The complications of chin implants include the following:
bleeding: all surgery carries a risk of bleeding. This may be a persistent oozing that requires surgical correction or the blood may collect beneath the surface as a hematoma.
hematoma: when blood collects beneath the skin it is called a hematoma. A small hematoma may absorb on its own but a large one is cosmetically unacceptable and requires surgery. A hematoma may also cause increased scarring and contracture of the capsule around the implant. A hematoma is also an excellent medium for the growth of bacteria and increases the risk of infection.
seroma: sometimes serum will collect around the implant. This may need removal with a needle or even surgical drainage.
infection: all surgery carries and risk of infection of this happens the implant may need to be removed. Antibiotics are often given to reduce the risk of infection.
swelling: the chin will be swollen for several weeks after surgery and the final result cannot be seen for at least a month.
bruising: some bruising is normal but if there is increased bleeding the bruises can be significant and extend on to the neck.
implant displacement: the surgeon tries to make the pocket and the implant about the same size, but if the pocket is larger than the implant the position can change.
asymmetry: if the implant is not completely in the midline it will appear asymmetrical.
mobility: if the pocket is too large the implant will move around.
extrusion: the implant can work its way through the incision and appear at the surface.
nerve damage: numbness and discomfort can occur due to damage to the nerves in the area.
bone erosion: pressure of the implant on the underlying bone can cause thinning of the bone.
Remember no surgeon can give a guarantee about the final outcome, including appearance, shape, size and so on. You should have a realistic attitude about the outcome, and remember that all surgery has good and bad aspects. That there is no such thing as ‘perfect surgery’.
The satisfaction rate for cosmetic surgery is around 90% and although a satisfactory outcome is anticipated this means that 10% of people do not achieve the result that either the patient or the surgeon would like.
If things do not go well you may need revision or secondary surgery. Although many surgeons do not charge for this, there is often a charge for anesthesia and operating room costs.