Surgical placement of a chin cleft concomitant with genioplasty.

This article presents a surgical technique for creation of a chin cleft in conjuction with advancement genioplasty. The technique is simple. However, the cleft should be made deeper than seems aesthetically desirable at the time of surgery because healing and muscle function will decrease the final depth of the depression. The depth that can be anticipated can be determined by the degree of tension of the subcutaneous sutures. Minor recontouring of bone may be necessary when there is a prominent bony apex to the symphysis. The actual chin cleft is a soft tissue phenomenon, rather than a bone cleavage point. It is not suggested that this procedure be offered to every patient, but familiarity with the technique is needed should there be a request to perform such surgery.