With a U-shaped or relatively square face, there is strong development of the lateral sides of the mandible, or jaw bone, in the area of the chin. In some patients, the chin may be vertically short and not contribute much to downward projection. In such case, a chin implant may yield the desired improvement.

U-Line Square Chin

In other patients, the chin may already be well-developed but overcome by the strong competition from the even more well-developed bone on each side. Placing a chin implant would be undesirable because it would make the chin appear too long.

V-line mandibular reduction is a relatively new method designed for this anatomic situation. Other mandibular surgery (described in the Jaw Reduction section) is directed at reducing the angle of the mandible near the ear and does nothing at all to change bone contour at the front of the mandible beneath the mouth.

V-line surgery allows for reduction of the chin to a more slender and oval shape without increasing its length. The surgery also reduces the overly strong bone flanking each side of the chin, thus transforming the more masculine U shape to a sharper and more feminine V shape.

Cuts made through bone (black lines), bone removed (red areas), remaining bone repositioned and stabilized
U-Line Before		V-Line After