Jawnone adjustment|Antiseptic mouthwash

To adjust the jawbone, it must be released from the rest of the jawbone. 

This is accomplished by cutting the bone horizontally.

Just under the roots of the lower teeth, then vertically down at the eyeteeth. 

Once separated, the chin may be shortened by

Removing some of the bone, lengthened by pulling the bone forward.

Titled up to shorten the vertical dimension of the face, or titled down to lengthen the vertical dimension of the face. 

A permanent stainless steel sire is used to fix the bone into its new position.

  Once the bone has been wired into place, the incision within the mouth is closed. 

There is no visible scar after the procedure.

A pressure dressing is applied around the chin to control subsequent swelling and bruising. 

The dressing is removed after 1 to 2 days. 

As with implants, a soft diet is recommended until the dressings are removed. 

Hot foods should also be avoidedin Jawnone adjustment.

Will there be pain after surgery?

Moderate discomfort is experienced during the first few days after the surgery due to the severed bone and the pressure exerted in the chin area by swelling.  As the swelling subsides, so does the discomfort.  Unlike a chin implant, where mild discomfort is experienced for 1 or 2 days, a jawbone adjustment may cause discomfort for a couple of weeks or more.  As is the case with chin implants, the incision within the mouth will be irritating for the first few days.  Pain medication is generally recommended as an effective means of controlling discomfort.  The swelling and bruising will be greater than that experienced with a chine implant and generally subsides within 10 days in Jawnone adjustment.

Will there be a scar?

Yes, but the scar is in the mouth and cannot be seen.

When can normal activities be resumed?

Most patients are able to return to their normal routine after a period of 3 to 4 days.

What are the potential complications?

A temporary loss of sensation to the lower lip and chin region caused by pressure on the nerve supply due to swelling may occur.  It often takes a several weeks for sensation to return to normal.

Another complication is the possibility of an infection which may occur because the bone has been temporarily detached from its blood supply.

Can chin surgery be combined with other surgery?

As with chin implants, bone adjustments are often combined with rhinoplasties and liposuction to the jowls, under the chin, the cheeks and the neck.  This total approach often achieves the best cosmetic result.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a jawbone adjustment over a chin implant?

A jawbone adjustment eliminates the risk of erosion of the bone, damage to the teeth, and extrusion or expulsion of the implant.  It also uses the patient’s own tissue rather than a foreign substance, which leaves the chine with a more natural feel when it is touched in Chin surgery.

The disadvantage of a jawbone adjustment is that it is a more extensive procedure and requires a general anesthetic with its inherent risks.  Other risks are loss of sensation to the lower lip for a longer period of time and potential infection.  This procedure also has more restrictions on the size to which the chin may be enlarged. 

Who performs chin surgery and what does it cost?

Plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, and oral surgeons trained in esthetic surgery of the face are specialists who perform this surgical procedure.

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