How Can I Fix My Jaw Asymmetry?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would like to get an assessment for my asymmetric jaw. Would like to know the suggested procedure.

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. The first important step is to get a 3-D CT scan to make an assessment of the shape of the lower jaw from which a treatment strategy can then be designed. Like many jaw asymmetries it is not just a unilateral involvement, but it is an entire lower jaw issue. As can be clearly seen in your pictures with the chin shifted to the right this makes the right jaw smaller and the left jaw bigger. Besides getting the chin in a small symmetrical midline position, the question thereafter is which side of the jaw do you prefer, the smaller right side or the larger left side or maybe it is neither one. These are all part of the treatment decisions which would impact how the surgery would be done. The point being right now the proper surgical corrective procedure is not yet known.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon