chin implant to triangulate face/nostril narrowing

[JenJen2011]

Hi there,

It's been a while since I've posted. I'm having surgery soon focusing mainly on hip augmentation, however, I'd like to enhance my facial features more. I had full FFS but was not left content. One of the procedures I did was chin bone burring and although it was reduced quite nicely, given the shortage of chin that I have now and also scalp advancement, my face overall looks very round and wide.

My surgeon has recommended a chin implant to increase the vertical height of my chin/face and help to triangulate my face. It sounds good but I'm afraid of the final result. Has anyone had a chin implant and what was your experience like?

He also recommended nostril narrowing so my nostrils end closer to the inner eye distance. Anyone have experience with this as well?

I'm so indecisive at this point.

Thanks!

[myfairlady49]

Hi there,

It's been a while since I've posted. I'm having surgery soon focusing mainly on hip augmentation, however, I'd like to enhance my facial features more. I had full FFS but was not left content. One of the procedures I did was chin bone burring and although it was reduced quite nicely, given the shortage of chin that I have now and also scalp advancement, my face overall looks very round and wide.

My surgeon has recommended a chin implant to increase the vertical height of my chin/face and help to triangulate my face. It sounds good but I'm afraid of the final result. Has anyone had a chin implant and what was your experience like?

He also recommended nostril narrowing so my nostrils end closer to the inner eye distance. Anyone have experience with this as well?

I'm so indecisive at this point.

Thanks!

Did you have a sliding genioplasty with your FFS work ?   Normally,  a genioplasty would likely give better results and fewer complications over time.  A lot of local plastic surgeons are not comfortable doing sliding genioplasties.   Hence,  the recommendation for an implant.

[JenJen2011]

Did you have a sliding genioplasty with your FFS work ?   Normally,  a genioplasty would likely give better results and fewer complications over time.  A lot of local plastic surgeons are not comfortable doing sliding genioplasties.   Hence,  the recommendation for an implant.

Nope, no sliding genioplasty. Just bone shaving. A few years back and after my FFS with another surgeon, Dr. O recommended the genioplasty. But I wonder if that can elongate my face because it looks pretty wide.

[Paula1]

Hi Jen,

I had an alarplasty (nostril narrowing) done and the result was poor.

See my second post (reply #1) in my thread here:  https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,199847.msg1791567.html#msg1791567

So choose wisely as there will be small scars whoever does it.

Hugs

Paula

He also recommended nostril narrowing so my nostrils end closer to the inner eye distance. Anyone have experience with this as well?

I'm so indecisive at this point.

Thanks!

[Lagertha]

My surgeon has recommended a chin implant to increase the vertical height of my chin/face and help to triangulate my face. It sounds good but I'm afraid of the final result. Has anyone had a chin implant and what was your experience like?

I have chin implant, for improving frontal projection. I was given a choice to decide between implant or sliding genioplasty (I wanted more projection.. I hate receding chins). I choosed implant and it was a mistake, I should have decided for more invasive sliding genioplasty instead. While it looks perfectly good and it visualy does what is expected, it doesnt feel natural.. when you touch it with fingers, it clearly feels like an implant, it doesnt feel like a bone. Also, when I sleep more on my face (it happens...) it can feel a little sore (maybe its because its been only a year since my surgery). I'm considering to have it removed someday in future, and have sliding genioplasty instead.

I'm obviously not familiar myself with implants to correct vertical aspect of face. But I would definitely recommend you to look into sliding genioplasty instead. Yes, its more invasive, and like myfairlady said, not every plastic surgeon is comfortable doing it... but a part of chin can be moved backwards, forward, downward.. left, right, ..or chin can be split in the middle and slided outwards to each side to create broader chin (...if any ftm ever reads this forums). And because bone heals over time, it will not only look, but it should also feel natural.

I'm not saying implants can't be good of perfect for someone. Lastly there are also anatomical implants available, which can be custom made for you to fit perfect, based on CT-scans of your existing chin structure.. but its very expensive option, upwards of $10,000. Fitting perfect is generally the problem with any solid facial implants. That partially depends on skills of a surgeon, who is able to modify - cut away shape of implant to achieve better fit, to allign it with your chin as good as possible.

[luna nyan]

Have you checked to see whether some cosmetic dentistry or orthodontics might help?

A good cosmetic dentist or orthodontist might be able to improve your smile and also fix up the chin at the same time.  Look up dental facelift on google to see what's possible and understand the concepts involved.

Cost wise it's probably going to end up being similar, but you might end up fixing two things at once for the same amount of money!

Just giving another alternative. 

[JenJen2011]

Hi Jen,

I had an alarplasty (nostril narrowing) done and the result was poor.

See my second post (reply #1) in my thread here:  https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,199847.msg1791567.html#msg1791567

So choose wisely as there will be small scars whoever does it.

Hugs

Paula

Thanks for sharing. I'm so sorry to hear you are dissatisfied with your result. I already have a noticeable scar under my nose from a lip lift which the surgeon said he would revise. I definitely wouldn't want more scarring.

[JenJen2011]

I have chin implant, for improving frontal projection. I was given a choice to decide between implant or sliding genioplasty (I wanted more projection.. I hate receding chins). I choosed implant and it was a mistake, I should have decided for more invasive sliding genioplasty instead. While it looks perfectly good and it visualy does what is expected, it doesnt feel natural.. when you touch it with fingers, it clearly feels like an implant, it doesnt feel like a bone. Also, when I sleep more on my face (it happens...) it can feel a little sore (maybe its because its been only a year since my surgery). I'm considering to have it removed someday in future, and have sliding genioplasty instead.

I'm obviously not familiar myself with implants to correct vertical aspect of face. But I would definitely recommend you to look into sliding genioplasty instead. Yes, its more invasive, and like myfairlady said, not every plastic surgeon is comfortable doing it... but a part of chin can be moved backwards, forward, downward.. left, right, ..or chin can be split in the middle and slided outwards to each side to create broader chin (...if any ftm ever reads this forums). And because bone heals over time, it will not only look, but it should also feel natural.

I'm not saying implants can't be good of perfect for someone. Lastly there are also anatomical implants available, which can be custom made for you to fit perfect, based on CT-scans of your existing chin structure.. but its very expensive option, upwards of $10,000. Fitting perfect is generally the problem with any solid facial implants. That partially depends on skills of a surgeon, who is able to modify - cut away shape of implant to achieve better fit, to allign it with your chin as good as possible.

Thanks for sharing. That's one of my fears, having something that feels unnatural on my face. The other option the surgeon gave me was to use juvaderm voluma  (filler) at the chin which would do the same as the implant only that it only lasts for up to 18 months versus am implant which would be permanent.

[JenJen2011]

Have you checked to see whether some cosmetic dentistry or orthodontics might help?

A good cosmetic dentist or orthodontist might be able to improve your smile and also fix up the chin at the same time.  Look up dental facelift on google to see what's possible and understand the concepts involved.

Cost wise it's probably going to end up being similar, but you might end up fixing two things at once for the same amount of money!

Just giving another alternative. 

Haven't thought of that. Thanks for the suggestion.

[JenJen2011]

Thanks all. I'm really reconsidering. I don't want to do something that I'll regret. I'm asking other surgeons for their opinions. I'll keep doing my research and looking at other options. Maybe I should just focus on my hip augmentation for now, fix my scar under nose and use some filler. We shall see.

[Lagertha]

The other option the surgeon gave me was to use juvaderm voluma  (filler) at the chin which would do the same as the implant only that it only lasts for up to 18 months versus am implant which would be permanent.

That's not a bad idea, in case if you are not 100% shure whether you want correction or not. And its usually not that expensive. Implants are semi-permanent. If it turns out you arent happy with the change, implant can be easily removed or replaced with smaller implant, or different shape, etc... if we talk about solid silicone implants. Medpor implants (porous material) are far more complicated to remove.