MENTOPLASTY (Chin plastic surgery) The chin is a reference point in aesthetic studies of the face and it must have a balanced limit with other parts of face such as nose, eyes, mouth, etc. The chin can be in a posterior or anterior position in relation to its ideal location and both problems can be corrected through surgery. The most common mentoplasty is to correct the retracted chin (fallen chin) through the inclusion of a silicon piece. The most frequently asked questions about this surgery are:

1. Where are the scars?
It can be either inside the mouth or in the inferior part of the chin depending on your surgeon’s criteria.

2. What kind of anesthesia?
If it’s just a chin correction then a local anesthesia, when associated with other procedures then general anesthesia.

3. How’s the silicion piece which is inserted?
The surgeon usually molds the piece or uses premolded ones (there are various sizes which can be shown to the patient before surgery) and the introduces it during surgery.

4. Can the silicon piece cause cancer?
This type of piece has been used in this type of surgery for over 25 years without any sign that it may cause cancer because it is inert to the organism and it can be kept in the same place it was introduced inside a fiber capsule that the organism produces around it. The cases of piece elimination are rare and when that happens (usually due to post-surgery problems such as infections, bruises or hemorragies) the piece is removed in a simple surgery with local anesthesia without any problems and then another one can be introduced.

5. Is the post-surgery phase painful?
Usually no but even if you feel any pain we can neutralize it with normal pain killers.

6. What about the bandages?
There’s a local bandage to keep the protesis and besides this bandage there may be others to avoid traumas in the first days.

7. How long should I rest after surgery?
Depending on your activity, just one day. In some special cases you might have to rest for 8 to 10 days but it’s not an absolute rest.

8. What kind of care should I have after surgery?
You should watch out for infected teeth or other inflammations in the mouth and treat this before undergoing mentoplasty surgery.

9. How different will my new appearance be?
You shouldn’t have major alterations, just an improvement in the balance of your looks, keeping your individual characteristics.

10. Can this type of surgery be associated with rhinoplasty?
Many times the surgeon will recommend the association of both procedures soa s to improve the aesthetic balance of you face.

11- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MENTOPLASTY

1. PRE SURGERY:
1. Inform your doctor in case of viroses or infections one day before surgery
2. check in hospital or clinic at appointed time
3. Fast in case of general anesthesia, in case of local anesthesia only light meal two hours before surgery.
4. Bring someone with you to check in hospital

2. AFTER SURGERY:
1. Avoid cold, sun or traumas
2. Return to clinic at appointed times
3. Use soft tooth brush to brush teeth
4. Follow doctors prescriptions
5. Don’t worry about the swelling which will disappear after a few days
6. Free diet. Avoid solid foods that require much chewing in the first days.