Surgical Chin Augmentation

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have had three attempts at chin augmentation with silicone injections; none have worked. Unless silicone oil has been improved and attachment techniques have improved, I need a bone implant. I need consultation to determine the next steps for chin augmentation.

A: Thank you for sending your facial pictures. You have a significant case of lower jaw/chin deficiency for which an injectable filler approach to itsaugmentation was never an option that was going to be effective. It is hard to imagine who would have tried an injection approach on you when your horizontal chin deficiency is at least 15mms if not greater.

Given the magnitude of the deficiency you are much better off with a sliding genioplasty than a chin implant for your chin augmentation. If you combined that with a lower neck-jowl lift the degree of improvement would be substantial. Bringing the chin bone out with its muscle attachment would help your neck significantly as well as that of your profile.

If a chin implant was being considered it wold have to have a design that provided substantial horizontal projection but with no lateral wings to avoid making the chin too wide.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana