Can A Sliding Genioplasty Relapse Back?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I read literature online that (if I comprehended it appropriately) that a sliding genioplasty can relapse. Meaning, the chin advancement goes back to the original placement over time. Is this really true? Also, can bone resorption and/or bone remodeling in the long run take away from the aesthetic appearance achieved from the initial sliding genioplasty procedure? I thought the results of this procedure were supposed to be permanent. Let me know what your thoughts are.

A: If a sliding genioplasty is rigidly plated into position, theres is zero chance of relapse. You are referencing old chin fixation techniques that only used wire fixation which are far less stable. While I doubt they could even then relapse back to the their original position, they were less secure the further the chin was advanced.

In extreme or large amounts of chin advancement (10mms or greater), bony remodeling may account for a negligible amount of reshaping over the pogonion area of about 1mm. This is not aesthetically noticeable.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana