In short. Swelling peaks in two days, bruising fades within ten, and the chin is presentable at two weeks but not settled. What to expect, and when to call.
Key points
- At two weeks the chin is presentable, which is a social milestone rather than a clinical one.
- Projection continues to settle until about three months, so a photograph taken now is a progress note rather than the result.
- Keep it, but do not judge the decision by it.
The operation is a morning. The fortnight afterwards is what patients actually experience, and it is worth knowing how it unfolds. This is the typical course for an uncomplicated recovery after chin surgery; injections follow a much shorter and simpler path and are covered in the guide to choosing a route.
Days zero to two: the peak
Swelling and tightness reach their maximum in the first forty-eight hours. A pressure dressing is usually applied and stays for a period set by your surgeon. Chewing is uncomfortable, and a soft diet of soups, yogurt, eggs and soft noodles is easier than trying to eat normally. Expect to feel tired, and expect the chin to look considerably larger than the plan.
Days three to seven: bruising and settling in
Bruising surfaces around day three and begins to fade over the following week, sometimes travelling down the neck. Talking, laughing and chewing feel tight rather than painful. Sutures or clips, if used, are usually removed around day five to seven. Sleep with your head elevated if you can; it makes a measurable difference to morning swelling.
Week two: presentable, not settled
By two weeks the visible swelling has largely gone and most patients are comfortable in public. The chin is still not its final shape: the soft tissue is adapting, the lower lip may feel odd, and the profile will continue to change slightly for another two months. This is the point at which patients most often worry, and the point at which worry is least informative.
The two-week photograph is a progress note
At two weeks the chin is presentable, which is a social milestone rather than a clinical one. Projection continues to settle until about three months, so a photograph taken now is a progress note rather than the result. Keep it, but do not judge the decision by it.
Sensation in the first fortnight
Numbness or altered feeling over the chin and lower lip is common. It is usually most noticeable in the first week and improves slowly over months rather than days. Some patients notice tingling as sensation returns. Persistent numbness, weakness of the lower lip, or a change in the way you speak or drink should be reported rather than waited out.
What you can and cannot do
Gentle walking is usually fine within days. Strenuous exercise, bending, heavy lifting and contact activity are typically restricted for the first fortnight because they increase swelling and the risk of bleeding. Driving depends on whether you can turn your head comfortably and whether you are taking sedating pain relief. Alcohol is best avoided while you are healing.
Contact the team urgently if
- Swelling is increasing rapidly rather than settling, especially on one side only.
- You have fever, spreading redness, warmth or discharge from the incision.
- You have severe pain out of proportion to the operation, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Frequently asked questions
How much swelling is normal?
Peak swelling in the first two days, gradually reducing over the following week, is expected. Swelling that is rapidly increasing, is much worse on one side, or is accompanied by fever or spreading redness is not normal and needs urgent assessment.
When can I brush my teeth and eat normally?
Gentle brushing is usually possible within a day or two, avoiding the incision if it is inside the mouth. A soft diet is more comfortable for the first week, and most patients return to normal eating within one to two weeks.
Can I sleep flat?
Sleeping with the head elevated for the first few nights reduces swelling and is usually recommended. Your own team will give you specific instructions, and those take precedence over anything written here.
Risks & Limitations
- Infection, bleeding or a collection around the implant, which may require drainage or removal of the implant.
- Numbness or altered sensation of the chin and lower lip; usually temporary, occasionally permanent.
- Displacement, asymmetry, or a change in the shape of the bone beneath the implant over time.
- Scarring is permanent, whether the incision is placed inside the mouth or in the shadow under the chin.
- Dissatisfaction with the result, which may lead to a second operation; revision is not planned before about three months.
- No outcome can be guaranteed. Results vary with anatomy, healing and time.
When to Seek Care
- Severe pain out of proportion to the procedure, rapidly increasing swelling, or swelling much worse on one side.
- Fever, spreading redness, warmth or discharge from the incision.
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing, or weakness of the lower lip that is getting worse.
- New or worsening numbness weeks after surgery rather than steady improvement.
- An injury to the chin, or an implant that feels as though it has moved.
References & Further Reading
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) — chin augmentation and genioplasty guidance
- American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery — patient information
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — facial implant information
- National Medical Products Administration (NMPA, China) — approved device status
- Chongqing West District Hospital — Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Medical Center
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and it does not cite individual studies. Discuss your own case with a qualified clinician. To arrange an assessment at Chongqing West District Hospital, see Contact & Consultation.