What Can Be Done To Help My Chin Appearance After A Lower Jaw Advancement Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I recently had a lower jaw advancement but it did not change my chin like I thought it would. Can you look at my pictures and records and tell me what you would recommend for further facial/chin improvement.

A: Thank you for sending your records. What that show me is the following:

1) You have a Class II bite relationship with a horizontal and vertical lower jaw deficiency for which the lower jaw advancement (BSSO) was an indicated procedure.

2) While the BSSO brought the lower jaw forward it was unable to correct the vertical deficiency at the chin.

3) While you did not state what your aesthetic concerns were with the outcome my assumption is that that you feel the chin stick out too far and has bunched up the soft tissue chin pad. This is because the vertical shortness of the chin remains unaddressed.

4) I would think the correct approach would be to vertically lengthen your chin which would improve your facial balance, setback the chin back a bit and unravel the bunched up soft tissue chin pad. (vertical lengthening bony genioplasty)

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana