Chin Reduction (Mentoplasty)
Reveal your perfect profile
Chin Reduction Surgery Overview
The chin plays an important role in balancing the facial features and giving a woman a heart-shaped face. An overly-prominent or square chin can make your face appear more masculine and impact your self-esteem. Dr. Zukowski has over two decades of experience shaping faces with the eye of an artist. Put your face in his expert hands and let him sculpt beauty for you!
What is Chin Reduction Surgery?
Chin reduction surgery, or mentoplasty, is a procedure done to contour the patient’s lower jaw by shaving it into a smaller, more feminine shape. It is also called chin shaving. This surgery is done to reshape the chin and bring it into balance with the rest of the face. A masseter muscle reduction can be done in conjunction with this procedure to further enhance the feminization of the chin.
It is done as a component of Facial Feminization Surgery to make the face look more feminine. The chin of a genetic female is more defined and tends to taper down to one point, making it the bottom of the “heart” in a heart-shaped face. Male chins are typically square, with two points and a flat line between them. They are also longer than female chins. If you are MTF transgender and you feel that your chin is overly large or square, chin reduction surgery can help you achieve a slimmer jawline and a more feminine profile. Dr. Zukowski has expertly sculpted the faces of countless “Z-Girls” who are thrilled with his work.
How is Chin Reduction Surgery Done?
Many cosmetic surgeons perform this surgery through an incision inside the mouth, but this carries a greater risk of nerve damage and requires the surgeon to remove the entire chin muscle from the bone, which can have adverse effects. Instead, Dr. Zukowski uses endoscopic techniques to perform chin reductions through a small incision under the chin. This allows him to perform the procedure using the smallest incision possible and without cutting any bone. All reduction is performed through shaving and shaping.
He then trims down the tissues over the chin to make them thinner and less bulky. Next, he shapes the sides and bottom of the bone, contouring them for a more feminine appearance and making sure that the new shape of the chin matches the proportions of the patient’s face. Finally, he pulls any excess skin tight so that it conforms to the shape of the new chin.
Is it Painful?
During the surgery you will be under general anesthesia and will not feel anything. After the surgery, you can expect minimal pain that is easily controlled with pain medication and cold compresses.
Procedure Risks
Chin reduction surgery carries the risks associated with all surgeries such as a reaction to anesthesia and infection. With open procedures that cut bone, some patients experience numbness of the chin or lip due to permanent nerve damage. This is why Dr. Zukowski uses endoscopic techniques for all facial surgery.
Ideal Candidates
You are a good candidate for chin reduction surgery if you:
- Are a non-smoker or willing to quit smoking.
- Are in generally good physical health with no significant medical conditions.
- Have a very prominent chin that protrudes past the tip of your nose in your profile.
- Have a chin that is very square, bulky, or unrefined.
How to Prepare
As with all surgeries, Dr. Zukowski and his staff will advise you on how best to prepare for your chin reduction surgery. You will be asked to stop using tobacco products 21 days before surgery, and you may be asked to stop taking certain medications. You will have at least one pre-operative appointment where you will be able to ask questions. We also encourage you to call or email at any time with any additional questions you may have in advance of your surgery.
Chin Reduction Surgery Recovery
Immediately after the mentoplasty, you will wear a compressive dressing on your face. You will be instructed to apply cold compresses to the surgical area to reduce swelling.
If you follow your post-op instructions and your recovery progresses well, you can expect to feel comfortable going out in public within a week, although this can vary by patient.
Dr. Zukowski can expertly reshape your chin to improve your jawline, give balance to your features, and transform your face.
If you have any concerns or questions about chin reduction surgery, please don’t hesitate to contact our office in Chicago to learn more.
Visit the patient gallery to see before and after transformations.