Chin Wing

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in the chin wing procedure and from the looks of it it doesn’t enhance the jaw but so I would like to get implants for my jaw. 

I have a question about the procedure, I understand it uses bone grafts but can it be used to bring up a weak chin and change the shape of a chin? Like I want to know if it can change the shape of a chin from a round one to square one all using your own bone. 

I plan on getting jaw implants but I really want to use the chin wing to change my chin shape with my own bone, thank you.

A: The chin wing is procedure that moves the chin and a long extended limb of bone back to the jaw angles forward and usually down. (vertically longer) It is NOT a procedure that uses bone grafts to achieve its effects. It is an osteotomy that cuts and moves a vascularized inferior border mandibular bone flap.  It will not change the shape of the chin from round to square. It merely takes the chin you have and gives it more projection and vertical length.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana