Changes in the facial profile following correction for mandibular prognathism.

A retrospective study of 33 patients was undertaken to investigate the changes occurring in the facial profile following surgical correction of mandibular prognathism. The parameters measured included surface area, shift of selected points, facial outline length and directional measurement in relation to the sella-nasion plane. The calculation of linear regression equations enabled prediction of the shift of selected soft tissue points and facial outline length. It is considered, that the analysis provides an accurate picture of the behaviour of the soft tissues in response to a given amount of bony movement following correction of the deformity.