Sliding genioplasty is a bone surgery on the chin. Before you decide, know what to ask, what to check, and where to read more, so you lower the chance of needing a correction later.
Why bone surgery calls for more questions
A sliding genioplasty involves the bone, not only the soft tissue over it. That is a reason to ask more questions up front, including how easily each part of the plan could be undone. A setback is not a reason to blame you or your surgeon. For each concern, look for the step you can take before surgery.
Questions about the new chin position
- What change in my chin position is planned, and how was that decided?
- Can you show me marked photos or a model of the new chin position before surgery?
- What would a correction involve if I am not happy with the position?
Questions about the operation
- Where will the incision be, and how will the bone be held in its new position?
- What is the anesthesia plan, and who will be with me during surgery?
- What are the signs I should call about after I go home?
Chin approaches side by side on one society page
For a wider look at chin procedures, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons page on chin surgery is one place to compare approaches.
Position, healing and numbness: what to ask
- If you worry the chin will end up in the wrong position, ask how the target is set and how it is checked during the operation.
- If you worry about healing, ask what your follow-up schedule looks like and what you should avoid while the bone heals.
- If you worry about numbness or changes in feeling, ask what the surgeon tells patients to expect and who to call if it concerns you.
- If you worry about being unhappy later, ask what a second operation would involve and how long you would wait before considering one.
If bone surgery is not your first choice
Some people look at a non-surgical route before choosing bone surgery. Whichever route you prefer, it helps to know what the bone surgery involves. Read the Cambridge University Hospitals patient information on genioplasty. Use it to build your questions, not to compare outcomes.
What the surgery will and will not address
For background on healing after chin surgery, see the American Society of Plastic Surgeons page on chin surgery recovery. Ask your surgeon which of your concerns the surgery will and will not change.
Getting the genioplasty plan in plain language
Go to your consultation with a written list of goals and the questions above. Ask for the plan, the anesthesia details, and the correction path in plain language before you agree to anything. The surgeon who plans the bone cut is the one to confirm each answer.