When Can I Shave After Chin Implant Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am looking to have a Chin Implant surgery and I heard a lot about you across the internet from satisfied patients. I have some concerns about the surgery. I grow facial hair (beard) relatively fast like in a week. Will it cause or disturb the stitches made under the chin. and When can I start shaving after the surgery?

A: In the submental approach to chin or jawline implant placement, a skin incision is made under the chin through hair-bearing skin in men. I close the skin portion of the incision with a 5-0 plain suture in a subcuticular fashion (under the skin) so no suture removal is needed later. It is then covered with thin flesh-colored tapea that are glued on. Once get the tapes wet and shave around as soon as one feels comfortable doing so. It is expected that the growth of the beard skin will push the tapes loose in a matter of days. Once can then shave over the incision beginning one week after surgery. This is an incision management strategy that has worked well over the years in chin and jawline implants in men and has never posed an implant infection or hair growth problem.