Can I Get A 10mm Maxillary Lengthening?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I was wondering if you could help me find an answer to this question that I’ve been having. I’m going to need double jaw surgery at some point in the future to address my short face and bite. I have inadequate upper tooth show, and to fix this problem I may need a maxilla downgraft of around 4-5mm. My question would be is it possible to instead opt for a much larger downgraft (around 8-10mm) for aesthetic benefits? My midface is incredibly short and I’d assume a larger maxilla downgraft may help alleviate this issue. Id be willing to have a gummy smile if it meant lengthening the midface. If this isn’t possible, do you have any insight on future surgical methods to lengthen the midface? Thank you.

A:The accurate answer requires a full orthognathic surgery workup. But it would be fair to say that an 8 to 20mm vertical maxillary lengthening is unstable and would have other adverse effects on the positioning of the mandible.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon