[The contribution of genioplasty in esthetic surgery of the face].

The chin position in overall facial aesthetics is well known and it has an important influence on personality and relations with others. For most plastic surgeons, genioplasty is limited to chin advancement with alloplastic implants. Sliding horizontal osteotomy of the mandibular symphysis is not well known: the technique is simple, fast and safe. Indications are multiple (augmentation, reduction, straightening, lengthening). Improvement is both aesthetic and functional (labial gap). In deficiencies of the submental region, genioplasty may be compared to muscular transposition. Several cases of aesthetic and orthognathic surgery are presented to emphasize the value of the procedure.