For An 8 to 10mm Chin Advancement Is A Chin Implant And Sliding Genioplasty?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a deficient chin and would need an advancement of 8-10mm to bring my chin in line with my lips. I’ve done a fair amount of research and understand that I have a choice between chin implant or sliding genioplasty. I have no preference other than I would like to look my absolute best, but I have heard some testimonials that a sliding genioplasty tends to be a more visually pleasing procedure in this range of advancement. 

My issue is my side profile. My question is whether or not he believes one of these procedures has an edge over the other in efficacy or aesthetic outcome if I do not need much (or any) vertical lengthening. Is this too large a range of advancement for a non-custom implant? Do you tend to lean towards the genioplasty in advancements of this size?

A: Thank you for your inquiry in regards to chin augmentation. The classic ‘debate’ between a chin implant and a sliding genioplasty is not really a debate at all most of the time. The key question is what are the patient’s dimensional requirements for their chin augmentation. In side profile both proceeds can achieve  an 8 to 10mm advancement. But where they differ is in their ability to achieve any vertical and width changes. A chin implant can make the chin wider or more square, a sliding genioplasty can not. A sliding genioplasty can make the chin more narrow, a chin implant can not. A sliding geniopalsty can make the chin vertically longer or shorter while a chin implant is much more limited in that regard. So as you can see these dimensional changes must be factored into the choice between the autologous and alloplastic chin augmentation options.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana