How Can I Fix My Widow’s Chin Deformity After Prior Bony Chin Reduction?

Q: Dr. Eppley, The long and short story is that I had a very prominent pointy chin and had surgery to reduce it.  After that surgery, I returned to same surgeon with concerns years later of a widow’s chin (not sure terminology-but the chin muscle was very pointy and the chin was asymmetric.  I am not sure that I would like to have surgery again-slightly frightened.   I am looking for alternative possibilities and was wondering about the use of filler in appropriate areas to give more balance and symmetry. I am sooooo impressed with you and how you are able to really correct and bring better balance and overall better appearance and results. 

A: With the reduction of the pointy chin, obviously done from below through a submental incision, there was no consideration for the rest of the shape of the chin as it blends into the jawline or what would happen to the overlying soft tissues with the removed bone support. Thus this is your chin situation. 

There are only two directions to go….additive (trying to reverse the loss of bone support)….or reductive in a effort to redrape the soft tissues and further reshape the bone. There are advantages and disadvantages to either approach. Since the additive approach can be done non-surgically by filler there is no reason not to first give that a try. Its effects are immediate and it is completely reversible.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana