chin augmentation is synergistic with nose jobs (rhinoplasty) and  face/neck tightening procedures in patients with weak chins.

An example of a minimally invasive combination is SlimLipo of the neck plus an injectable hydroxyapatite chin augmentation. These are both non surgical procedures which may be performed under local anesthesia with the patient returning to work the next day.

 

Another common combination is a surgical chin augmentation with a permanent chin implant. In place of the silicones that have been used since the 1960s, Dr. Lewis Obi prefers the lighter weight Porex™ (MedPor) implants which may be sculpted to fit the patient’s chin, are light weight and rarely shifts in the pocket. This more invasive technique is more permanent, more corrective and often performed in combination with a reduction rhinoplasty and/or neck tightening.

 

Finally, with Dr. Lewis Obi’s OPERA LIFT (Obi Palomar External RejuvenationalAesthetics), deficiencies of the chin and mouth are corrected with stem cell enhanced fat grafting with an average graft survival of 52%. Occasionally, touch up with the synthetic fillers is necessary in these patients.