If you had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a child, and the disease affected the joints in your jaw, chances are that your jaw is misaligned, underdeveloped, or both. Unfortunately, this can make people who have had JRA feel self-conscious about their faces, as JRA can prematurely fuse the joint(s) that act as a hinge in the jaw, causing it to grow crookedly or not as much as it would've under normal, healthy circumstances. Thankfully, there are some cosmetic procedures that can make your jaw appear more normal and symmetrical, which may improve how you feel about yourself.
Chin Augmentation
One of the classic symptoms of an underdeveloped jaw due to JRA is a small chin that doesn't protrude normally from the neck. If you look at yourself from a profile perspective, and your chin immediately slopes downward into your neck, your chin may need a boost. Thankfully, improving the appearance of your chin doesn't require an intense surgical procedure.
Chin augmentation is performed by cosmetic surgeons who can perform the whole procedure under local anesthesia. An implant is designed to mold to your existing jaw and chin bones and is sculpted to give your chin the pronounced appearance you're hoping for. Surgeons attach the implant to your chin by creating a small incision and sliding the implant in, so the procedure is generally short and doesn't create a large scar. The results are immediate, and your chin and overall profile will look better as soon as the procedure is finished.
Liposuction
For some people who've had JRA, having a defined jaw line may seem like an impossible dream. If both sides of the jaw joint fuse before growth was complete, it may result in a smaller, less noticeable jaw line that can easily be hidden by even the smallest amount of fat.
Luckily, a cosmetic surgeon can easily fix this problem with liposuction. Whether you're carrying some extra weight or you're extremely fit, liposuction can remove excess fat from your face, making the bones of your jaw line appear more noticeable under your skin.
Jaw Line Implants
Like chin augmentation, plastic surgeons can create entire jaw line implants that help to emphasize the appearance of your jaw. These implants sit on top of your jaw bones and can be made to not only give you a stronger and more defined jaw line but also to balance out the two sides if one side of your jaw is less developed than the other. Since jaw implants are larger than chin implants, you may need to undergo general anesthesia. However, the procedure can generally still be performed by creating small incisions and sliding the implant into place, rather than cutting along the entire jaw line. This means that you'll heal more quickly, and any scarring will be kept to a minimum.
If you've had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and it's affected your appearance, you don't have to put up with it. With these simple corrective procedures, you can improve the appearance of your jaw and chin, without undergoing major surgery to rebuild the bones of your jaw and the long recovery time that accompanies it.
For more information, contact John Gatti MD or a similar medical professional.
Share15 December 2015
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