Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

Hi I was wondeirng what the advantages and disadvantages were to genioplasty vs. chin augmentation. Is a genio normally done for someone who has sever recession of the chin but whose bite is normal vs. a chin implant for someone who just needs a little? Which is generally safer? And can both accomplish a frontal view where the jaw seems to be more masculine/wider and more defined or is that confined solely to chin augmentations? Thanks Dr. Lam!

First, this discussion is always tainted with bias. My bias is toward chin implants because simply put I don't do genios. Most oftentimes you will find that OMFS (oro-maxillo-facial surgeons) are the ones trained to do genios. a sliding genio is a much more invasive procedure that requires cutting through the bone and repositioning it then plating it. the benefit of the genio is that it can be more "versatile" in correcting side to side and up and down asymmetries that a chin implant simply cannot do. it is also nice to think "i don't have an implant, just repositioned bone." the negative of the sliding genio is that it is a much more invasive procedure and has probably higher risks but that may not be the case in very skilled hands who do the procedure frequently. the other benefit of a chin implant is that it is easily reversible. wider chins can all be done with chin implants but not the limitations mentioned above regarding correcting asymmetries. in addition. i think chin implants can actually age you (without fat transfer in someone 40 plus) since the lower portion of the chin that sticks further out will further the depression of the upper chin making the "upside down" u greater. please see the vlog on the upside u to understand this better. it should be near the top under vlog.
best,
sml

Assymetries aside, is genio simply more hassle that could be corrected with an implant? Do chin implants elongate the face for those who have a short chin from the front? And how much of a square masculine look can one obtain from an implant?

One thing I have noticed with genios is that they don't look natural. And in the configurations I've seen where the procedure is illustrated with a drawing where the mandible is cut and then repositioned, it seems that it would look fake because you can only advance so much that the rest can't be advanced. I don't think I'm making much sense...lol.

Here to illustrate.

Assymetries aside, is genio simply more hassle that could be corrected with an implant?
I BELIEVE SO BUT THAT IS MY OPINION.

Do chin implants elongate the face for those who have a short chin from the front?
NO, THEY SHOULD NOT.

And how much of a square masculine look can one obtain from an implant?
IT REALLY CAN'T IN TERMS OF THE OUTER JAWLINE. YOU NEED EITHER SOME SMALL OUTER JAW IMPLANTS OR A LITTLE FAT TRANSFER THERE.

One thing I have noticed with genios is that they don't look natural. And in the configurations I've seen where the procedure is illustrated with a drawing where the mandible is cut and then repositioned, it seems that it would look fake because you can only advance so much that the rest can't be advanced. I don't think I'm making much sense...lol
DON'T KNOW. SOMETIMES A GENIO CAN BE OKAY. IT DEPENDS ON THE SURGEON.
best,
sml