A Fatty Flap Taken From the Double Chin for Chin Enhancement: a New Surgical Technique
Condition: Adiposity; Micrognathism
MeSH terms: Micrognathism
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The double chin is a troublesome component of the lower third of the face. It gives an
      embarrassing and unpleasant facial appearance to both men and women leading them to ask for
      liposuction. Moreover, a "receding chin" causes blunting of the cervico-mental angle, a
      fleshy appearing neck, a disproportion in the profile line of the face with a prominent
      looking nose, and an irregular mandibular border. This study is about an innovative surgical
      procedure: Instead of doing liposuction of the double chin, the investigators used the fat of
      this area as a flap to improve a "receding chin". hence both the double chin and the receding
      chin are treated.
    

Detailed description: 
      the surgical technique was performed on 10 participants. written informed consent was
      obtained from all the participants.

      Description of the surgical technique:

      The investigators began by delineating the undesirable subplatysmal fat located in the
      submental region, just below the subcutaneous fat. The skin redundancy assessed by the pinch
      test was excised. Under general anesthesia, an incision was made behind the submental crease
      followed by the excision of the skin excess. The subplatysmal fatty compartment was
      individualized through a subcutaneous dissection. Then, the lower part of the subplatysmal
      fat was cut to start its separation from the platysma muscle, thus obtaining a real
      vascularized fatty flap. This flap could be folded on itself, then easily turned over to be
      fixed on the thin layer of the pre-muscular fat overlying the chin. Hemostasis was performed
      correctly avoiding the establishment of drainage.

      chin projection and submental rejuvenation were obtained. The advancement of the chin ranged
      from 3,5 to 12 millimeters. The stability of the translated fat was observed after surgery
      for more than two years.
    

Intervention name(s): chin enhancement with a fatty flap sculpted from the double chin
Intervention type(s): Procedure
Intervention description(s): Under general anesthesia, an incision was made behind the submental crease followed by the excision of the skin excess. The preplatysmal fatty compartment was individualized through a subcutaneous dissection. Then, the lower part of the preplatysmal fat was cut to start its separation from the platysma muscle, thus obtaining a real vascularized fatty flap. This flap could be folded on itself, then easily turned over to be fixed on the muscular layer of the chin.
Other intervention name(s): submental fatty flap treating the double chin and correcting the micrognathia
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: The same surgical procedure was performed on 10 participants. These participants had a double chin with skin redundancy and a receding chin. The result was evaluated with photos and chin advancement was measured with a Vernier caliper.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Retrognathia; Mandibular advancement; Adipose tissue; Cervicoplasty