At Mountain State Cosmetic Surgery in Beckley, WV, we understand how important a strong lower face is to your self-confidence. For this reason, we are proud to offer a chin implant. However, people often worry that their results will fade and they wonder if surgery is really right for them. Keep reading to find out how long the results of this procedure will last, how long the procedure takes, and much more.
How Long Does a Chin Implant Last?
You can expect the results of your chin implant to last a lifetime. This is because, most of the time, a durable silicone implant is used. However, the material implanted to improve the appearance of your chin depends on numerous factors. To find out for sure what material will be implanted into your chin, you need to attend an initial evaluation with a cosmetic surgeon.
How Long Does This Procedure Take?
Sometimes, a chin implant can be completed in under an hour. However, it may take closer to three full hours depending on the scope of your cosmetic concerns and goals. The first step of this procedure involves verifying that your skin is free from irritation and sanitizing it thoroughly. Once your skin is cleaned, we will mark the ideal incision points and administer anesthesia to ensure you don’t feel any pain or discomfort during our augmentation procedure.
Once you are numbed, strategically placed incisions will be made inside your mouth or under your chin. Then, your tissues will be stretched very gently so there is room to insert the implant. Once the implant is in place, very fine sutures will be used to close the incision. Finally, a protective dressing will be applied to the incision site. After two to three days, this dressing can be removed.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
For the most part, you can return to your usual routine 10 days after your chin augmentation procedure. However, you will have to wait approximately six weeks for your recovery to be mostly complete. It is also important to note that you will not be able to do any rigorous physical activity for several weeks post-op. Plan on taking a break from weightlifting and don’t plan to participate in any athletic competitions, like soccer or triathlons.
What Should I Eat After My Procedure?
If the incisions for your implant are made inside your mouth, you probably won’t feel like chewing for the first few days post-op. However, it is vital that you get plenty of protein, soluble fiber, vitamin C, and water in your diet after your surgery. It is extremely important to get plenty of soluble fiber after your surgery because you may find it hard to pass bowel movements while taking analgesics otherwise.
It is extremely important to get plenty of vitamin C, protein, and water because these ingredients are necessary for your skin to produce collagen. The more collagen your skin can produce, the faster you will heal, especially if you get lots of REM sleep. During the first 24 to 72 hours of your recovery, you may want to have someone stay home with you and make you meals and snacks that are easy to consume without much chewing.
How Much Should I Sleep After My Procedure?
After your chin augmentation, you should get as much deep sleep as possible. Individual sleep cycles vary, but people usually complete one full sleep cycle every 90 minutes. The more consecutive sleep cycles they get, the more time is spent in the rapid eye movement stage. It is during this stage that most of the body’s healing occurs. Ideally, you should sleep for nine consecutive hours nightly. If you can’t, try to nap during the day.
Can I Exercise During My Recovery?
Yes, you can exercise during your chin augmentation recovery. Even though you will need to wait several weeks before resuming vigorous physical activity, you can still engage in gentle exercise. For example, if you walk for 30 minutes per day during most days of your recovery, you may end up recovering faster. Cardiovascular exercise supports your cardiovascular system, meaning growth factors, oxygen, and nutrients circulate in your bloodstream more efficiently.
Don’t fret if you don’t feel like walking for 30 minutes straight during the first 24 hours following your procedure. If you can, take several short walks when you get home. If you’re feeling too tired, it is perfectly acceptable to nap or do something relaxing, like put together a puzzle. If you can’t walk for 30 straight minutes after your procedure, try to walk a little longer the next day.
How Should I Prepare for My Procedure?
Attend an Initial Consultation
The first preparation step you must take in advance of chin augmentation surgery is to attend an initial consultation. During this initial consultation, we will verify this procedure is appropriate for you by discussing your overall health, medical history, concerns, and goals. If you’re in relatively good health, there is a good chance chin augmentation will be safe for you. Then, whether you qualify comes down to whether this procedure will be effective for providing your ideal results.
Note that even if a chin implant will be safe and effective for you, there is a chance you will not be considered a good fit for surgery. There are a number of pre-op and post-op steps you must be willing and able to take to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. We will review all of these instructions during your initial consultation. If you’re not sure you can abide by all of the rules, let us know. You may not be an ideal fit for surgery.
Arrange for a Ride Home
Depending on your heart and lung health and the scope of your cosmetic goals, you may be administered general anesthesia or a combination of a sedative and local anesthesia. Regardless, your reaction time may be reduced significantly for 24 hours, so it is not safe for you to drive. Make sure you have someone to take you to and from your procedure. Chin augmentation is an outpatient procedure, so you will be free to go home on the same day as your surgery.
Quit Smoking
Another vital preparation step you must take before your surgery is to quit smoking. If you consume nicotine in any form before your chin augmentation, your blood pressure may be dangerously high. Do not vape e-cigarettes, smoke cigarettes, cigarillos, or cigars, chew tobacco, or use smoking cessation products for two weeks pre-op. Be prepared to go two weeks without nicotine after your surgery, too.
Stop Drinking Alcohol
You should refrain from drinking alcohol for two weeks pre-op for the same reason you should avoid smoking or consuming other forms of nicotine. Alcohol can affect your blood pressure in a negative way significantly, but that’s not all it does. Alcohol also dehydrates you and causes your body to flush out vital micronutrients, like vitamin C. You should also be prepared to go two weeks post-op without consuming alcohol.
Stop Taking Multivitamins
It is also vital that you stop taking any pharmaceuticals, including multivitamins, that can thin your blood or prevent your blood from clotting. In addition to not taking a one-a-day multivitamin, you should not take a stand-alone vitamin E supplement. Other supplements you should avoid taking to ensure your blood clots appropriately include Ginkgo biloba and fish oil.
Some of the drugs you need to stop taking include NSAIDs and MAOIs. Make sure you talk to your doctor before stopping any medication temporarily. If your primary care physician advised you to take aspirin daily to protect your heart health, make sure it’s okay to stop taking aspirin for several days in a row. If your psychiatrist prescribed you an MAOI for your depression, make sure it is safe for you to come off of it temporarily.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
Once the material is implanted into your chin, you should not expect it to shift out of place or degrade. Rather, you should expect your chin implant results to last a lifetime. If you think you could benefit from this quick, comfortable procedure, you may be a good fit. Contact us today at Mountain State Cosmetic Surgery in Beckley, WV to schedule your initial chin augmentation consultation and find out if this procedure is appropriate for you.
