What Type Of Chin Reduction Procedure Do I Need?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 25 year female and I am looking for an honest surgeon who can do a chin reduction surgery for my long chin.  I am wondering if you can reduce the height of my chin vertically?  I am not sure if I also need to reduce the width of my chin. I feel I have a long chin when I look at the front of my face in the mirror. To me what most important are the risks of undergoing this surgery and the outcome. I am not just concerned about nerve damage but I am also afraid of having loose/saggy skin after the chin reduction surgery. Because our skin sag when we get older, will this mean any chin reduction will make the sagging worst when we are like 45 or 56 years old…even if the soft issues was reattached and tighten properly? I look forward to hearing from you.

A: Vertical chin reduction is done by one of two approaches, an intraoral wedge reduction genioplasty and an external submental chin reduction. Which one is best for any patient depends on ow much vertical reduction they need, does width reduction need to be done as well and do they have any pre-existing soft tissue excess or sagging. In either case, the soft tissues are managed with both procedures. In the intraoral genioplasty approach the soft tissues remain attached to the inferior chin segment and and are never detached so they move up with the reattachment of the bony segments. In the submental chin reduction technique, a wedge of soft tissue is removed and tightened after the bone is reduced. In general, the submental approach is more effective at vertical chin reduction than the intraoral wedge genioplasty approach. I would need to see front and side view pictures  of your chin (non-smiling) to see which approach may be best for you.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana