What Surgery Is Best for Correcting a Protruding Jaw? The Limits of Chin Repositioning Surgery and the Actual Results

Hello, I’m Dr. Jo Hyun-woo of Inpyeong Plastic Surgery.

When consulting on a protruding jaw, this is the question I hear most often.

“Doctor, wouldn’t it be enough to just move the chin back a little?”

When seen in photos, the chin looks protruded, and many people think protruding jaw correction means chin repositioning surgery. But in reality, the story is a little different.

Today, I’d like to explain in detail what kind of surgery is needed for protruding jaw correction, how far chin repositioning surgery can go, and where its limits begin.

A protruding jaw is not simply a problem of the chin tip sticking out. The causes can be broadly divided into three categories.

1. The lower jaw itself has overgrown

2. The upper jaw has grown less and is positioned relatively farther back

3. The overall balance between the upper and lower jaws is disrupted

Among these, the part many people overlook is number 2, the upper jaw problem.

When looking in the mirror, it may seem like the jaw is protruding, but in fact, there are many cases where the upper jaw has not projected forward enough, making the lower jaw appear more protruded by comparison.

What kind of surgery is chin repositioning surgery?

How chin repositioning surgery is performed

Chin repositioning surgery is, as the name suggests, a procedure that cuts only the chin tip (the frontmost part of the mandible) and moves it backward.

It has the advantages of shorter surgery time, faster recovery, and less burden from hospitalization.

So for mild protruding jaws, or cases where the chin shape appears especially prominent, it can be a very good option.

Chin repositioning surgery case (1)

Chin repositioning surgery case (2)

Chin repositioning surgery case (3)

The clear limitations of chin repositioning surgery

The problem is that this surgery deals only with the chin tip. Chin repositioning surgery has clear limitations in the following cases.

1. When the entire lower jaw bone is large

Moving only the chin backward does not change the size or angle of the entire mandible.

From the side, the chin may look slightly set back, but protrusion around the mouth and the strong angle of the square jaw often remain.

2. When there is an accompanying bite problem

A significant number of patients with a protruding jaw already have malocclusion.

In such cases, moving only the chin does not change chewing function, does not resolve the bite problem, and may place long-term stress on the jaw joint.

3. Limited change in appearance when speaking

From the front, it may look fine, but when smiling or speaking, or when the facial expression changes from the side, there can still be an awkward feeling.

This is because only the chin tip has been moved, while the central axis of the face has not changed.

Then what surgery is needed?

Double jaw surgery method

The key to correcting a protruding jaw is not simply to move the jaw back, but to restore the balance between the upper and lower jaws.

Through double jaw surgery, the upper and lower jaws are adjusted at the same time, improving both function (bite) and aesthetics, and it can be the most fundamental solution for skeletal protruding jaw. Of course, it is true that the scope of surgery is larger and the burden is greater.

But when there is a definite skeletal problem, it creates a stable result that chin repositioning surgery can never achieve.

Mandibular surgery method

When overgrowth of the lower jaw is clear, mandibular surgery can adjust the position of the entire lower jaw, not just the chin tip.

In such cases as well, it can create a much more natural side profile than chin repositioning surgery.

The most important thing in protruding jaw correction is this: “Is my face a problem of just the chin tip, or is it a balance problem of the entire facial skeleton?” Chin repositioning surgery is certainly a good operation. But it is not the answer for every protruding jaw.

There are quite a few real cases where patients were satisfied at first, but over time still felt a protruding-jaw impression, or the chin looked protruded again depending on the camera angle. In mild cases, it can be a good choice, but if there is a skeletal problem, its limitations must be clearly recognized.

If you are considering protruding jaw surgery, an accurate diagnosis should come before choosing the procedure.

That is the most important first step toward a result you won’t regret.

Thank you.