Chin Reshaping

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in having my chin reshaped (reduced) in order to correct asymmetry of my chin. I had x rays taken and my chin is 12mm off center. I had a consultation with a doctor and was thinking of having a sliding genioplasty procedure but I read a lot about it online and it seems like so many people have a terrible experience with the genioplasty, long term swelling and numbness, change in shape of their lips and need for revision. Alternatively I could use filler to even out the asymmetry but I think that will make my chin too large (less feminine) and I won’t be happy with it. I was reading instead about the possibility of having the bone reduced instead and I’m wondering if this is a less invasive procedure than the genioplasty with less side effects? To me it seems like it would be a lot less invasive than moving the bone but maybe it is not… Thanks!

A: The short answer to your question is that it is more important to select the chin reshaping procedure that fixes the problem the best, not the one that is least invasive. if the two options produced equal results (which I am sure they won’t) then of course you choose the least invasive. The aesthetic outcome of moving the bony chin back to the midline or shaving down the more asymmetric side may not have equivalent results. I would need to see pictures of your chin and x-rays to provide a more qualified answer for your chin reshaping needs.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana