How Much Vertical Chin Reduction Is Needed For My Facial Widening Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, if I’m going to vertical chin reduction done as part of my facial widening I want it to be substantial and not an improvement by just a little bit, it seems as though you’re suggesting that the shaving approach is much more involved and actually I thought that’s what we were going to be doing. You would mention 5 mm to a maximum of seven for the vertical chin reduction. If we were to do the 7 mm, plus temporal implants, do you think that would significantly widen my face and do the trick?

A:In reference to the vertical chin reduction there are two approaches to it, an intraoral wedge reduction bony genioplasty and a submental shave technique. (technically using a saw) In both approaches the maximum of 7m ms of vertical bone reduction can be achieved. Since you have an existing submental incision that would seem to be the logical approach. To really know if 7mms vertical chin reduction would reach your desired aesthetic change, I would take a 3 x 5 card or piece of paper and place it at the horizontal level of the chin up from the bottom that looks like the amount you see as being effective and then mark it. Take the vertical measurement then from the bottom of the chin. That number will tell us where 7mms is in the ballpark of being aesthetically effective for you.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana