How Soon After My Prior Surgery Can I Redo My Sliding Genioplasty?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a double jaw surgery with genioplasty and rhinoplasty six weeks ago. My lower and upper jaws were advanced and my chin was made too pointy (width was decreased in an attempt to make it V-shaped) and increased vertically as well. I don’t think there’s any way to increase the width of my chin anymore, but I want to at least reduce the vertical height and also slide it a bit back. It was advanced 15mm vertically and 10mm horizontally. I want it reduced full 15mm vertically (or at least 10mm) and 5mm horizontally too. How long should I wait for that ? Considering I also had double jaw surgery and rhinoplasty in my surgery. Also, is it possible to increase the width by placing the bone in the space so created in genioplasty, and thus aligning it with the bones of previous chin. I feel that if it is done now maybe the width can be regained if complete reversal of genioplasty is done.

A: While I would have to see some postop x-rays to answer your question in a more fully informed manner, the chin bone movements as you have described seem plausible but a bone graft would be needed for the widening effect. (the vertical reduction is not going to create the graft needed as that is just a space that is not filled in with bone). You make these chin changes when you are certain that they needed to be done…which most patients know when they are 6 weeks out from surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana