Question:
I had a chin implant placed about a week and a half ago and I’m very numb on one side of my lip and chin. Is this common?
Answer:
One of the risks and potential complications of chin implant surgery that I discuss with my patients is the possibility of transient numbness of the lower lip and chin following chin implant placement. The mental nerve is a nerve that supplies sensation to the lower lip and chin. The chin implant is placed just below the mental nerve along the mandible. Stretching of the nerve is common during placement of the chin implant beneath the skin and muscle of the chin. If the nerve is traumatized it will have temporary numbness which will take a few weeks to recover. Permanent injury to the mental nerve and thus numbness of the lip and chin is much less common.
Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld