A chin that droops over the jawline is called a ptotic
chin
The chin is the forward pointed part of the anterior mandible (List_of_human_anatomical_regions#Regions, mental region) below the lower lip. A fully developed human skull has a chin of between 0.7 cm and 1.1 cm.
Evolution
The presence of a we ...
. Ptosis of the tip of the chin is common and can be seen in persons of any age. It is frequently seen in older patients but not infrequently, it is seen in young people as a familial trait. More commonly, however, the droop develops over time as the chin pad slides downward along with the soft tissues elsewhere in the
face
The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may aff ...
and
neck
The neck is the part of the body on many vertebrates that connects the head with the torso. The neck supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that carry sensory and motor information from the brain down to the rest of the body. In ...
.
Surgery
A variety of techniques have been described to correct
ptosis of the chin. One technique uses a small intraoral incision to place a U-shaped
Prolene
Prolene is a synthetic, monofilament, nonabsorbable polypropylene suture. It is indicated for skin closure and general soft tissue approximation and ligation. Its advantages include minimal tissue reactivity and durability. Disadvantages inc ...
suture that gathers the soft tissue of the chin and elevates it above the lower border of the
mandibular
In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower tooth, teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movabl ...
symphysis.
See also
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Ptosis (breasts)
Ptosis or sagging of the female breast is a natural consequence of aging. The rate at which a woman's breasts drop and the degree of ptosis depends on many factors. The key factors influencing breast ptosis over a woman's lifetime are cigarette ...
*
Ptosis (eyelid)
Ptosis, also known as blepharoptosis, is a drooping or falling of the upper eyelid. The drooping may be worse after being awake longer when the individual's muscles are tired. This condition is sometimes called "lazy eye", but that term normall ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ptosis (Chin)
Human anatomy