In short. The scar is permanent either way, and numbness of the chin and lower lip is common and slow to settle. Both belong in the decision, not the aftercare leaflet.
Key points
- The scar you see at three months is an intermediate stage, and the scar you see at twelve months is usually considerably better.
- Scar management started early — silicone, taping, protection from sun, and assessment if it thickens — is more useful than judging the scar while it is still maturing.
Patients ask about size, shape and downtime. Two consequences show up in almost every consent conversation and almost never in the marketing: the scar is permanent, and sensation in the chin and lower lip is frequently disturbed. Both belong in the decision itself.
The scar, by route
An intraoral incision leaves no visible external scar. An external incision is placed in the shadow under the chin, where it is least visible, and is permanent. It usually matures into a fine pale line over twelve months, but it is never invisible, and it can be seen when you look up or when you are photographed from below.
How scars actually mature
A scar is not finished at six weeks. It reddens, then softens, then fades over about twelve months, and its final appearance is not knowable earlier. Some patients form thicker or wider scars than others, and a personal or family history of raised scarring is worth reporting at the assessment because it may change the recommended route.
Sensation and the nerve
The mental nerve supplies feeling to the chin and lower lip, and it runs close to where a chin implant is placed. Disturbance of that nerve is the most common significant complaint after chin surgery. It can present as numbness, tingling, a feeling of swelling that is not there, or altered sensation when eating and drinking.
What recovery of sensation looks like
Nerve recovery is measured in months, not days. Most patients notice steady improvement over the first six months and further change up to a year or more. Recovery is often incomplete. A minority are left with a permanent patch of altered feeling, and this is stated in the consent conversation rather than discovered later.
Scars mature over twelve months, not twelve weeks
The scar you see at three months is an intermediate stage, and the scar you see at twelve months is usually considerably better. Scar management started early — silicone, taping, protection from sun, and assessment if it thickens — is more useful than judging the scar while it is still maturing.
Why this matters for the decision
A permanent scar and a possible permanent change in sensation are the two consequences of chin surgery that cannot be undone by a second operation. They are the reason a temporary filler trial is a reasonable first step, and the reason the choice between routes is about what you are prepared to live with rather than which result looks better in a photograph.
Report these rather than waiting
- Numbness that is getting worse rather than better after the first few weeks.
- Weakness of the lower lip, drooling, or a change in how you speak or drink.
- A scar that is becoming raised, painful, itchy or steadily wider.
Frequently asked questions
Is the scar inside the mouth really invisible?
An intraoral incision leaves no visible external scar, which is its main advantage. The tissue still heals with a scar, and it can be felt with the tongue, but it is not visible on the face.
How long does numbness last?
Altered sensation over the chin and lower lip usually improves over months rather than weeks. Recovery is gradual and can continue for a year or more. A minority of patients are left with some permanent change.
Can scars be treated?
Yes. Scar management includes silicone, taping, massage and, in some cases, injections or laser treatment. The timing matters, and a scar that is thickening should be assessed early rather than left to mature.
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.