Square Chin Surgery

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What Is Square Chin Surgery?

The male chin tends to be longer, wider and squarer than a female chin.

For chin reshaping, surgery to reshape the underlying facial bones is the method of choice. Sliding osseous genioplasty is the best procedure to give a visually pleasing and stable result.

This method can be adapted to change the chin’s width, height, and contour, as well as correcting chins that are too prominent, recessed, or asymmetrical.

For cisgender women and trans women who have a square chin and would like their face to appear more feminine, this procedure gives excellent results.

Thinking About Making a Square Chin More Feminine

If you are thinking about how to reshape your square chin to appear more feminine, Dr. Deschamps-Braly recommends you consider chin reduction surgery in the context of your whole face, especially your lower face and jawline. Achieving a pleasing result requires a surgeon experienced in altering the bones of the face and who also understands how any changes to the jaw and chin will influence the overall appearance of the face.

Choosing your surgeon is a vital consideration for a successful and visually pleasing result. In our clinic, revision of chin surgery performed by another surgeon is a common request of clients who are not happy with the results of their previous surgery.

Revision of an osseous genioplasty/mentoplasty is possible and our revision surgeries create great results for our clients. But previous metal hardware can be difficult to remove. A power tool might be needed and this carries a risk that residual metal may be left in the bone.

Dr. Deschamps-Braly is trained and has extensive experience in three surgical disciplines critical to improving the appearance and function of the whole face, including the chin:

This means he can choose the most effective surgical option to give the best possible result for his clients while minimizing the risk of medical complications and the need for additional revision surgery.

Thinking About Making a Chin More Masculine

Chin masculinization increases the size of the chin in proportion to existing features. This procedure is recommended for men and transgender men with small, narrow and/or recessed or “weak” chins, who want a stronger, squarer and masculine chin.

If you are thinking about how to correct your receding or weak chin, Dr. Deschamps-Braly does not recommend chin implant surgery. Chin implants are a “camouflage” and can have many risks, complications and side effects. They may be recommended by cosmetic surgeons who do not have the experience to perform surgery on the underlying skeleton of the jaw and face.

One of the most common types of revision we are asked to perform is chin revision surgery after a previous surgeon has used an implant. In these cases, we often need to remove the implant and then perform surgery on the underlying skeleton to make the chin and jawline more masculine.

Read more about making your chin more masculine and the problems with chin implants.

Surgical Options for Square Chin Reduction

Dr. Deschamps-Braly will perform detailed planning before your surgery (see below). This will enable him to advise you of the most effective surgical option to give the most visually pleasing result.

Chin Recontouring for Large Square Chins

Chin re-contouring reduces the shape of a large or prominent chin to give a more feminine look. This procedure is intended to create a natural balance by reducing and reshaping the chin to be smaller and less angular/square. Any existing asymmetries can be eliminated to increase symmetry and give an overall aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Square chin surgery

T-osteotomy for Long and Square Chins

A T-osteotomy is another method we often use for chin contouring when the chin is both long and square.

Under general anesthesia, the chin bone is cut and a T-shaped piece of bone is removed. This is then fused with the remaining bones of the chin. It is almost impossible to correct both a square jaw and produce a slender “V-Line” shape of the chin at the same time without using this technique.

Planning for Chin Surgery

Dr. Deschamps-Braly is a Board-Certified plastic surgeon and craniofacial surgeon specializing in facial plastic surgery, orthognathic (jaw) surgery, and craniofacial surgery for adults and children. During a consultation, he will listen to your concerns and conduct a thorough physical examination of your face.

Changes to the chin and jaw will affect the appearance of the whole face. Reconstructive surgery for the chin and jawbone should be planned in the context of all facial features, sometimes in conjunction with plastic or cosmetic surgery such as rhinoplasty (nasal surgery or “nose job”). Dr. Deschamps-Braly always considers the overall aesthetics of the face when improving the appearance or function of any feature.

Dr. Deschamps-Braly is skilled as an orthognathic surgeon and a plastic surgeon. This gives him the experience to address the needs of bone surgery for the chin and jaw and the aesthetic sense of an artist to achieve facial harmony. Dr. Deschamps-Braly has experience in many types of chin procedures including chin augmentation, recontouring and reshaping. He does not recommend the use of chin implants.

Before the surgical procedure, Dr. Deschamps-Braly will use photographs, X-rays and CT scans of the face, including the facial profile. He will also ask for 3-dimensional imaging of the teeth. Before your surgery, Dr. Deschamps-Braly can use all this data to perform virtual surgery, which is a complete simulation of the procedure including the surgically accurate placement of surgical osteotomies and bony movements.

Recovering From Chin and Jaw Surgery

Most genioplasty procedures do not create visible scarring. They are usually performed through incisions inside the mouth so there is no external or visible evidence of surgery. The surgeon might recommend the client wears a chin strap for a short time to support the chin area during recovery.

There are new techniques in orthognathic surgery to decrease the swelling and recovery time associated with larger operations.

Straight after your surgery, you may feel discomfort and mild pain. Depending on the procedure, you may also experience tingling and swelling. Any pain should be relieved with over-the-counter or non-opioid painkillers.

Most of the pain and swelling will improve within the first few days after surgery. You may be restricted to a liquid diet for a few days. After this time you will be able to start eating soft foods and eventually return to your normal diet. Your surgeon will advise when you can return to strenuous activity.

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