What Should I Do With My Large Chin Implant That I Don’t Like?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 69 year old female who had a chin implant 15 years ago. It was a Large silicone wing implant which has shifted over the years. Never fit properly over my jaw. I have an asymmetrical facial structure. I lost my angular chin. It became rounded.I have a narrow face. I wanted a little more projection from side profile. Was never happy with the results. Presently I am preparing to have a facelift and I am doing research, but I would like the implant to be removed.

I have been on many consults but most doctors do not want to remove the implant and say that it just creates more problems and they won’t touch it. Other doctors will remove it and want to put a smaller one in and then other doctors want to remove the capsule and let it go back to its original state along with doing a facelift. All say I never needed it in the first place.

I am looking for a doctor who can really tell me what’s going on and what I can expect and if I should even remove the implant. I’ve never been happy with it so now that I’m doing a facelift is the time to address it.

A: In a long standing chin implant that is too large removing and not replacing it will result in significant chin ptosis…so that is the worse option. The overlying soft tissues will not go back to what they were. Removing and replacing it with a more appropriately sized/shaped chin implant would be the prudent choice. What that should be depends on what the current implant looks like and how it is positioned on the bone. To avoid guessing a 3D CT scan should be done where everything about your current chin implant will be clear.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon