Chin Asymmetry Augmentation

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in chin asymmetry augmentation. I have an uneven chin, where the right hand side has less horizontal projection, and more vertical projection than the left hand side. I would like to improve that symmetry as much as possible and perhaps add a minor amount of projection to my chin. Is this possible? Would you recommend a genioplasty or implant?

A: Thank you for your inquiry. For an uneven chin in which you want to improve its symmetry and add a little more projection, a custom chin implant would be the ideal way to do it. Only through the use of computer designing could you be assured that all chin dimensions are adequately made symmetric. Using standard chin implants and ‘eyeballing’ them during surgery for placement or hand carving them in trying to compensate for the bony chin asymmetry is fraught with not only not solving the asymmetry but even making it worse. Because the chin is a projecting structure even subtle amounts of asymmetry are hard to hide. Thus the use of a custom chin implant made from a 3D CT scan is the best way to avoid this aesthetic problem.

I would need to see pictures of your chin to give a more qualified answer.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana