Soft tissue thickness changes after correcting Class III malocclusion with bimaxillar surgery.

UNLABELLED THE AIM OF THIS STUDY was to evaluate and analyse soft tissue thickness changes after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty three consecutive patients (54 males and 29 females) with Class III malocclusion operated with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery were enrolled in this study. Standardized lateral cephalograms of adequate quality were analysed. RESULTS The mean upper lip thickness decreased as a result of the surgery and statistically significant differences were recorded (p<0.01). The statistically significant difference in the post surgical tissue thickness of the lower lip also was recorded (p<0.05). Subjects with thick upper lips compared to patients with thin upper lips demonstrated greater (0.7 mm) and statistically significant (p<0.01) increase of vertical nasal projection. Vertical growth pattern had an influence only on B point to lower lip distance, which exhibited greater (2.2 mm; p<0.01) decrease during observation period. CONCLUSION It was found differences in the soft tissue responses between patients with thick or thin soft tissues after bimaxillary surgery and it should be taken into account while planning operation.