Loading article content
Dreaming of a youthful appearance is common, but for individuals with mandibular retrognathism, the desire is often to appear more mature rather than childlike.
The mandible is the last facial bone to mature. During childhood, the chin remains recessed and typically begins developing around primary school age—sometimes even later, into middle school. As the chin's curve emerges, it contributes to a more mature appearance. Without this development, the face can look incomplete or youthful.
Genioplasty offers limited help for severe chin retraction. Using artificial implants to correct this often results in unnatural curves, making it a less recommended option.
Simple artificial implants do not effectively address chin retraction.
Jaw surgery, however, provides a comprehensive solution.
When Emma visited, I initially misjudged her age, assuming she was still in college due to her underdeveloped chin. Additionally, her protruding palate bone affected her lip shape and made her mouth appear unnatural when closed.
Through jaw surgery, we addressed both issues: the upper jaw bone was moved backward to correct the protrusion, while the lower jaw bone was advanced to resolve the underdevelopment. This also improved the alignment of the upper jaw bones. On her follow-up visit, Emma appeared more mature and aligned with her actual age.