A Simple and Reliable Method of Narrowing Genioplasty Using Biodegradable Screws

The T-osteotomy technique is widely performed to improve lower face aesthetics. During this narrowing genioplasty procedure, metal fixtures are required to rigidly fix the bone segments. Specifically, the use of biodegradable osteofixations has become a viable surgical option as more patients now have the desire to surreptitiously undergo aesthetic surgery. The present report describes a narrowing genioplasty procedure with the use of biodegradable screws only. When the T-osteotomy technique was performed to narrow the chin, the bone segments were first temporarily fixed with a 4-hole titanium plate and screws. Later during the operation, the plate and screws were replaced with 4 biodegradable screws with bicortical fixation. Completion of bone healing can be confirmed by follow-up radiographs taken 6 months after the surgery. Despite increasing demand for the use of absorbable materials in aesthetic surgeries, biodegradable fixation systems have not been widely used for aesthetic surgeries due to a perception of high cost, inconvenient manipulation, prolonged operative time, and suspicions on long-term stability. Our novel method of using only biodegradable screws allows such limitations to be easily overcome by surgeons.