How Can My Deep Labiodental Fold On My Chin Be Reduced?

Q: Dr. Eppley,I would like to inquire about options for fixing my mental crease/deep labiomental fold.

My chin is further back but I have a deep chin crease and I e read it can make the crease worse. I would be happy if I could at least smooth out my chin

My chin is further back but I have a deep chin crease and I read an implant can make the crease worse. I would be happy if I could at least smooth out my chin.

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. Your deep labiomental fold is really a symptom of having a vertically short chin. This makes the soft tissue chin pad compressed and deepens the fold area between the lower lip and soft tissue chin pad. This also makes the submental area look Fuller when you really don’t have significant submental fat. You are correct in that a chin implant is only going to worsen depth of the fold and the chin appearance a standard chin implants only provide horizontal augmentation which is not the chin dimensional change you need.

You need your chin to be vertically lengthened 5 – 7 mm which will soften the depth of the labiomental fold and produce a more proportionate lower third of your face to what lies above it. This will also remedy any concerns about submental fullness. This is done by an intraoral vertical lengthening bony genioplasty with changes that likely will approximate the attached imaging.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon