Surgery of the aging chin.

A technique is described for surgery of the aging chin that I use in every rhytidectomy patient. A mentalis-periosteal flap is developed, advanced downward, and sutured in a "vest over pants" manner over the platysma muscle under the submental crease. The submental crease is obliterated by the double layer of muscle created by the muscle closure. The same technique is used in chin reductions and chin augmentations, as well as normal aging ptosis of the chin. Since muscle and fat are never excised, one can use this simple procedure on every face lift without fear of creating a contour deformity. This technique gives consistently good results but should only be used when combined with face lift surgery which includes a wide cervical dissection.