How Can I Get Rid Of My Residual Chin Ptosis?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am writing to inquire about possible revision options for chin ptosis. I have undergone two prior chin reduction surgeries with the most recent procedure performed in South Korea. Prior to the second surgery, I was under the impression that the chin ptosis would be fully addressed. However, upon arrival, the surgical plan was adjusted, and I was advised that some degree of ptosis would remain, with only the bulbous lower portion being corrected. The surgeon also mentioned that a facelift would ultimately be required to fully address and streamline the area. Unfortunately, I am not satisfied with the remaining ptosis. I would greatly appreciate your insight regarding potential options for correction. I look forward to your response. 

A:Thank you for your inquiry, sending your pictures and detailing your chin surgical history. First and foremost what happened in South Korea sounds very unusual and doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. In  the surgical approach to chin ptosis the goal of any corrective surgery is to try as best as possible to completely eradicate it. That doesn’t mean that is always achieved and is why a significant percentage of chin ptosis surgeries require a secondary procedure to either improve the submental scar or achieve further reduction. However the plan is never altered with the premise that some chin ptosis will deliberately remain. Secondly no form of a facelift is ever going to improve chin ptosis.

But what they may have been referring to is the following:

There is one element of aging the does work against optimal chin ptosis correction and that is if there is any submental fullness or submental skin laxity beneath it. Chin ptosis correction includes an element of a submental tuck to bring the neck and the chin pad to flow into a better alignment (see attached image) when you have submental fullness with chin ptosis you have the double bump effect which means for either one to be addressed ideally it has to include the other. That is probably what has been missing in your prior chin ptosis surgeries. Meaning you really need a chin ptosis submentoplasty  procedure not just cutting out part of the chin pad only. In essence the problem is two fold, chicken pad and neck, and not just the chin pad alone.

This doesn’t mean the concept of the facelift was wrong it just may not need to be that extensive to optimize your chin ptosis correction. It is a good procedure for the rest of the lower face but only the submentoplasty component of it his what Is needed for more isolated chin-central neck contouring.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon