Can a chin augmentation be achieved with just a chin lift? Including cases of normal occlusion jaw surgery
Can a chin augmentation be achieved with just a chin lift?
From normal bite to jaw surgery cases
Hello. The Right Contour Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Center, I am Dr. Il Hoon Lee, a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
“My jaw looks too prominent; a bone-grinding jaw surgery seems too expensive, so can I just have a chin lift instead?” It's a question I hear a lot in the clinic. Chin lift surgery (abdominoplasty)Although some people have a noticeable chin even with only one tooth, there are also many who do not have a noticeable chin, so it is very important to have an accurate diagnosis before surgery.
Today, we will discuss in detail the limitations of chin augmentation surgery and the methods of jaw surgery that can be used to correct a crooked smile through the case of a real patient who has already had chin augmentation surgery at another hospital, and who came to our clinic to discuss the matter.
🎥 The full content can also be viewed in the YouTube video below.
Can a chin augmentation be achieved with just a chin lift?
“Even a chin augmentation can make the chin look bigger?” My answer to that question is “Sometimes it will look bigger, and sometimes it won’t.”.
In most cases, only a chin augmentation procedure (abdominoplasty) is very limited in achieving the effect of making the entire chin appear larger. Those with only protruding chin tips can benefit from the procedure, but, If the entire jaw protrudes forward, a chin lift alone will not eliminate the excessive protrusion as desired. Simply put, when the entire jaw is visible, chin augmentation is not very helpful; in this case, even if the surgery is a little larger, performing a jaw lift can yield much more satisfying results.
Case analysis: A case where a chin lift has already been performed
Let’s take a look at a case of a patient who clearly illustrates these limitations. Looking at the front view before the surgery, she is so beautiful that you might wonder why she came to the hospital in the first place. But looking at the side view, we can see what the patient was struggling with.
From the side, the jawline appears somewhat strong, giving the impression of a slightly crooked jaw. The patient also had these two concerns, having already undergone a chin augmentation procedure at another hospital. However, even after the surgery, the feeling of the chin still being visible did not disappear, so he came back to the clinic again.
Limitations of chin augmentation surgery (abfractional reduction) as seen through CT analysis
Through 3D CT, we analyzed the condition of the bones in detail. On the side X-ray, the upper and lower jaw lips almost line up in a straight line, but when we look closely at the bones, Only the tip of the chin is cut off, making it artificially pushed back.This is what is known as ‘this back surgery’.
In cases where the chin itself is not long and only the tip of the chin protrudes, such as the so-called ‘witch chin,” this surgery is very effective. However, in a condition like this patient’s, where the entire chin (lower jaw) is protruding, pushing only the very tip of the chin back does not eliminate the overall bulging appearance. This is the clear limitation of the chin tip surgery.
The jaw reduction surgery method for normal occlusion
Usually, a jaw-gap surgery normalizes the misalignment of the jaws and brings the jaws back together, but when the bite is already perfect, This method involves holding the upper and lower jaws together while rotating them completely, pushing the jaw back.We use the method of using the chin to support the head. This is a surgical method that implements the same principle as when we stand and tilt our heads, with the chin naturally moving backward.
However, in order to apply this procedure and skip orthodontic treatment after the surgery, the prerequisite is that the patient already has a ‘very stable bite” before the surgery.
Results of the surgery and criteria for choosing the correct surgery
By applying this rotation principle to jaw surgery, the side angles were smoothly changed, naturally improving the feeling that the patient had been worried about: the jaw looked stronger or more angular. We were also able to achieve the pointed and slender jawline that the patient wanted to achieve on the front side.
It would have been nice if you had had jaw surgery from the very beginning; however, due to the burden of the surgery, you chose the seemingly simple chin augmentation procedure first, only to end up having to undergo another procedure after all, resulting in the final result you desired.
Of course, there are many cases where a chin augmentation alone can achieve the desired results. However, if you perform a chin augmentation procedure excessively in a situation where the entire skeletal structure is visible, you may not achieve the expected results and may end up undergoing a second procedure.
If you are considering surgery because your chin is protruding, rather than deciding on the method of surgery prematurely, Accurate identification of my skeletal condition through 3D CT digital diagnosisThis is a priority. We recommend that you have a thorough consultation with a specialist in oral maxillofacial surgery to develop the most suitable and safe surgical plan for you.
Healthcare Institution Name: The Right Contour Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Center Address: 2nd and 4th Floor, 7, Seojeon-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan Metropolitan City (Near Seomyeon Station Exit 8) Medical professional explanation: Chief Director Lee Sang-hoon (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon)
※ All surgeries and treatments may cause side effects such as pain, bleeding, infection, nerve damage, temporomandibular joint discomfort, and changes in occlusion, depending on the individual's symptoms and skeletal condition. Therefore, please make a careful decision after thorough consultation and precise diagnosis with medical professionals.
