Chin Reduction Surgery on the NHS


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As a rule the NHS do not perform cosmetic surgery, such as chin reduction surgery, as it is an optional procedure that does not benefit your health. However, there are some exceptions to this rule particularly where cosmetic surgery will be medically beneficial to you. This means that if you suffer pain, discomfort, or disability because of an issue involving the size or shape of your chin you may be able to get chin reduction surgery on the NHS.

Reasons that Cosmetic Surgery is Not Available on the NHS

If you are unhappy with your appearance, it can come as quite an annoyance when you are unable to get treatment on the NHS. Especially if you believe that your quality of life would be dramatically improved by cosmetic surgery.


For practical reasons the NHS will only perform surgery that it sees to be a medical necessity. This means that although you may benefit from cosmetic surgery, they are unable to provide it free of charge as you can live a healthy life without it. Although this can be annoying, it would be impractical for the NHS to provide cosmetic surgery to more people. In some rare cases where you can prove that your mental health would be significantly bettered as a direct result of cosmetic surgery exceptions have been made. However, this is extremely unlikely to happen, and involves a lengthy process of mental and physical assessments.

When Chin Reduction Surgery is Available on the NHS

Although chin reduction surgery is considered to be cosmetic, it can also have medical benefits. This means that in certain situations the surgery can be provided free of charge on the NHS. These situations usually involve birth defects, which cause the chin to become excessively large, or those which prevent the jaws from being properly aligned.

If you have a dental malocclusion, also known as an overbite, and this cannot be corrected by braces alone, it is likely that you will require surgery to realign your jaws once your teeth have been aligned. Although this surgery does not always involve a chin reduction, chin reduction surgery is often carried out as part of the procedure, which aligns the jaws. This surgery is available on the NHS because it is medically necessary in order for your jaws to be properly aligned to end the discomfort caused by your overbite.

You may also be able to get chin reduction surgery on the NHS if you have a birth defect, which makes your chin excessively large. This defect can cause a lot of pain and discomfort throughout your life, and if this is the case, it can be treated on the NHS by chin reduction surgery.

How to Get Chin Reduction Surgery on the NHS

In order to get chin reduction surgery on the NHS you will first need to speak to a professional about your problem. In most cases, your dentist will discuss the problem with you as it is considered to be a maxillofacial issue. If this is not the case, you should go to your local doctor and speak to them about your chin defect and the problems that it causes you.

If you are thought to be eligible for chin reduction surgery on the NHS, you will be referred to a specialist who will examine your chin more closely. This will involve a physical exam, which will be followed by x- rays of your jaw so that the problem can be determined. Once this process has been completed, you will discuss your treatment options and be placed on a waiting list. For some people this process followed by the long wait can be too much and they choose to have their chin reduction surgery done privately to avoid having to wait.


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