How Do You Fix Sagging of the Chin Tissues (Ptosis)?

Q:  There seems to be a multitude of people out there with chin/lip problems arising from intraoral surgery who don’t know where to turn or what to rely on to remedy their situation. Mostly their problems are attributed to mentalis detachment/loosening and scar tissue, particularly in the labiomental fold region. Chin/lip deformity poses a significant quality of life issues and must be taken seriously. A case study of scar revision in this instance, with before and after photos and details of the surgery, would be of great assistance. Mentalis resuspension seems straight forward enough if its loosened or detached from its origins. The question in my mind with regards to scar tissue excision, is how much mentalis muscle in the labiomental fold or chin pad region, can be safely excised before the mentalis can no longer function properly?

A:  Ptosis, or sagging, of the soft tissues of the chin can occur after any form of chin surgery done through an intraoral (inside the mouth) approach. When it occurs, one surgical method to put the soft tissues back onto the chin bone is mentalis resuspension. This is fairly way to do and the most important technique for the procedure is how the muscle is secured back to the bone.

Generally speaking, the only scar tissue that ever needs to be removed during any chin revisional surgery is the scar capsule around an existing chin implant. (if the implant is being removed) This needs to be removed because it will not allow the overlying muscle to heal back onto the bone.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis Indiana