A Deep Dive into the Types of Osteotomy Methods for Chin Surgery (Genioplasty)

Hello, this is Dr. Jo Hyun-woo of 입체성형외과.

When patients come in for a consultation about chin surgery, one of the things they often ask is, “Why is the procedure called something different here when other hospitals call it OO surgery?”

In fact, the most commonly known method is the T-osteotomy procedure.

Chin surgery includes many different techniques, to the point that there are more than 10 commonly used methods.

Today, I’ll talk about the various types of chin surgery.

T-osteotomy

I have written many columns about the T-osteotomy method over the years.

For more details, please refer to the column below.

T-osteotomy surgical method

T-osteotomy is a procedure that can move the chin forward or backward while narrowing the width of the chin.

A case of improving a protruding jaw through T-osteotomy

V-osteotomy (inferior chin border resection)

This is a procedure that does not require advancing or setting back the chin, and instead trims the chin tip while performing square jaw surgery.

In fact, if advancement or setback of the chin is not needed, the result is essentially the same as with T-osteotomy.

It is suitable for people who do not like fixation pins.

V-osteotomy (inferior chin border resection) surgical method

In general, this is the procedure commonly referred to as “long bone contouring,” where the surgeon makes a long cut from the square jaw area.

One drawback is that dissection extends below the chin, which can cause a double chin. However, if the periosteum is restored to its original position during surgery, it can be considered to make little difference from T-osteotomy.

A case of correcting a long chin through V-osteotomy

I think the first two procedures are already familiar to you because I have mentioned them often in columns and on YouTube.

Chin advancement and setback surgery

This is a procedure that was performed before T-osteotomy became widely used.

It is suitable for patients who do not need their chin width reduced, and for patients with a protruding jaw or a receding chin.

Chin advancement surgery

Chin setback surgery

As shown in the drawing, the bone is cut in a straight line, T-shape, or zigzag shape, then moved forward or backward by the required amount and fixed with pins.

A case of chin advancement surgery correcting a receding chin through a straight-line method

Chin lengthening surgery

When the chin appears too short, this is a procedure that lengthens it through bone grafting.

T-osteotomy bone graft lengthening surgery

Square jaw bone graft lengthening surgery

In some cases, bone removed from the T-osteotomy is grafted, and in other cases, square jaw bone is removed and grafted.

Because no other foreign material is used, this is a procedure that can produce good results.

A case of chin lengthening through square jaw bone grafting

So far, I have explained the methods of chin surgery. In fact, there are many more surgical techniques besides these.

However, those techniques are also derived from the methods above, so it is fine to think of them as procedures with only slightly different names.

Among the various chin surgery methods, there is no single method that is the best.

It is important to choose the surgical method that is best suited to you, so please consult with an experienced specialist to achieve good results.

Thank you.