What Can Be Done To Improve A Jaw That Slants Downward And A Chin That Is Short But Too Long?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I find that my jaw slants downwards and my chin appears too long for my face. My chin is also weak as it does not protrude as far as my lower lip. If possible, I have attached photos and some crude imaging to get your opinion on what you would recommend for me. Thank you.

A: Thank you for sending your pictures. What you are describing and have is the classic steep mandibular plane angle problem. With a short chin many times the jaw angles are high, all which reflect some degree of underdevelopment of the mandible.  I can see from your attempts at imaging that you need a sliding genioplasty to move the chin forward but to vertically shorten it (an implant will keep it just as long if not longer) and vertical lengthening jaw angle implants that adds zero width. You are correct by that imaging in that the best way to change a steep mandibular plane angle is to lower the jaw angle and shorten the chin as it comes forward.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana