What Type Of Chin Reduction Do I Need?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 32 year old female interested in having chin reduction surgery. I underwent orthognathic surgery in 2011 to correct a class III malocclusion and to straighten my midline with a bilateral sagittal split mandibular setback osteotomy. I am pleased with the way my bite looks as a result of this surgery, but I am still unhappy with the extent to which my chin protrudes. I am very interested in learning what can be done to reduce the size of my chin and to improve my facial profile. I have attached some frnt and side view pictures for you to review.

A: Chin reduction surgery must take into account the extent of bone and soft tissue to determine what technique to use. What I see is a central button of bone on the chin which appears to be the primary culprit. It looks like it could be horizontally reduced by at least 5mms and the bone tapered backward along the jawline a few cms. The real question is whether this should be done by a submental or an intraoral approach. It is tempting to do it from inside the mouth but there is always the issue of what will happen with the overlying skin. As tempting as that seems with a smaller chin excess problem like yours, that is  probably a mistake. The submental approach has the added benefit of removing and tucking in any soft tissue excess which complements the bone reduction.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana