What Is The Recovery Time From A Sliding Genioplasty?

Q: Dr. Eppley, First off I want to say thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, and also that I am aware that these questions may have lots of variables that can make it difficult to produce definitive answers. 

1) I am extremely interested in getting a sliding genioplasty done, as my lower third is just not what I want it to be. How much in total is that procedure with you generally? Also if I was to have horizontal as well as vertical movement would that affect the price depending on how much movement, and why? 

2) When the bone is cut and a gap is left between the cut bone and the remaining lower jaw bone, how do you generally fill that gap (bone graft or calcium based filler)? And can you describe how the bone then heals back into one solid piece? 

3) As a 30 year old healthy male, how long would the recovery be until I was able to eat and speak normally with minimal signs of swelling (best estimate). and how about until the bone is fully healed? 

4) Lastly, I want to pay cash for this procedure. Would it be a problem in any way on your end if I did not have health insurance? I am aware of the risks involved. 

Thanks again for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!

A:Thank you for your inquiry on sliding genioplasty to which I can say the following:

1) My assistant Camille will pass along the cost of the surgery to you.

2) While the anterior step and the posterior inferior border stepoffs are grafted with tissuej bone chips, I should assume that some bony deformity will persist at these areas whose magnitide is affected by how large a bony movement that is done.

3) Speaking is not affected at all, eating is only affected by the limitation of biting off foods in the first weeks after surgery. (due to the incision location) Posterior molar chewing is unaffected.

4) This is a question for my assistant Camille.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana