What Surgery Do I Need To Create The Look I Get When I Slide My Jaw Down And Forward?

Q: Dr. Eppley,“I am looking to enhance jaw and chin area. Attached are six photos-

1. Front- full bite/molar teeth touching

2. Front- relaxed face

3. Front- advancing chin vertically and slightly anteriorly

4. Side- full bite/molar touching

5. Side- relaxed face

6. Side- advancing chin vertically and slightly anteriorly.

#6 shows the type of chinb/jawline change I am seeking.

Thank you. 

A: Thank you for sending your pictures and demonstrating your goals. You have an overall vertically deficient chin/jawline which is most evident in the chin area with a short lower third of the face and a deep labiomental fold. Undoubtably you probably have a deep bite as well. What you are demonstrating by jutting your lower jaw forward and down is an overall vertical lengthening effect which is greatest in the chin area. This exact effect is only obtainable in a pure bone technique by doing a CHIN WING OSTEOTOMY which is an extended version of a sliding genioplasty. The alternative approach is a VERTICAL OPENING BONY GENIOPLASTY with CUSTOM JAWLINE IMPLANTS. There are advantage and disadvantage ago either approach. It really comes down to what type of change, if any, you want at the back in the jaw angle area.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana