Sliding Genioplasty / Chin Surgery

[improvedchin]

Hi there, I'm new here.

I have a few questions regarding sliding genioplasty. My story is as follows:

Due to having a recessed chin (lack of projection), I opted into having a sliding genioplasty back in 2014; unfortunately, the results were not adequate as I felt I still lacked projection. I believe there was a relapse of some form that took place. Steel wires were the method of fixation that were used to secure the bone back together.

In hopes of correcting this, I went for a second surgery around 3.5 months later. The second surgeon told me I was advanced around ~4mm. He removed the steel wires, made another cut, and advanced my chin around ~7-8mm. This time, the method of fixation used was a titanium plate. Fortunately, there weren't any visible changes to my chin this time around.

My questions are:

1. It's now been 1 year and 2 months since my second surgery, and I'm feeling fine other than tightness in my chin / lower gum area. Has anyone experienced such a sensation for an extended period of time?

2. I really want to get the titanium plate out one day, but I fear my chin will relapse or go back without the titanium plate holding it in place. Does anyone here have any insight on how stable the chin is without the plate?

3. I've read about nonunion being a potential complication; is this pretty likely? Has this happened to anyone here? If so, what are the primary symptoms? How can this be diagnosed?

Looking forward to your responses back.

Thanks in advance.

[Nozzelnut]

You, more than likely, would know about the nonunion; your chin would essentially be free floating except for the plates and screws. They'd check it by taking an xray. Relapse can happen for a variety of reasons; some of which aren't fully understood; maybe the tissue or muscles pulling things back to where they would rather be. Having the hardware removed might influence relapse but probably not. The hardware removal might make things better for the tightness or might make them worse due to scar tissue.

[javisst]

I had an SG almost two years ago now and I'm still experiencing tightness and discomfort in my chin, right around where the incision was made. I had Botox injections into the Mentalis muscle but that did not help. I'm considering having the hardware removed.