Postoperative changes of the soft tissue profile after mandibular vestibulolingual sulcoplasty with free skin grafting.

Soft tissue changes of the upper and lower lips and the chin after mandibular vestibulolingual sulcoplasty with free skin grafting have been evaluated between one and five years postoperatively. Increases in chin prominence averaging 2.5 mm appeared within the first year after the operation. Prominence of the chin then remained unchanged at least through five years. A mean decrease in the height of the lower lip of 2.6 mm was found. These changes are possible complications of mandibular vestibulolingual sulcoplasty with free skin grafting, and must be considered in the final choice of preprosthetic surgery to be performed on a given patient.