What Is The Best Way To Get A Vertical Jawline Lengthening Effect?

Q: Dr. Eppley, My photos are attached and the #1’s are with my jaw relaxed as normal.  The #2’s are with my jaw pushed forward and is the look that I am after.  I’m seeking a vertically longer, wider and more pronounced lower face in all aspects especially the area between my lower lip and the tip of my chin bone.  My profile’s features are naturally pointy and I want them square.  Thanks for your help.

A: Thank you for sending your pictures and doing your own imaging for your desired jawline augmentation goals. What you are demonstrating is a vertical lengthening jawline augmentation with a squaring effect at the three corners. (chin and jaw angles) This can be done one of two ways depending on how much vertical chin lengthening is desired. If the vertical chin lengthening needed is less than 10mms than the entire jawline can be lengthened by a custom implant design. If the vertical chin lengthening is 10mms or greater then a combined vertical lengthening bony genioplasty combined with a custom implant that brings down the rest of the jawline as well as squares out the chin.

The reason there is a dual approach is the the soft tissue chin pad will only stretch vertically so far if separated from its attachment to the bone. (total vertical lengthening jawline implant) You have to be careful that you don’t put in such an implant and then ‘discover’ that the chin pad will not lengthen enough to pull over the end of the implant properly. A lengthening bony genioplasty gets around that problem as the soft tissue chin pad will go wherever the bone goes because it remains attached to it.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana