The lower face is one of the first areas to show signs of aging. With age, skin loses its elasticity and the area along the neck and under the chin can begin to sag, often creating a double chin. In addition to aging, some patients are bothered by the size of their chin because one that’s too small can contribute to the appearance of a double chin while a larger chin can cause an imbalance with the rest of the face. Dr. Fernando Burstein performs genioplasty, or chin surgery, to augment the size and shape of the chin to complement other features of the face and yield a more balanced, youthful appearance. He also specializes in reconstructive genioplasty for patients who’ve suffered facial trauma or have a facial deformity. Often genioplasty is combined with other aesthetic or reconstructive procedures to enhance the neck and jaw line.
Though there are other options such as using “chinplants” or chin implants, Dr. Burstein chooses the more natural option of harvesting the patient’s own fat, bone, and tissues to augment the chin. Chinplants are commonly made from hard silicone and surgically inserted; however, patients are at higher risk for infection, displacement, bone erosion or rejection of the chin implant because it is made of a foreign substance. By using materials from the patient’s own body, risk of post-operative infection and poor outcomes can be reduced.
Depending on the patient’s needs, Dr. Burstein may perform different genioplasty techniques to achieve the best overall results.. For patients with a significantly smaller chin, the patient’s fat, bone, and tissue will be used to construct a more proportionate size. For patients suffering from a large chin, Dr. Burstein may surgically reduce the bone of the chin as well.
Along with genioplasty, other facial rejuvenation techniques like liposuction of the double chin or lower face lift can be performed to fully balance facial features and reduce the appearance of a double chin. For more information on genioplasty and other facial procedures that Dr. Burstein offers, both cosmetic and reconstructive, visit his website. Be sure to also connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest facial surgery news and information.
