Esthetic contour analysis of the submental cervical region: a study based on ideal subjects and surgical patients.

A cephalometric analysis of the submental-cervical region was carried out by examining and comparing 16 white adults who had ideal submental-cervical esthetics with 16 adult orthognathic surgery patients who were treated by submental lipectomy or liposuction and various orthognathic surgical procedures. A normative data base of the submental-cervical region was derived from the ideal subject group. The submental-cervical morphology of the preoperative patients differed significantly from the ideal subjects. The submental-cervical angle (Sm-Ce) and the submental soft tissue thickness at C point (IBM-Sm) presented the greatest disparity between the ideal subjects (118.0 degrees, 28.0 mm) and the preoperative patients (158.3 degrees, 42.1 mm, each P < .001). After surgery, Sm-Ce and IBM-Sm decreased to 132.8 degrees (P < .001) and 28.7 mm (P < .001), respectively. By the end of 6 months postoperative, the mean values of Sm-Ce and IBM-Sm were 131.1 degrees and 28.6 mm. The submental soft tissue thickness of the patients 6 months after surgery was not statistically different from the ideal subjects (each P > .05). Orthognathic surgical procedures with concomitant submental lipectomy or liposuction had a significant effect on the contour of the submental and cervical soft tissues.