Will The Side Stepoffs From A Sliding Genioplasty Go Away With More Healing Time?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I got a sliding genioplasty three months ago. I like the projection of my chin on the profile but I have some concerns. First, I have noticed that there are step offs on both side of my jawline. The step off is more pronounced on the left side than on the right. Is there a change that the step-offs will be filled naturally over time? How long should I wait to see if they smoothen naturally? The second concern is that my chin is a bit long. I am wondering if, after three months, I can still expect the swelling to decrease. I have read that after three months not many changes will be produced but I have also read many testimonies of people who said that they noticed significant changes at 6, 9 and 12 months. What should I expect according to your experience? I personally noticed a significant reduction in swelling from month 2 to month 3, can I still expect changes? Also, I noticed that if the swelling is reduced, I would have a more smooth jawline because the chin would blend better with my jaw. What do you think? 

A: In answer to your post sliding genioplasty questions:

1) The bony stepoffs on the side will not improve with further healing. They may even worsen a bit (soft tissue contracture into the induced bone defects) but certainly they will not get better or go away.

2) The vertical length of the chin is also not likely to change with further healing.

The only benefit of time with the lateral stepoffs or the vertical length of the chin is that these aesthetic tradeoffs from the procedure will become more acceptable and you can avoid any additional efforts to improve them. Time also has the benefit of proving whether further healing will reduce their visual appearance.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana