Genioplasty

For whom?

Chin surgery or genioplasty is meant for those who suffer from the appearance of their chin. Yet, one has to wait until full ossification of the face (starting at 18) to intervene.

Aims

The chin area corresponds to the median part of the lower maxillary or mandible. It is one of the shapes that give the face, just as the nose or cheekbones do, its expression and distinctive features.

The correction of a disgraceful or non-adapted chin reinstates the profile balance and the face harmony.

Ideally, sideway, a vertical line drawn from the most salient part of the forehead must fall upright at about the level of the chin.

If the chin is situated behind this line, we say that it is receding.

On the contrary, if the chin goes beyond this limit, we say it is salient.

In case chin surgery will be more efficient with rhinoplasty, we recommend a profiloplasty, combining the two in a harmonious fashion.

Before the operation

Your medical check-ups

Between one week and one month prior to your operation, you must make an appointment with a medical tests laboratory in order to undergo a full pre-surgical check-up. A specialized ophthalmological examination will be required as a complement so as to identify a possible ocular pathology. The tests results must be sent to us (by fax, or by e-mail) so that they can be seen and read by our anesthetist doctor.

Depending on the test results, other examinations may be required. If you are unable to carry out your examinations before your departure to Tunisia, there is always a possibility to do that on the spot, the day before the operation. It must be known that if there is a contra-indication to your operation, the anesthetist doctor has the right to put off or cancel the operation. No medication containing aspirin should be taken at least 10 days before the operation. You must mention any type of medication you may have taken. It is essential that you refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking for 8 hours before the operation.

Your luggage

Regarding your luggage, you must bring sunglasses, one or two scarves (to cover the bruises), a hat or cap, and full sun block cream.

Getting ready for the operation

You will be taken to your clinic the night of the operation, the time to get settled in your room, to take a shower if needed and to meet with the medical team: your surgeon, the anesthetist doctor, and all the health care staff. The operation takes place the following morning. Very often, the night before the operation, the nurses will give you a kind of pre-medication in the form of a light tranquilizer to make sure that slightly anxious patients to face the operation with more fortitude.

Type of anesthesia

Genioplasty is carried out under full anesthesia.

Duration of the hospital stay

3 nights

Duration of your total stay in Tunisia

6 nights / 7 days.

Surgery

• In case of a receding chin: a receding chin corresponds to a withdrawn, effaced, retreating chin that may spoil facial harmony, especially if associated with a nose that is too imposing.
  It is a matter of a common imperfection that requires in most cases a silicon transplant. This will be placed before the bone, more precisely in front of the mandible and under the muscles. The prosthesis will be made to measure, sharpened/refined on demand so that it may fit the desired outcome. It should be noted that this operation has no negative impact on neither dentistry nor on the jaw, and therefore it will not affect in any way either elocution or chewing.
• In case of a salient chin: Contrary to a receding chin, a salient chin is thrust forward. We also call this a jutting chin. As is the case for a receding chin, a salient chin often disrupts the equilibrium of facies. Salient chin surgery consists in grinding down the bone protrusion. The surgeon carries out a disguised incision under the chin and removes fat and fibro-fat excesses.

Surgery duration

The surgical operation for a genioplasty lasts between half and one hour.

After the operation

After the operation, observation will take place first in the waking room, then in your room. The patient will wear a chinstrap during 24 hours according to the operation, then a micro-pore bandage for a week. Liquid or semi-liquid food will be prescribed for a few days.

Post surgical effects

Stitches are made of threads that are absorbable in about 3 weeks.

Antiseptic mouth washes shall be applied during the first 8 days.

Swelling and ecchymoses will appear after the chin surgery. A feeling of numbness and tension will remain for a few days; this is quite normal together with a partial opening of the mouth. Edema remains in effect 10 to 20 days after the chin surgery.

Work interruption

There is no need for interrupting the work: the recovery stay spent in Tunisia following the operation is very beneficial and enables most of our patients to resume their professional activities as soon as they return home.

Fees

The fees for a genioplasty is 1900 euros.