How Can My Deep Labiomental Fold Be Softened?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I wanted to enquire if there’s any surgery/ treatment that would be able to soften my labiomental crease in my chin? I’ve been advised about lengthening my chin vertically but I’d be worried it would look too long from the front view. Could a fat transfer or bone graft to the fold area work? Or a intraoral release as most of my chin is soft tissue/ muscle. I have attached a picture below of my chin along with an edited version without the fold, which I’m wanting to achieve. Thank you

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures to which I can say then following:

1) There is no question that your deep labiomental fold is due to the vertically short chin and a soft tissue chin pad that is bunched up on the short chin bone. In other words too much soft tissue for the amount of bone that exists tio support. This is also evidenced by the curved mandibular plane angle and a chin projection for a female that brings out toi the lower lip level. As a result any treatment that avoids dealing with the real problem is going to be limited in its effectiveness.

2) That being said  the only non-bony lengthening treatment option is an intraoral release with an interpositional dermal-fat graft to help push out the depth of the fold. That will not create the degree of depth reduction you have shown, as that is not achievable, but it will help

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon.