Receding Chin Repair for Someone Under 18?

My 15-year-old son has a receding chin. He hates it a lot and we don't really want to do surgery on it unless it is the only way to fix it. He is still young so I'm hoping it will grow out by the time he is 18. He usually sleeps with his mouth open at night. If he tries to sleep with his mouth closed, would that allow the chin to grow normally preventing a receding chin? Are there any other ways to fix this while he is still young?

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Options for correcting a receding chin

With respect to the receding chin, there are multiple issues going on here. The receding chin can be augmented with a chin implant, but it is probably best to wait until he is 18. If he is sleeping with his mouth open, that indicates that he may have a deviated septum and will require nasal internal breathing surgery such as a septoplasty. If his teeth are not fitting appropriately together, consideration for mandibular osteotomies can be made, along with orthodontia. Mandibular... more

Receding Chin

Yes, you could wait, but it seems that your son, who is nearly an adult, may need work on his chin at some point anyway, so you could have a chin implant performed now, or wait until later. Summer can be a perfect time for a procedure like this, as he'd have the rest of the season to get used to his new look before school starts again in the fall. Many of my NJ chin implant patients select that time of year. After high school graduation might be a good time, before he enters college, but it... more

Not that simple

The receeding or weak chin may be due to underdevelopment of the chin itself, or due to an underdeveloped jay, or teeth that don't come together properly. The fact that he always sleeps with the mouth open leads me to suspedt that his facial bones may not be in good proportion and a receeding chin is what you notice as a result. Rather than suggest surgery, I suggest you get a full evaluation of the facial structures with X-rays. The specific name is "cephalometric" evaluation,... more

Receding chin in a 15 year old male.

Your son may have retrognathia, which could cause a weak chin, mouth breathing, and malocclusion of his teeth. You should consider consultation with a board-certified oro-maxillo-facial surgeon for a definitive diagnosis and treatment options. ENT consultation could be helpful as well, since there is mouth breathing. I hope this helps, and best regards.

Eric M. Joseph, MD

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West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Chin Surgery for a 15 year young man

I agree with your timing concern. I like to delay chin augmentation in man until 17 years of age, better 18. Most commonly, we discuss this issue in conjunction with rhinoplasty. But first, a correct diagnosis has to be done. Does your son has an appropriate tooth alignment (occlusion) or is there an over-bite? If this is the case (and this may explain why he is sleeping with his mouth open), then a more complex jaw distraction/ realignment may be a preferred option. Your dentist may have... more

Your son should have a consult with an oral surgeon or Plastic surgeon who performs orthonathic surg

Your son sounds like he would benefit from surgery of the jaw. A complete analysis by a Oral Surgeon or a Plastic surgeon who preforms such surgery should be able to give a complete analysis of the upper and lower jaws to see what correction would give him not only a cosmetic but a functional result. This type of surgery should be covered by your insurance. I think you will be delighted to find out what great results your son can have.

Get orthodontic evaluation for receding chin

Evaluation of the relationship between the upper and lower jaws needs to be established before deciding on treatment. It is possible the the entire jaw is set back too far and would benefit from advancement. This would require orthodontic pre-surgical treatment and a large operation. Clearly this is complicated and expensive. Formal surgery for a week chin includes a genioplasty (sliding the bone of the chin forward after cutting it) or placement of a chin implant. There are advantages and... more

Receding chin

Hello, I would first make sure that your son does not have any abnormalities of the jaw that would require orthognathic surgery to correct. If his jaw is the problem, not just his chin, then the obvious solution is to correct the jaw and restore proper alignment of his teeth as well. However, if the jaw is otherwise normal, and he is found to have a retrusive chin (small chin), then this can be augmented. You should allow his facial skeleton to mature and complete growth (typically age 18)... more