Will An Osteoplastic Genioplasty Make My Chin Look Thinner?

Q: Dr. Eppley, first of all I want to say that your site is full of information and i have learned a lot of things. I want to do an osteotomy/genioplasty on my chin to achieve facial balance cause I have a receding chin. I also want to do this surgery to shorten and make my lower lip thinner. Will this surgery tighten the lip and chin musculature and will it cause my chin to look thinner? I am looking forward to hearing from you.

A:  In most cases of an osteoplastic genioplasty where the chin is advanced, it will make the width of the chin thinner. This is because a chin osteotomy is like advancing the front part of an upside U forward. It is elongating the U and makes it more narrow. Whether that effect is significant or not depends on how much advancement is being done. But anything over 5 to 7mms, the thinning effect will be seen. It does not usually make the lower lip any thinner however.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana