A recessed or overly prominent chin can throw off the balance of your entire face. Chin surgery in Newark and New Castle County, DE, can reshape your profile and bring your facial features into better proportion. At the practice of Mehdi Balakhani MD, you’ll find personalized options like genioplasty and mentoplasty suited to your specific goals and anatomy.
What Is a Chin Surgery?
Chin surgery, also known as mentoplasty, is a surgical procedure that reshapes the chin by enhancing it with an implant or reducing the bone. Often, a plastic surgeon may recommend chin surgery to a patient undergoing nose surgery to achieve facial proportion, as the size of the chin can magnify or minimize the perceived size of the nose. Chin surgery can enhance facial balance by improving the alignment of the chin with other facial features.
Ideal Candidates for Chin Surgery
Chin surgery is suitable for healthy adults age 18 or older whose facial bones have fully developed. Patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their chin are good candidates for chin surgery. Patients with a weak chin that lacks projection or those with a prominent chin are often ideal candidates for chin augmentation, especially if they also have a prominent nose.
Before undergoing surgery, it is essential to have realistic expectations. It is also important to maintain good overall health, as certain health conditions can increase the risk of complications.
Those with untreated health conditions, a history of poor wound healing, or unstable expectations may not be suitable for surgery. Smokers may need to stop several weeks before surgery to qualify.
Preparing for Chin Surgery: What You Need to Know
Proper preparation helps support a smoother procedure and recovery. Before your chin surgery, Dr. Balakhani, one of the top plastic surgeons in Delaware, will provide personalized instructions to help you prepare medically and logistically.
Follow this before-surgery checklist:
- Stop smoking at least two weeks before surgery to avoid prolonging the healing process
- Avoid NSAIDs 7–10 days prior
- Complete facial imaging or X-rays if requested
- Make transportation arrangements for the day of surgery
- Follow all pre-op instructions from Dr. Balakhani’s team
Types of Chin Surgery
Chin augmentation
Chin augmentation is a type of chin surgery that takes up to an hour to complete. Local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia may be employed. During the treatment, an incision is made inside the mouth, eliminating noticeable surgical marks.
The implant, typically made of semi-solid silicone, is inserted into a pocket in the tissue and then positioned in front of the jawbone. Sutures are used to fix the implant in place. When an incision in the mouth is not possible, one is made beneath the chin to camouflage surgical marks.
Chin reduction
Chin reduction surgery can be done within one to two hours under general anesthesia. Dr. Balakhani starts the procedure by making an incision within the mouth or under the chin.
Excess bone, tissue, and muscle are removed during chin reduction surgery to achieve a more refined appearance. The chin tip is then sculpted to achieve the desired profile by drilling the bone. In certain situations, a piece of the bone is removed, and the chin is repositioned. Sutures are used to seal the incision. The patient gets discharged the same day.
View Chin Augmentation Gallery
What to Expect During Chin Surgery Recovery
After chin surgery, it’s common to experience swelling, tightness, and mild discomfort. Pain is typically manageable with prescription medication and improves significantly within three to five days. A compression garment may be placed to help reduce swelling and support healing.
For the first 7-14 days, you may be advised to follow a soft or liquid diet to limit jaw movement. Sutures are typically removed around day 10, depending on the incision location and the rate of healing.
Most patients can return to non-strenuous activities within one to two weeks. Swelling continues to improve over the next few weeks, with noticeable results visible by four to six weeks. Full healing and final contour typically settle within three to four months following mentoplasty or genioplasty.
Benefits of Chin Surgery
- Enhances facial proportion by adjusting chin projection
- Refines the jawline for a more defined lower face
- Helps bring balance when combined with other procedures like rhinoplasty
- Offers long-term structural improvement through bone reshaping or chin implant placement
- Improves the way the chin harmonizes with surrounding features like the nose and neck
Before and After Chin Surgery Gallery
See real patient results from chin augmentation, chin reduction, and other chin reshaping procedures. These images highlight how genioplasty and mentoplasty can improve facial balance by refining the chin and jawline. View more cases in our before and after chin augmentation photos.
Related Procedures
Facial implants can enhance the structure of the cheeks, chin, or jaw for better facial balance and definition.
Rhinoplasty reshapes the nose to improve its appearance or function, often combined with chin surgery for facial harmony.
Facelift surgery addresses sagging skin and deep folds, helping to restore a smoother, more youthful lower face and jawline.
Cost of Chin Surgery in Newark
The cost of chin surgery varies based on the type of procedure, whether it involves a chin implant, bone reduction, or combined facial surgery. Total cost may also include anesthesia, facility fees, and post-op care.
Dr. Balakhani’s practice offers flexible financing options through CareCredit® and Alphaeon Credit®, which can help make elective procedures more manageable with monthly payments.
During your consultation, you’ll receive a full estimate based on your treatment plan.
Why Choose Dr. Balakhani for Your Chin Surgery
With over 30 years of surgical experience, Mehdi Balakhani, DDS, MD, FACS, has become a trusted name in facial procedures throughout Newark and New Castle County. As a double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, he brings skill and precision to each chin surgery, whether it involves augmentation, reduction, or full jawline reshaping.
Patients appreciate Dr. Balakhani’s clear communication, steady hands, and thoughtful attention to detail. Every consultation is one-on-one, and treatment plans are carefully developed to match your facial structure and goals.
Explore the plastic surgery facilities where your procedure will take place.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
What to Expect During Chin Surgery Recovery
A patient may have chin tightening and edema following chin surgery. Pain medication can be used to alleviate discomfort, but most patients report that the pain is gone within three to five days. To minimize swelling, a compression garment can be taped to the chin.
For the first two weeks after chin surgery, a liquid and soft food diet may be advised by Dr. Balakhani. Sutures will be removed after ten days. It takes around six weeks to fully recover following mentoplasty.
Schedule Your Chin Surgery Consultation Today
If you’re considering chin surgery in Newark or New Castle County, DE, trust a surgeon with decades of hands-on experience and a thoughtful, personalized approach. At Dr. Mehdi Balakhani’s practice, you’ll receive expert guidance on the most suitable surgical options for your facial structure and goals. Contact us today to book a consultation.
