I Have a Gummy Smile, Long Face, Weak Chin, Overbite, and Asymmetrical Smile. What Are My Low Cost Options? (photo)

Question

I know I need jaw surgery, but that is out the question due to cost. Believe it or not, I have actually grown to love my gums, but the chin and long face annoy me. What low cost options do I have? Can 1 procedure address all these issues? I've had braces already..

Aaron Stone, MD · Answer

These are all different issues in that the gummy smile (clearly evident in the first posted photo) can be separate from the retruded chin etc in terms of treatment. The chin in fact may not be retruded but only look that way because the upper jaw protrudes too much. The only way to know exactly what the facial bone relationships are is to measure them at a face to face physical examination and with specific x-rays (cephalometrics). There is no way to know what your options are without these measurements and analysis. If someone agrees to put a chin implant in in cases like yours without them you need to run in the other direction.

	I suspect you have overgrowth of the upper jaw in the vertical and front to back directions. That would give you an overjet and possible an underbite. I am not sure you have an overbite as the lower jaw may not be small enough for that. The best way to lower the upper jaw's vertical height is jaw surgery with removal of a horizontal wafer of bone. I don't there is any chin implant on this planet that can get rid of your gummy smile when placed on your chin.

	I hope you realize that this format of posting questions and receiving answers lacks the face to face direct communication required for you to make an informed decision regarding your surgery.

	My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You need to consult with i.e. personally see a board certified plastic surgeon in order to receive a formal evaluation and develop a doctor patient relationship.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

A chin implant would give you the most result for your money. Fillers won't do the job and ultimately be more expensive.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Gummygal

	Please, please be careful with low cost options.  This is how people talk themselves into being injected with silicone oil at pumping parties.  Silicone is cheap to put in, associated with disfiguring scaring, and too often impossible to fix.  Perlane to your chin can create a chin implant effect for one or two years without having surgery.  Please be safe out there.

Michael L. Schwartz, MD · Answer

Stick to fillers. Anything surgical can potentially have a problem requiring additional surgeries which could get you into a financial mess that you are obviuosly trying to avoid.

I Have a Gummy Smile, Long Face, Weak Chin, Overbite, and Asymmetrical Smile. What Are My Low Cost Options? (photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Weak chin

Answer: Weak chin

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I Have a Gummy Smile, Long Face, Weak Chin, Overbite, and Asymmetrical Smile. What Are My Low Cost Options? (photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Weak chin

Answer: Weak chin

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Facelift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.