The Oblique Mandibular Chin-Body Osteotomy for the Correction of Broad Chin

BACKGROUND: The position and contour of the chin are important components in facial harmony and balance. In the aesthetic facial contouring of the lower face, the mandibular angle, body, and chin should be considered as 1 aesthetic unit. Any developmental broad chin or residual square chin after mandibular angle osteotomy can often make the lower face appear unattractive. For the correction of broad chin, the technique of horizontal-T genioplasty has been introduced; however, manipulation of this technique is sometimes complicated during repositioning and fixation because there is multiple osteotomy lines and if the muscular attachment is widely detached with an unskilled hand, after the muscular attachment is stripped off when the central segment is removed, there is the risk of bone necrosis and resorption. Therefore, a more simple and effective method for narrowing genioplasty needs to be further studied. METHODS: From July 2005 to September 2008, we used the technique of oblique mandibular chin-body osteotomy for the narrowing of the broad chin. Osteotomy of the everted mandibular chin-body's inferior border and reshaping of the lateral cortex with a bur reduces the width of the chin and the mandibular body, and the lateral outline of the mandibular inferior border becomes natural and smooth. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients underwent the operation either separately or combined with other procedures such as a mandibular angle osteotomy or advancement genioplasty. All of the patients were satisfied with the improvement of their facial appearance at both the 3 months and 2 years follow-up. CONCLUSION: The oblique mandibular chin-body osteotomy is a simple method that can be used for the narrowing of broad chins caused by both developmental deformity and postmandibular angle osteotomy. It can effectively reduce the width of the mandibular body and mental region and make the lower face look attractive from both the anterior and lateral perspectives. It can be used independently or as a supplementary operation to osteotomy of prominent mandibular angles and horizontal advancement genioplasty.