How Can I Fix My Undesired Chin Implant Result?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a chin implant with terino style 1 back in February. The issue is that the chin looks pretty different from the front and the mental crease has drastically increased; the bottom part sticks out more than a normal chin should. What can be done, if anything at all to fix this problem?

A:What you have undoubtably discovered is that when considering chin augmentation you need to factor in what it may look like from the front as well as how it looks like in profile. Too many patients and surgeons only make chin implant decisions based on how things may  change in side view. By definition every chin augmentation will deepen the labiomental fold, this is unavoidable. The more horizontal projection the implant has the deeper the fold will get. How much projection a chin should have is open to personal interpretation so this is an important issue to determine before the surgery. I would ask if computer imaging was done before surgery of differing amounts of horizontal chin projection so YOU could provide insight into what looks good to you….but that is a question to which I already know the answer. (it was not done)

That being said the only way to improve your current concerns is to replace the implant with a smaller one.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon