Can Distraction Osteogenesis Be Done For Vertical Chin Lengthening?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Can distraction osteogenesis be performed only on chin to increase the vertical length of the chin! It’s because i atleast need an inch of vertical growth in the chin! Can distraction osteogenesis be performed on chin for this purpose?

A: On a practical basis distraction of the chin has many technical problems the first of which is there are distraction devices available for this purpose. More pertinently if 20 to 25mms of vertical chin lengthening is needed a vertical lengthening bony genioplasty with an interpositional graft can be done up to 20mms, negating the need for a complex and lengthy distraction process.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon