What Is The Best Treatment For A Congenital Witch’s Chin?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m 20 years old and I noticed witches chin developed a few years ago. I have attached a photo. What type of procedure would you perform?

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your profile picture. While most true ‘witch’s chins’ occur from prior surgery or from aging, ir can occur less commonly naturally or congenitally. By definition a witch’s chin deformity is when there is s mismatch between the soft tissue chin pad and the underlying bone support. This is most manifest by some degree of apparent sagging of the soft tissue pad and an underling prominent submental skin crease. 

What differentiates an iatrogenic/aging witch’s chin from a congenital one is the tightness of the soft tissue chin pad and the degree of bone development of the underlying chin bone. If one has a deficient bone then any form of chin augmentation will solve it as the soft tissue chin pad is stretched out. If the chin projection is adequate, which yours is, then a soft tissue submental tuck is needed in a ‘vest over pants’ technique.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana