Can I Reverse A Chin Wing Osteotomy?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have had a full-chin-wing procedure about 1.5 years ago. The chin was forwarded by 4mm, giving me a harmonious side-view. However, the front view is unpleasant, since the jaw angles were blunted, leaving me with a U-shaped jaw line. 

I am very interested in reversing this procedure. I have heard from several sources that it should be possible to reverse the changes made, by doing a revision chin-wing. I would like to hear your opinion about this. 

As far as I have understood, the implanted hip-graft, which will be full fused with the bone by now, shall be removed. Thus making it possible to establish the old jaw position. 

Is it possible to precisely remove the fully fused hip-graft, in order to reverse the changes caused by the first procedure. 

I would very much appreciate your opinion on this matter.

A: Like all chin wing procedures it is a chin-anterior jawline procedure which has no effect on the jaw angle area. It can not improve the jaw angle length or width. Often it can even make the jaw angle look worse by comparison.

I see no reason that the chin wing osteotomy could not be recut and returned to its original position. Where the hip graft is located along the jawline is unknown to me but it has undoubtably healed and integrated into the surrounding bone at this point. Whether it can or needs to be removed in this chin wing reversal I could not say based on a description alone. You would need a 3D CT scan of your lower jaw anyway prior to the procedure and the location of the hip graft and its fate would then be able to be determined.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana