What Type Of Chin Reduction Do I Need?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have along protruding chin and am interested in chin reduction surgery. What is the best way to reduce/reshape it so it looks smaller and more proportionate to the rest of my face?

A: In chins that are both vertically long and horizontally protrusive, there are two surgical approaches. A submental chin reduction technique is done from an incision below the chin where the bony chin can be vertically and horizontally reduced and any excess soft tissue removed. This is the best technique for bony chin reduction but does leave a fine line scar under the chin. That is somewhat of a concern with your ethnicity and skin type. The alternative approach would be an intraoral one where a vertical wedge bony genioplasty is done with horizontal setback. This leaves the question of what happens to any soft tissue excess, which may or may not contract back down but it is an externally scarless surgery.

As you can see, each chin reduction approach as its advantages and disadvantages. It all comes down to how the patient perceives the submental scar and what the risk of a  redundant chin pad is after the bone is reduced.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana