Ask a doctor

What Are the Risks of Chin Surgery?

I have a long middle face and a receding chin and I'm considering getting surgery to improve it. If I find a qualified and experienced doctor, how likely is the risk of death or inability to move/feel some parts of my face? Also what are some of the other risks that come with this procedure?

Doctor Answers (4)

What Are the Risks of Chin Surgery?


Dear Janessa,

Thank you for your post.  The risks of chin surgery are very minimal.  There is a risk of implant infection, numbness to lower lip, bleeding, but again, the likelyhood of this happening in experienced hands is low.  You will possibly have temporary lower lip numbness, but this resolves. 

Best Wishes,

Pablo Prichard, MD

Phoenix Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 29 reviews

Chin implant surgery


 Chin implants  come in a  variety of sizes and shapes and are inserted under local anesthesia through small sub-mental incision. The numbness usually dissipates after the first few weeks after having had chin surgery.  Please see the link below for examples in our chin implant photo gallery

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 60 reviews

Chin surgery, low risk


Whether you have a chin implant or rearrangement of the bones (called sliding osteotomies) the risks of the surgery are very low.  Certainly, death is not likely.  My preferred approach is to place a small silicone plastic implant through a small incision under your chin.  I takes about 30-45 minutes.  The risk of infection of the implant are extremely low, as are the risks of the implant moving.  The other operation, moving the bone of your chin after cutting the bone, carries with it more swelling and a longer time to heal.  The risk of numbness to the lower lip is real, but again extremely rare.  Here is a link for your review. 

Stuart H. Bentkover, MD
Boston Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 18 reviews

What Are the Risks of Chin Surgery?


Chin implant surgery is typically very safe. It can be performed under local anesthesia, IV sedation or general anesthesia. The serious risks that you inquire about are rare and depend mainly upon your underlying health and the type of anesthesia you're undergoing. Serious complications are rare. The risk of weakness or numbness in the area of the chin implant is also uncommon. Numbness, if it does occur, is usually due to stretching a nerve along the jaw and resolves in a couple of weeks to a couple of months. The best way to minimize these risks is to seek an experienced Facial Plastic Surgeon who operates in an accredited surgery center. I hope this information is helpful.

Stephen Weber, MD, FACS
Denver Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 45 reviews
