Chin + Jaw Implants

Dr. Rad’s chin + jaw implant patients seek his expertise as an essential component in facial aesthetic surgery aimed to improve facial balance and harmony and enhance the jawbone structure. The shape and size of the chin and jaw frames the lower face and can convey strength or vulnerability. A weak and deficient chin or jaw, or a strong and overpowering chin or jaw, can distract attention from an otherwise attractive face. While a small, short or otherwise weak appearing chin can look out of proportion and make an otherwise attractive face look out of balance. Dr. Rad’s goal in his chin and jaw enhancement work is to help patients feel more self confident that their facial features appear natural, not to look “done” or altered.

Patients choose to have chin and jaw augmentation for different reasons, from simply wanting to feel less self conscious to presenting oneself in a more authoritative way. Interestingly, a 2007 scientific study found that the chins and jawlines of 90% of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies were deemed “strong appearing” compared with only 40% in the general population. Regardless of motivation, Dr. Rad’s patients often feel that their chins and jaws draw attention for the wrong reasons and they want natural results. Overall, Dr. Rad’s goal is to improve balance and harmony to patients’ faces so they can feel more confident in their appearances.

A chin implant is a procedure designed to strengthen the jaw line by securing an implant to the chin bone in order to increase its projection and shape the lower face.

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“In facial aesthetic surgery, details are everything.”

- Ariel N Rad, MD, PhD, FACS

Real Patient Results Gallery

Facial Implants before and after photos by Sherber and Rad in Washington DC

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01 Artistry

Dr. Rad has performed thousands of chin and jaw implant surgeries, and his artistry is customized for each patient whose anatomy and needs are unique. In Dr. Rad’s experience the key to artistry is to view a face holistically and artistically rather than in individual parts or by following some “recipe” or rote formula. The reason behind this is because changing one area will influence the relative contour of adjacent areas and change the overall balance of a face. Furthermore, following a “recipe” for every face rarely works well. Overall, Dr. Rad’s artistry is rooted in his deep experience treating thousands of patients and his deep focus on facial aesthetics at the highest level!

02 Safety

Experience is everything when it comes to safety. Dr. Rad has performed thousands of facial operations and prides himself in achieving beautiful, natural results for both women and men, and he operates with safety at top of mind by working with expert anesthesia and nursing teams at DC’s top hospital-based surgery centers. In Dr. Rad’s hands, chin + jaw implant surgery entails low risk and safety is always top of mind. Dr. Rad’s innate familiarity with facial anatomy, knowledge of safe navigation of the delicate nerves, muscles and blood vessels, and working with expert anesthesia and nursing teams, all translate to keeping patients safe.

03 Technique

Dr. Rad uses the following techniques when approaching a chin + jaw implant surgery:
1. There are several methods by which Dr. Rad is able to shape the chin and jaw. While chin and jaw enhancement can also be performed non-surgically with injectable dermal fillers, these are temporary and limited. Surgery offers a permanent improvement and can be done either to project the chin horizontally forward, or lengthen the chin downward, or a combination of both.

2. There are two primary methods of surgical enhancement. The least invasive method involves placing an implant, either silicone or Medpor, into a pocket directly over the chin or jawbone or both. Dr. Rad selects the right implant that is ideal for your chin and jaw anatomy and goals for the aesthetic result. As there are hundreds of implant options with varying size, shape, projection, height, and contour, Dr. Rad’s aesthetic eye combined with his detailed understanding of your ultimate results, is key to a successful outcome.

3. The case example of a young woman demonstrates a beautiful enhancement of the chin shape and projection that looks very natural. Dr. Rad used a small anatomical silicone implant which creates mostly forward projection and subtle vertical lengthening.

Chin Augmentation before and after photos by Sherber and Rad in Washington, DC

4. Other aesthetic procedures such as neck lift and face lift can be done to enhance the result further, as shown in this example of woman in her early fifties who wanted more definition and length to her neckline and jawline:

5. Men have unique needs in chin and jaw augmentation as the result should strengthen the jawline to frame the face in a masculine way. Dr. Rad aims to create a more robust shape on all views such as in this young professional male who felt that his facial shape was amorphous and weak:

6. The more involved method, called “sliding genioplasty,” does not involve an implant but rather involves sliding the chin bone forward. Dr. Rad makes a very precise cut across the chin bone and then Dr. Rad slides it forward, securing it in a new projected position by small titanium plates and screws.

7. Regardless of the method, Dr. Rad routinely uses a “scarless” approach by making a hidden incision inside the lower lip for the chin and inside the mouth for the jaw. While more common for surgeons to make an under-chin incision, Dr. Rad’s chin augmentation patients benefit from the completely hidden inner lip scar which is safe, effective and does not increase pain or downtime. Consultation with a facial aesthetic surgeon with specific expertise in this arena is crucial. This is an operation where millimeters matter and Dr. Rad has done thousands of facial surgeries including chin contouring.

8. Dr. Rad places hidden incisions on the inside of the lip or on the underside of the chin. For chin implants, a biocompatible Medpor implant is customized to match the ideal result of the patient and secured to the chin bone with screws. This implant is designed to be permanent.

9. For jaw implants, Dr. Rad places the hidden incisions inside of the mouth where he can precisely set the customized porous polyethylene implants over the back of the jawbone (gonial angle). By focusing on the back of the jawbone (gonial angle) located in the ramus, Dr. Rad is able to give more height and width to the ramus and improve the overall structure of the jawbone.

10. Surgery involves minor swelling and discomfort for several days. Most patients require about two weeks to recover.

04 recovery

Chin and jaw implant surgery is an outpatient surgery, and patients will return home to rest and recover. The recovery process involves minor discomfort with temporary minor swelling which is not dangerous. This swelling will resolve in a matter of days to weeks. Most patients are able to get back to their regular work quickly, in a matter of days. Refraining from intense exercise lasts days to a few weeks depending on the level of activity (higher intensity activity requires a longer duration of recovery). However, Dr. Rad’s minimally invasive techniques speed this aspect of recovery.

05 Aftercare

Care post-surgery is important for both your recovery and results whether at your home or at a hotel. For your safety, as you’ll be somewhat sleepy, you will need a responsible adult to stay with you for at least the first night. If you’re interested in having an experienced private duty nurse, we can help facilitate this care.

Once home or in a hotel, you will mostly rest, although you should be able to perform “activities of daily living,” meaning being up and about and doing basic self care. Since your head will be wrapped, you’ll defer showering until your first post-op appointment with Dr. Rad 1-2 days after surgery.

During the daytime you should walk 10-15 minutes each hour and should not be on bed rest. Pain is relatively mild and most patients need a mild pain medicine to help them sleep. Tissues react with swelling and bruising that distorts facial appearance and causes facial muscles not to work normally, but this is normal and temporary. Cold compresses and head elevation helps with comfort and swelling.

Since nausea is not uncommon after anesthesia, no matter how light the anesthesia given, nausea prevention is essential and straightforward by taking an anti-nausea medicine such as Zofran (Ondansetron). Nausea side effects typically wear off in 24-48 hours. Other side effects of anesthesia include feeling a bit groggy or “out of it”, but this is relatively mild and wears off quickly. Dr. Rad recommends not planning important work-related activities or phone calls as you will not feel your sharpest.

Drinking liquids is most important to maintain hydration. Dr. Rad recommends Gatorade, or Drip Drop and Liquid IV electrolyte replacement powders mixed in water. If neck lift has been done then patients often feel some neck tightness that is normal, common and temporary. You will see Dr. Rad within the first few days to check on your early healing.

06 Longevity

Your vision for your results will emerge through detailed consultation with Dr. Rad, meticulous examination of your anatomy, and careful pre-surgical planning. While Dr. Rad’s surgical approach is unique for each patient, Dr. Rad always focuses on ensuring that patients look natural as though they never had surgery.

frequently askedQuestions

How do I know if I’m a good candidate for a jaw implant surgery?

The ideal candidate for the jaw implant is an adult whose lower face is disproportionately a bit smaller than the rest of their face or a man who desires a more masculine and prominent jawline.

Jaw implant surgery can help to enhance the jaw through the placement of customized implants over the back of the jawbone (gonial angle). By focusing on the back of the jawbone (gonial angle) located in the ramus, Dr. Rad is able to give more height and width to the ramus and improve the overall structure of the jawbone.

How do I know if I’m a good candidate for chin augmentation surgery?

Patients who feel self conscious about having a small, short or under projected chin may be good candidates for chin augmentation. Sometimes patients aren’t sure whether they’d benefit from chin enhancement because other features may dominate. For example, patients seeking rhinoplasty to reduce the size of their noses may also benefit from chin enhancement because a more prominent chin will make the nose look smaller, as shown in these examples:

Or, a wide jaw can make the chin look too short in which case slimming the jawbone can bring better overall lower facial proportion, as shown in this case example of a young woman who desired total jaw and chin contouring:

The chin should balance each other facial features and Dr. Rad pays close attention to these details of facial harmony. To determine your exact needs, evaluation by an aesthetics expert is essential. As Dr. Rad has performed thousands of facial and chin contouring procedures and his aesthetics expertise is widely sought out in the DC and northern Virginia area, he is well suited to make this assessment.

Is chin implant surgery popular?

Yes. Most patients benefit from improved facial proportions by rebalancing chin height and projection which can make them look more attractive to themselves and to others. They may feel self-conscious about a small or weak chin which can distract from an otherwise attractive face. Chin augmentation can give a more authoritative and commanding appearance.

Is chin implant safe?

Safety is the most important aspect of the surgery and everything that Dr. Rad does in planning and executing surgery is focused on patient safety. Your surgeon should have detailed familiarity with facial anatomy which comes with practice. Dr. Rad has performed thousands of facial surgeries which gives him a depth of understanding of facial anatomy that is second to none. Furthermore, Dr. Rad collaborates with a board-certified anesthesiologist for the safest delivery of anesthesia care, and in a certified surgery center that is part of a hospital campus. In this safest environment, patients can rest assured that their care is of the highest quality.

Are there effective alternatives to surgical chin implant surgery?

Yes: non-surgical chin augmentation can be done with dermal filler injections. Dr. Rad uses FDA-approved fillers within the Juvéderm family of injectable dermal fillers. These injections create temporary volume and shape, however, they are limited because, as liquid, fillers cannot create angularity and firm projection that can be achieved with surgery. Nonetheless, fillers may be an ideal option for patients who are unsure about having surgery and want to “test drive” the result. Keep in mind, however, that filler is soft and cannot give the same degree of definition as surgical augmentation.

Testimonials

“Dr. Rad is not only a skilled and talented surgeon but a kind and compassionate doctor, who treats the whole person. For me, he exemplifies medical excellence.”

“He is the most gifted physician that I’ve ever met. Dr. Ariel Rad is in the top-echelon of physicians. He has a brilliant brain and a big heart. His skills as a surgeon are unparalleled.”

“He was very thorough, knowledgeable and most of all empathic to my situation.”

“He is not only a great surgeon, but an artist.”

“He is very skilled, his manner is absolutely delightful, and he is a truly kind, considerate person”

“He is an expert in his field. He is brilliant and very caring. I will never forget how compassionate he was on the day of my surgery”

“Dr. Rad is one of the world's best! His artistic eye and incredible skill shows in my incredible face lift results. His ability as a surgeon is surpassed only by his kindness and approachability as a person.”

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Related Procedures

Chin + Jaw Implants

- Ariel N Rad, MD, PhD, FACS

Real Patient Results Gallery

01 Artistry

02 Safety

03 Technique

04 recovery

05 Aftercare

06 Longevity

frequently askedQuestions

How do I know if I’m a good candidate for a jaw implant surgery?

How do I know if I’m a good candidate for chin augmentation surgery?

Is chin implant surgery popular?

Is chin implant safe?

Are there effective alternatives to surgical chin implant surgery?

Testimonials

Next Steps

PLAN YOUR VISIT

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