Should I have a chin implant or a sliding genioplasty?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve been interested in getting a rhinoplasty as well as a chin implant/genioplasty. My question is, in your professional opinion, does a genioplasty have an advantage over a chin implant when it comes to breathing/opening the airway? My understanding it that it stretches the muscles out more which improves sleep apnea. Wouldn’t chin implants do the same? I’m getting a rhinoplasty and my surgeon uses medpor chin implants. Thank you in advance.

A:In looking at your side view picture you definitely need a sliding genioplasty over a chin implant. Your chin recession is significant and a sliding genioplasty will also keep the chin narrow. A chin implant is definitely not what I would do and, even if a teaching implant was indicated, I certainly wouldn’t use one composed of Medpor which is going to leave your chin wide and bulky an, when you were unhappy with the result, going to be very difficult to remove later.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon