Mentalis Resuspension Case Study (Chin Dimpling / Lip Incompetence / Mentalis Resuspension / Facial Contouring Side Effects)

Most patients who have undergone two or more chin surgeries have sagging of the mentalis muscle and

lips, which makes it difficult to close the lips without straining.

As a result, when the mouth is closed, pebble-like dimpling forms on the chin and the lips roll inward (inversion).

When these problems arise, the most efficient way to correct them is

mentalis resuspension.

PH

1) 2017: Mandibular surgery (?)

2) 2019.2: V-line chin surgery (T-osteotomy)

3) 2019.8: Double-jaw surgery

4) 2020: Chin shaving

5) 2022.7: Chin augmented with bone cement

6) 2022.12: Mentalis resuspension through an intraoral incision (another clinic)  

CC

Although mentalis resuspension had been performed at another clinic 6 months earlier, 

closing the mouth was difficult and required straining, and the chin felt tight and stiff.

P/E

Walnut-like dimpling formed on the chin when the mouth was closed. When the lips were relaxed, even the lower gums were visible.

The intraoral incision scar was located in the vestibular sulcus. 

(This shows that the mentalis muscle and soft tissue had sagged downward.)

When the mouth was closed, the lips were rolled inward. (Inverted)

OP

Mentalis Resuspension

Patient's Condition

After 5 jawbone surgeries, the chin had shortened

and the chin ptosis was extreme, so 6 months earlier she had mentalis resuspension (?) through an intraoral incision at another clinic,

but with little change, she came to our clinic.

The sagging of the chin and lips was severe enough that even the base of the gums was visible.

In addition, the chin bone was short in height, leaving little distance to move the mentalis muscle upward,

and the intraoral surgical scar lay in the vestibular sulcus, with a long, deep distance from the teeth to the sulcus.

This raised serious concern about whether it could be elevated far enough.

Surgical Plan

The incision was made along the previous incision scar in the vestibular sulcus,

the gingiva was dissected by about 5 mm to gain distance for upward elevation,

and the mentalis muscle was then moved as far upward as possible and fixed to the alveolar bone.

Before Surgery

 When the mouth was closed, the lips rolled inward (Inverted), and walnut-like dimpling was visible on the chin.

After Surgery

 The lips now turn outward (Everted), and she closes them comfortably without walnut-like dimpling.

Before Surgery

The lips were about 10 mm apart, and even the gums were visible.

After Surgery

The lips are now about 3 mm apart, with 2-3 mm of the teeth showing. On the patient's right side, 

the lips had been farther apart, but the difference decreased markedly after surgery.

After surgery, she became able to close her lips without straining them.

This is the relaxed state.

A marked difference in the lip gap can be seen.

As the sagging chin tip was lifted, the contour of the chin became more slanted and its height increased.

The submental length shortened, and the height of the chin increased.

mechanism of mentalis muscle drooping / Jaw surgery / mouthcomfortably / periodicconsultation /augmentationgenioplasty

frontchin / frontjaw / witch’s chin /chin strain