Chin correction

Table of contents:

There can be major differences between a man's chin and a woman's. This can therefore be very important in gender recognition. A chin correction is often performed in combination with a reduction in the jaw angle. 

What makes a chin male or female?

The female chin usually tapers into a point towards the center of the chin. In men, the chin ends in two points (below the canines) with a flat part in between. As a result, a man's chin is often fuller and more square. A woman's is more pointed. 

In men, the chin is often higher vertically, with more space between the lower lip and the base of the chin.

In some cases, a man may have a vertical crease down the middle, commonly known as a 'cleft chin'. This hardly occurs in women. 

Male chin

  • Rather square
  • Langer

Female chin

  • Rather square
  • Langer

Chin and facial harmony

Although tastes vary, there are some guidelines regarding the characteristics of an aesthetically pleasing face. In profile view the face should have a slight degree of convexity. By this we mean that it must have a specific angle.

A patient's profile can be significantly changed with genioplasty. This, in turn, has a significant effect on the harmony of the entire face.

Ideal viewing angle (left) - Viewing angle too small (middle) - Viewing angle too prominent (right)

Feminizing the chin

Fortunately, the chin is an area of ​​the face where all its features can be adjusted: height, width and even projection if necessary. Depending on the individual anatomy of the patient and the desired result, it is possible to make various adjustments. This chin correction is called a “sliding genioplasty”. 

Procedure

  • General anesthesia.
  • Incisions—All incisions are made intraorally so that no scars are visible externally.
  • Sawing - Using a saw, the chin is sawn through on both sides from back to front. This involves loosening a piece of bone in the shape of a horseshoe from the chin. 
  • Height reduction—A second cut can be made parallel to and a few millimeters away from the first cut. A piece of bone can then be removed. 
  • Tapering—The middle part of the horseshoe-shaped piece of bone can be removed to make the chin more pointed.
  • Chin more forward or backward—The final position of the piece of bone is chosen. The chin can be moved forward or backward.
  • Fixation—The bone pieces are fixed using titanium mini plates and screws, which will never be removed.
  • Suture—The wound is closed with dissolvable sutures.

Recovery

  • Stay—Most patients will stay in the clinic overnight after their surgery.
  • Compression Bandage—A compression bandage will be placed over the chin to reduce bruising. It can be removed the next day.
  • Swelling—The swelling is similar to the swelling after oral surgery.
  • Numbness—Most patients experience temporary numbness.
  • Work and sports—If you don't mind being seen with the swelling, you may be able to continue your social activities for 7 to 10 days after surgery. Only after 3 to 4 weeks can you exercise or do heavier physical work.

Complications

  • Infection—Infections are possible but rare.
  • Numbness—Partial numbness of part of the jaw due to nerve damage (rare but possible).
  • Asymmetry—Although the surgeon carefully marks the areas he is going to operate on, there may be asymmetries. These can always be corrected afterwards.