The sliding genioplasty is a well known chin augmentation procedure that achieves its effect without an implant. By moving the bony front end of the lower jaw the soft tissue chin pad is pushed forward increasing the projection of the lower face.
While the sliding genioplasty has virtually none of the potential complications of an implant, it is not quite so easily adjusted should there be a secondary need for a change. While the desire for further augmentation can be addressed without recutting the bone by adding an implant onto the already advanced chin bone, there is no alternative to reducing the bone if the patient desires less chin projection.
To reduce the projection from a sliding genioplasty done previously the natural approach is that the bone needs to be recut and pushed back the desired amount. And that is a perfectly logical approach to partially or fully reversing the effects of a sliding genioplasty.
An alternative to a repeat intraoral sliding genioplasty surgery is a submental reduction technique. Through an inciseon under the chin the inferior legs of the fixation plate and screws are exposed. The screws and the inferior legs of the plates are removed which provides an unobstructed access to the chin bone.
Using a high speed handpiece and burr the bone is reduced to the desired amount of chin projection reduction. If it is a total reversal the remaining plate and superior screws are removed. If it is a subtotal reversal the plates bent downward to be flush with the reduced bone level.
Because most chin reductions are going to create a relative soft tissue chin pad excess this excess soft tissue from the bone removal can be removed to prevent postoperative ptosis/sagging. This is done by a crescent full thickness excision of skin/fat/muscle at the time of closure. (submental tuck)
For those seeking a less invasive approach to reducing the amount of projection of a sliding genioplasty (total vs subtotal setback) a submentak reduction technique avoids the intraoral trauma/healing and the need to recut the bone to move it back. Any redundant soft tissue chin pad also be reduced at the same time.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana