Mentoplasty in Guatemala

There are two categories of mentoplasty: chin augmentation and reduction. Chin augmentation is the more common procedure, which involves inserting an implant under the skin of the chin or carrying out a sliding genioplasty. With chin reduction, the overly large or protruding chin is corrected by removing excess bone from the chin with a burr. Both of these categories are performed under general anesthetic.

Mentoplasty can be performed as an outpatient procedure, but you should plan to stay in Guatemala for a minimum of 7 days or until your surgeon says it is okay for you to go home. During your stay, you will have to rest as much as possible for the initial recovery and to attend follow-up checkups.

Most people can resume work and light activities in 1 week, but you should avoid any strenuous activities, including vigorous physical exercises for about two weeks.

During your recovery period, make sure you eat a soft or liquid diet, keep your head raised when in bed, and rinse your mouth with a solution of hydrogen peroxide. It is advisable to avoid sleeping face down and touching your face too much.

Most patients who have had this procedure said they were very satisfied with the results. The complication rate is about 5%. The side effects and risks associated with this procedure involve deformity of the chin, erosion of the bone beneath the implant, under or overcorrection of the defect, damage to the roots of the teeth, hematoma, and infection.

Surgery is not for everyone and if you are not an ideal candidate for mentoplasty, you can undergo fat injections or facial liposuction.