Lengthening short chin and jaw without jaw surgery? (Photo)

Question

The picture is not of myself but her before photo resembles my condition very closely. She had jaw surgery to get a longer chin. Can this result be achieved by other means? I need some vertical height in my jaw and chin and a little chin projection as well. Do I need to combine sliding genioplasty with a small chin implant to achieve this? Thank you Btw - I don't want to have jaw surgery because my teeth are well aligned and I don't want to mess up my bite.

Bahman Guyuron, MD · Answer

Lower face elongation without jaw surgery is best achieved through a sliding genioplasty and almost never an implant and sliding genioplasty are necessary at the same time. Sliding genioplasty in experienced hands is extremely versatile and successful. Those of us have had craniofacial beyond the conventional plastic surgery training routine perform this procedure and would be happy to look at your front and profile images and offer you more meaningful advice.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

In reviewing your pictures, the chin is
weak on the frontal profile.  A proportional chin
can improve facial balance and proportion from the profile and frontal
view.  Patients have 3 options to enlarge
the chin.

Option 1-  Chin Implant

The chin can be effectively and easily augmented with a chin implant
surgery.  The surgery is quick and can be
completed while the patient is awake. 
The recovery is rather quick.  If the implant is placed on the inferior border of the mandible, it will increase the vertical height of the face.  You can get a custom implant made if you truly do not need much projection.  A chin with your shape from the front typically will need a decent amount of projection

Option 2-  Non-Surgical Chin Augmentation

The chin can be effectively augmented using non-surgical techniques by
injections with facial fillers.  Any type
of filler can be used including Perlane, Juvederm, Restylane, and
Radiasse.  The results are immediate but
temporary.  This would have to be repeated.  Overtime this will be more expensive than a
chin implant.  For patients that do not
want to undergo surgery, this is a great option.

Option 3-
 Mandibular Advancement/Genioplasty
In my opinion, this surgery should be reserved
with patients with very small chins that would not be a candidate for a chin
implant.  This surgery is more invasive with a longer recovery time
that a chin implant.

Alejandro Nogueira, MD · Answer

Being an option, chin implants have serious disadvantages, specially in
the mid and long term, patients are rarely happy with them after 5-6
years, all are out by then or later.Consider the chin advancement by means of sliding genioplasty, the advantages are:-lifetime procedure, no more revision or renewal procedures-more natural than implants-no visibility of implant edges during gestures-improves
the double chin effect at the sub-mental muscles (floor of mouth)
hammock caused by lack of tension there; also improves the shape and
tension of perioral muscles; implants do no offer this feature-horse-shoe enhancement, covering the chin and also the jaw sides of it-no future displacements or neuritis of mental nerves-practically zero infections and 100% healing of bones-no
need for complex plates and screws that may need future removal; just
steel wires synthesis may suffice, they stay buried into bone callusThe cons are:-expensive, but cheap if you consider the lifetime pros-technically
demanding, few surgeons are experienced or comfortable (though I
personally perform 100% of the chin augmentations by this osseous
method, always after offering the patients both options)-scary for the patient (though not so much if you explain well the stuff around it)This
 is my advice to patients with weak chin, the sliding genioplasty above 
all other options. After explaining pros and cons all my patients opt 
for the osseous genioplasty and opt out implants or fillers.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

A sliding genioplasty with an implant overlay that extends back along the jawline can achieve a similar look. This can also be done by a custom made chin-jawline implant which is easier to go through and would produce a more predictable result.

Majid Jamali, DMD · Answer

As you know, jaw surgery is the right solution.  You could have sliding genioplasty and bone grafting to make the chin look better. I don't advise placing an implant on top of sliding genioplasty.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

The before and afters attached do represent augmentation both vertically and in the front facing segment of the chin.  Chin Augmentation, without mandibular surgery (which I feel is extreme for a weak chin) using a Chin Implant can increases the front facing segment of the chin but can't lengthen the vertical segment.  Lengthening the vertical segment, of the chin with a Chin Implant, would lead to the creation of a "ledge" where the edge of the implant extends beyong the lower border of the chin.   I have performed many Chin Augmentations with dermal fillers (I prefer Perlane or Radiesse) and/or a Chin Implant and feel that based upon your before photo that you are indeed a good candidate for that procedure.  Hope this helps.

Lengthening short chin and jaw without jaw surgery? (Photo)

Answers (6)

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