I recently (6 weeks ago) had a facelift and a chin implant done. My chin area is still numb to the touch though I have shooting pains and a constant discomfort to the area. I realize that the small nerves were damaged and I understand that they need to reconnect but I'm wondering how long this awful sensation will last. Has anyone had a similar problem with a chin augmentation? It is very discouraging. My PS says it just takes time but this is not acceptable.

maryrnbsn; I had both a chin implant and orthognastic jaw reconstruction. The shooting pains and "buzzing" feeling do subside.

The one thing that helped me was massaging my chin. It kind of felt like a foot that had fallen asleep and the massage worked the same way.

I don't know how you feel about the results of your implant but for me, the discomfort was well worth the result!

How long ago did you have your surgery? It is now almost 3 1/2 months since my surgery and I still have the same discomfort. I see my PS tomorrow and I'm going to ask her to take the chin implant out. I like the look but can't stand the constant discomfort. Mary

Mary:

My jaw reconstruction was about 5 years ago, the chin implant approx. 19 months. I don't think that removing the implant will decrease the sensation though. My understanding is that the discomfort comes from the nerves being stretched and then recovering and healing...something that you would probably aggravate further if you had more surgery to remove the implant.

I had the most problem after the jaw reconstruction and I believe that the doctor was able to give me medication to ease it (sorry, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was), after the implant I was pretty much used to the sensation, so I did not need anything.

It drove me nuts at first too, but it should get better. It would disappear for awhile and then for some reason (I never was able to figure out what triggered it) it would start buzzing again. Both the insensity and the duration should lessen as the nerve recovers. At the time of the jaw reconstruction I also lost some sensation, it has never returned fully but the rule of thumb according to the maxofacial surgeon was that it can take up to a year for full nerve recovery.

My understanding is also if the implant was put in thru your mouth (via a cut inside your bottom lip) that the chances of nerve damage is higher than if the cut was made under the chin.

I hope that you got some relief from the Dr. today.

Donna

Donna, Thanks for the reply. I saw a neurologist before returning to see my plastic surgeon. He felt that the chin implant was definitely causing the problem and suggested having it removed. He also said the longer the implant was in the lower the expected recovery would be. Didn't sound at all good to be. When I talked to my PS she too felt that it should probably be removed. My implant was small to begin with and because it was bothering me so much a revision was made 2 months after the original date of implantation. At that time she revised the implant and made it smaller and removed the wings on either side. We both thought this would cure the problem but it did not. The revision was a month ago and I am still having significant discomfort. On October 20th it will be removed. Hopfully the nerves will have a chance to heal after that. My PS thinks my body may be reacting to the silicon but at this point it is just speculation. Mary

Mary:

Hopefully the removal will be the answer. I know how frustrating it can be when something goes wrong (right now I am dealing with a tummy tuck that has gone to hell so I do feel for you!).

I have had no trouble with the implant itself, but if this is a silicone issue it is something that you should put in your medical file since so many implants and prosthetic devices use some form of silicone in them.

Let me know how you feel after the surgery.

Donna

I had a silicone chin implant put in, it never got better. It always hurt especially when sleeping and accidently resting my hand against it or laying on it. It also seemed like it was getting smaller over time. I began to have severe allergies too. I went to a new plastic surgeon, he said you should never put silicone against bone because it wears away the bone you do have. He replaced it with hydroxyapatite, he had to shape it, it took a couple of years, but it doesn't hurt anymore at all and looks great. I didn't not want to give up my new chin, I'm glad I didn't. My allergies never went away tho.

I Am Thinking About Having A Chin Implant Does Any One Know Of A Good Uk Surgeon In The Midlands. I Am Having Consultations With The Main Clinics?

Hi for any men that had chin surgery did your beard grow around yr chin as normal after surgery?
having a chin implant/reduction doesnt affect the growth of beard around the chin does it??

Mary:

What happened with your implant? Did the removal take care of the symptoms?

Zerberbaby, I had the implant removed on October 20th and I thought for sure my problems would go away - WRONG!! I am still having significant numbness and discomfort. I hesitate to use the word "pain" but at times pain is experienced as well. My personal feeling is that the nerves have been bruised and will just take time to heal. I can move my lower lip - smile, chew, talk, etc. and no one knows anything is wrong. Only I know the chin and lip are having problems. Having a chin implant is something that I regret and will never have another one. Thank you for asking about how I am doing. Mary

Mary:

Give it 6 months. I can only assume that you are having the same sort of problem I had after the jaw reconstruction. Mine however, is now permanant (they inadvertantly cut a nerve and it only grew back 1/2 way). I had to learn to eat without dribbling down my chin (which I could not feel) and learn to annunciate my words more clearly. But I did manage fairly well after the first few months (no one knows I have any nerve damage unless I tell them).

Nerves regenerate very slowly, but they DO regenerate! Talk to your neurologist about giving you something to dull nerve sensation, that should make it more comfortable without making you a doped up zombie and do try the massage of the jaw and chin. Increase the blood flow to the area and I was advised to "make faces" and work out any scar tissue that could build up around and impinge on the nerve and its regrowth. You will not know if there is any permanent loss of sensation for 12 months...that is what they use as a demarkation line to say significant improvement has stopped.

Don't give up hope that things will settle down and be normal again. With several surgeries in that area you have really aggravated the nerve and it is just letting you know it is not happy about it.

Zerberbaby, Thanks for your encouragement. Mary