A chin with a Y-shaped dimple in the middle is referred to as having a cleft chin. Usually, it is a genetic trait. Your opinion on whether or not cleft chins are attractive will depend on your preferences.
A cleft chin can be added or removed through chin surgery, commonly known as mentoplasty. It’s crucial to comprehend the underlying structure of cleft chins before having surgery to repair or reconstruct one. You should also take surgery’s dangers and expenses into account.
What Causes a Cleft Chin?
Genes determine whether or not you have a cleft chin at birth. You are more likely to have a cleft chin if other family members have one.
Cleft chins develop their unique dimple before birth. This occurs when, during fetal development, the two sides of the lower jaw do not fully fuse. There are no other symptoms other than the dimple put on by this.
Surgical Procedure for Cleft Chin
There are surgical options for both removing and creating a cleft chin.
Surgery to Remove a Cleft Chin
A cleft chin can be repaired surgically, or the dimple can be made smaller. Both procedures are typically performed using a chin implant to cover the dimple. Your surgeon will collaborate with you to choose the ideal implant shape to get the look you desire.
After surgery, your chin will probably swell, making it challenging to view your new chin. Remember that the full results might not be visible for a few weeks or months.
Surgery to Add a Cleft Chin
Conversely, no implants are used when a cleft chin is created. Instead, some of the soft tissue beneath the skin where the dimple should be will be removed by your surgeon. Either liposuction or a conventional surgical procedure is used to accomplish this.
Your surgeon might have to remove some of the bone if there isn’t enough additional tissue to cover the indentation. Typically, a bur, a small cutting tool, is introduced through your mouth to do this.
Similar to eliminating a cleft chin, surgery to generate a cleft chin might take many months to produce results.
Preparation and Safety
Although mentoplasty is risk-free, there are some downsides, whether you’re closing or adding a cleft chin.
These risks include:
- Infection
- Excessive bleeding
- Scarring
- Swelling
- Undesirable results
You can help to reduce these risks by telling your doctor if you:
- Have central or obstructive sleep apnea
- Smoke
- Use drugs or alcohol
- Are obese
- Have diabetes
- Have high blood pressure or heart disease
- Take aspirin or warfarin
- Have lung or kidney disease
These elements collectively may increase the danger of surgery. Your surgeon might be able to utilize several approaches, depending on the type of operation, to lower your risk of complications. It’s crucial to be ready for a protracted recuperation phase.
Your surgeon can give you a rough idea of how long it will take you to recuperate, but everyone recovers at a different pace. Depending on the sort of surgery you undergo and your general health, your recovery time may be quicker or slower.
Contact your surgeon if you ever feel that your chin isn’t healing correctly. They could need to change their plan or check that you don’t have an infection.
How Much Does Surgery Cost?
Chin surgery typically costs around $2,225. The amount, though, varies depending on the kind of work you’ve done. For instance, inserting an implant typically costs more money than removing bone.
Furthermore, cosmetic chin surgery might not be covered by your insurance provider. Before scheduling your operation, consult with your medical team and insurance provider to ensure that you are prepared for all related costs.
How to Correct a Prominent Cleft Chin?
A deep chin cleft can be improved in several methods, each with a different level of permanence, invasiveness, and expense.
Dermal Fillers
In a few minutes, artificial soft tissue fillers can be injected into the chin dimple or cleft in an office setting. Depending on the depth of the cleft, your plastic surgeon will assist in determining whether a superficial or deeper injection is more effective. These fillers often last six to twelve months despite being secure and reversible.
Fat Grafting
With a high success rate, fat can be used as a more long-lasting filler, but it may enlarge your chin overall. A tiny amount of fat is extracted from the abdominal region via liposuction, purified, and put into the middle chin.
Botox
Although the effects of these injections only last a few months, they can numb the chin muscles to reduce the appearance of the cleft. Botox and fillers are frequently used to have a synergistic effect.
Genioplasty
Chin surgery involves altering the jaw bone and moving the chin muscles (mentalis), which can fix a more significant problem without leaving a visible scar. Surgery consequences are typically long-lasting.
