Will A Facelift Fix My Sagging Chin?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Do I need a facelift to correct my chin sagging after being burred? I had a procedure done three months ago where the surgeon burred under and shortened the chin. It was done intra orally and the lower chin and my face is slack and looks like there is a protrusion. In other words it still looks like I have a double chin despite everything. I am not sure which procedure I need but I did include pictures. Also could a slight buccal fat removal be done in conjunction with this?

A: Intraoral chin reduction is almost always associated by loose chin skin afterwards and often fails to make a big improvement in the amount of chin projection. A submental approach to your chin reduction would be more effective. Whether this is addressed only by a submental tuck (submentoplasty) or would be rolled into a lower facelift would depend on where you see the area of improvements needed and whether you want the whole jawline tightened. It is not crystal clear in the pictures and the real test would be what happens when you bend your head down and where the skin rolls appear.

When referring to the buccal area, there is the area right below the cheekbone (the true buccal fad pad area) and the area that lies much lower near the mouth and jowl area known as the perioral mounds. (which is often confused with being the buccal area) I believe you may be referring to the perioral mound area by description and in the pictures. Perioral mound liposuction can be done in conjunction with any submental chin tuckup or facelift procedure

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana