MANDIBULAR SETBACK OSTEOTOMY WITH REDUCTION CHEILOPLASTY

ABSTRACT

The face and notably the lips are important structures not only of aestheticvalue but also for expression, vibrancy and vitality. Sometimes we are encountered with the functional and aesthtetic lip problems especially in the patients with mandibular prognathism, such as excessive vermilion exposure, lip incompetence and hyperactivity of mentalis muscle. The etiologic factors are usually related to excessive anterior facial height, secondary to the abnormal development of perioral muscle, salivary gland and the swelling of lymphatic gland. Sometimes orthognathic surgery (mandibular setback osteotomy) alone is not accepted regarding to aesthetic value, there is likely to be a corresponding interest in adjunctive procedures such as genioplasty and soft tissue procedures. This article urges the incorporation of reduction cheiloplasty. It is a relatively minor procedure that can be easily reproducible and yields excellent, predictatable results with few complications. We treated two patients who have excessive vermilion exposure and marked abnormal lip eversion using reduction cheiloplasty combined with mandibular setback osteotomy, followed by improved facial harmony and patients were pleased.