Is My Chin Now Too Short After Facial Feminization Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had  some facial feminization procedures done not too long ago. I had a sliding genioplasty as one of them. I now have the often present notch on either side of the osteotomy. I expressed concerns about minimizing this with the original doctor. The depressions are fairly evident. Also my infra orbital area is lacking. This lacking does not help with a feminine appearance. Over all I am having trouble determining what needs adjusting on my face because the face is the sum of its parts. I need an opinion so I can decide what to do over the next 12 months. I hope to improve symmetry also. I have to wait at least six months to undergo any further work since surgery was not to long ago. I have attached some pictures which hopefully are helpful although they are just one week after surgery.

A: Based on these even very early pictures, your chin is now too vertically short for your face. You have a longer thinner face and now the lower third (chin height) is too short. That is what is throwing off your facial proportions. Also as part of a longer thinner face, the cheek/infraorbital area is flatter. Thus I would recommend a chin bone lengthening (opening back up the osteotomy), infraorbital rim implants, and a subnasal lip lift. This will bring your face into better proportion and balance.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana