Did I get the wrong chin implant?

The appearance you will get from a chin implant depends on your own starting point and also from the dimensions of the implant. Most implants are not designed to just augment the tip of the chin. Rather, they have enough width and length to fill in the little depression that can form in front of the jowl area.

If the implant is large enough, it can change the shape of the face and jaw. Possibly, yours might need to be downsized but you should discuss all options with your doctor.

I am sure that your physician gave you what you asked for. However, even if he did show you the implant, sometimes it is hard for the untrained eye to extrapolate the shape of an implant to the changes on your face.

There are several parameters which determine what an implant does to your face:

1) Width - the wider the implant the broader (more boxy) your jawline will appear.

2) Projection - the more projection, the more oval your jawline will appear.

3) Shape - different shapes can create the look of a cleft chin, add vertical height and extreme width for very narrow faces. In your case it sounds like the implants may be too wide. The implant can be removed, adjusted and replaced.

Chin implants usually make the lower third of the face stronger.  That means the chin is more prominent and often wider. It will change the person's appearance a bit.  If the implant was a porous implant, it can be shaved down a bit to soften the boxy look.

It is unlikely that your surgeon changed the implant from the one you were shown to a different one. There are circumstances when several sizes are considered and then chosen during the surgery. However, if that was the plan I am sure it would have been discussed ahead of time.

Chin implants, as with other facial implants, change the appearance of the face from all views. Although chin implants give a more profound  change to the profile view, they certainly do change your appearance when seen from the front. I usually image this for patients so they understand what to expect. Usually, it does strengthen and square off the chin from the front to some degree. The amount of change in this regard depends on the size and shape of the implant, which is usually chosen in accordance with the patient's anatomy and surgical goals.

Depending on the implant type, it may or may not be easy to remove. Usually, removal is the only way to reverse the effect of the implant. Sometimes, a smaller implant can be used. These and other options should be discussed with your surgeon. Good luck!

Unfortunately, I think that even if you had seen the implant before surgery, it may have been difficult for you to have known what the result would have turned out like.  Just like trying on clothes, you may really not know what it will look like until you see it on you. 

Of course, you don't want to wait until after surgery to know if you will like the result of your procedure. That's why many plastic surgeons use imaging to assure that the patient's desired result is communicated. Chin implants, like all facial implants can make a subtle or dramatic changes to your appearance.  

If at all possible, you certainly want to make sure that you know what the expected result will be before you commit to the procedure.  If you are considering a secondary procedure, it would be very beneficial to you to have imaging done utilizing your original photos to communicate the look you are wishing to achieve.