Can A V-Y Lip Advancement Decrease Gum Show After Having Had A Prejowl Chin Implant Removed?

Q: Dr. Eppley,I had a pre-jowl chin implant placed 25 years ago, 15 years ago, had orthodontic surgery. The doctor recommended removal of the implant due to projection. As the photos indicate, my mentalis muscle is apparently damaged. Doctor made an attempt to fix after the surgery, but it didn’t help much. Now, 15 years later my gums are visible. I’m so unhappy and I’d be thrilled with even a little improvement. V-y plasty perhaps?

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. Lifting up the lower lip and maintaining it is a challenge. Because of this challenge you have to do as many manuevers as possible to even get some sustained modest improvement. Thus I have learned to do the following three intraoral procedures combined when trying to improve a lower lip sag…a mentalis muscle resuspension, an elevating vestibuloplasty and a V-Y mucosal advancement

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana