Suprahyoid myotomy from an extraoral approach

On several occasions, the suprahyoid muscles have been detached from the lingual surface of the mandible at the same time as sagittal split advancement procedures in treatment of class II malocclusion and/or open bite patients. We usually perform suprahyoid myotomy through a degloving type incision (the Steinhauser technique) when genioplasty is planned. However, sometimes genioplasty is not necessary. In such cases, we perform the myotomy through a small submental skin incision. This method has some advantages: 1. Surgical stress is less and operating time is shorter than the Steinhauser method. 2. The risk of detachment of the major portion of the genioglossus muscles is lower than in the Allison method. We present this procedure of suprahyoid myotomy carried out from an external approach.