What is Genioplasty?

Genioplasty, also known as chin alignment surgery, is a type of surgery performed on the chin. Both plastic surgeons and oral and maxillofacial surgeons (surgeons working on the mouth and jaw) can perform this type of surgery.

Genioplasty is mostly a cosmetic surgery, meaning people choose to have it done for looks and not because of a medical problem. This practice can take various forms;

• Moving the jaw forward
• Moving the jaw backwards
• Aligning asymmetrical jaws by making them longer or shorter

There are basically two types of genioplasty; sliding (sliding) genioplasty and chin implants.

Sliding Genioplasty

In sliding genioplasty, your surgeon uses a saw to cut the jawbone and move it to correct the missing jaw. This is also called bone genioplasty. This type of genioplasty is recommended for people with severe retrogenia or whose chin is too far behind the rest of their face. It can also help correct jaws that are pushed too far and are too long.

Jaw Implants

Chin implants can be used to reshape, augment or accentuate the appearance of the chin. This procedure can be performed through surgery or injection. Surgical chin augmentation is performed by implanting a plastic material in the chin and bonding it to the bone. Alloplastic implants made of synthetic materials are the most common. Surgical implants have a similar healing process to sliding genioplasty. In both processes, time is needed for the tissue to fuse with the implant.

Non-surgical chin augmentation is performed by injecting fillers such as body fat with a needle to improve the appearance of the chin. This process leaves no traces and heals in a minimum of time.

What Should Be Considered After Genioplasty Operation?

Post-operatively, your surgeon may recommend that you take antibiotics. The stitches in the mouth will go away on their own, so you don't have to go back to the hospital to have your stitches removed. You can return to your normal eating pattern when you start to feel better a few days after the operation. The point to be considered here is to be fed with liquid or soft foods for the period specified by your surgeon. In addition, you should not forget to rinse your mouth with water or antiseptic mouthwash after every meal.

After three to five days, you can remove your dressings and compression bandage and return to your daily routine. You should not exercise for the first 10 days after surgery. It is not recommended to participate in contact sports for six to eight weeks.

If you notice any of the following, you should contact your doctor immediately;

• 38˚C or higher fever
• Bruising, redness, or swelling that does not go away within a week
• Strong offensive odor from the incision
• yellow or green discharge
• Bleeding that cannot be stopped with light pressure