Evaluation and prediction of the facial appearance after surgical correction of mandibular hyperplasia.

The response of the entire facial soft tissue to correction of mandibular hyperplasia was evaluated in 25 patients by moiré topography. Postoperative changes were quantitatively analyzed by a computer-aided superimposition technique. Posterior displacements occurred in the lower third of the face. A marked retraction was observed around the chin, but the changes gradually decreased in the coronal and posterior directions with distance from the chin. The upper lip was slightly reduced; however, no direct effect was found in the cheeks. The results of this study constitute a database that, if used in conjunction with an interactive imaging system, would allow surgeons to predict accurately the postoperative appearance of the patient.