Do osseous genioplasties improve airway size like jaw surgery?

Hi Leeloo90,
My name is Kevin Francois and I am a board certified Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon currently practicing in Jax, FL. That is a great question. Genioplasty, or chin surgery, is a procedure to reshape or reposition the chin to improve facial aesthetics and balance. It can be performed for both cosmetic and functional reasons, such as correcting a receding or protruding chin or geniotubercle advancement which can then lead to airway improvements. It can usually correct mild sleep apnea.
On the other hand, jaw surgery or a sagittal split osteotomy is a surgical procedure used to correct issues with the alignment of the jaw or sleep apnea. It involves splitting the jawbone (mandible) to reposition it. This procedure is typically performed to correct bite issues or to improve facial aesthetics or to improve the airway by realigning the lower jaw. It typically addresses severe cases of sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome.
Both procedures involve surgical risks and recovery times, but the sagittal split osteotomy may have more significant restrictions on diet and jaw movement post-surgery compared to genioplasty, which typically allows normal mouth opening and diet.
Hope this helps.
Kevin Francois MD DDS