RECESSED JAW
The term “recessed jaw” can cover very different physiognomies. It can cause physical discomfort, but also problems with dental malocclusion, difficulty breathing, and sleep apnea. Sometimes a receding chin poses purely aesthetic problems; people don’t like the profile of their face. Let’s see what lies behind a receding chin , the solutions, and surgeries…
Receding chin + short face in women
In the case shown on the left, there is a short face profile and a weak chin .
Short face means that the lower part of the face is flattened or atrophied.
We see that the chin is moving backward , there is a fold of skin under the jaw and the break with the neck is not very marked. Here it would be necessary to both lower the chin and move it forward.
Problems encountered
The short face profile + recessed chin can cause:
- Dental occlusion problems
- Sleep apnea
- Aesthetic discomfort
Most common operations
- Osteotomy to advance the jaw
- Chin Surgery: Chin-Wing Genioplasty
Menton fuyant chez une femme
In the case shown on the left, we see an example of a woman’s face with a pulled-back chin .
The chin is tilted back, the chin fold is very slightly marked, the chin pulls on the lower lip.
The neck crease is not very pronounced because the skin under the face is relaxed.
By moving the chin or jaw forward, the profile will be more harmonious and there will be a lifting effect on the skin of the neck.
Problems encountered
A receding chin can cause:
- Dental occlusion problems
- Sleep apnea
- Aesthetic discomfort
Most common operations
- Osteotomy to advance the jaw
- Chin Surgery: Chin-Wing Genioplasty
Example of chin advancement using the Chin-Wing method
The Chin-Wing method will move the chin forward and also lower the back of the mandible (lower jaw). The face will appear more harmonious, the tension on the lower lip will be reduced, and the boundary between the face and neck will be more defined. However, the operation will not affect the dental occlusion.
Receding chin in a man
As can be seen in the illustration image below, this man has a receding chin characterized by:
- A lower lip covered by the upper lip
- An almost non-existent chin crease
- Relaxed neck skin
Problems encountered
- Dental occlusion problems
- Sleep apnea
- Aesthetic discomfort
Most common operations
- Osteotomy to advance the jaw
- Chin Surgery: Chin-Wing Genioplasty
Receding chin - "Classic" genioplasty
As seen in the illustration on the right, this woman has a recessed chin. If the discomfort is purely cosmetic, and there is no sleep apnea or dental occlusion problems, the surgeon will suggest:
- Genioplasty by osteosynthesis (He will cut a piece of bone from the chin, advance it and fix it with plates and screws)
- Genioplasty with implant (he will fix a silicone implant on the chin bone)
- Chin injection (he will give injections to plump up the chin but the result will fade over time).
- Lipofilling (Fat injection in the chin)
As we have seen, a receding chin covers many very different cases, consequences, genes and therefore multiple solutions. The simplest and most reliable way to take stock of your receding chin is to meet with a maxillofacial, oral surgeon or a dental surgeon . There are maxillofacial and dental surgeons in all major cities in France. Any surgery involves risks and must be carefully considered, especially if it has a purely aesthetic purpose.
Only a specialized surgeon can decide, using bone X-rays, whether or not to perform an operation.