Morphologic changes in the perioral soft tissues in patients with mandibular hyperplasia using a laser system for three-dimensional surface measurement.

Soft tissue changes following correction of mandibular hyperplasia were studied using a laser system for three-dimensional (3-D) surface measurement. Twelve subjects (7 men and 5 women; age 17-48 years) were included in this study. Bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomies were performed in ten patients and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomies in two patients. Pre- and postoperative images, obtained with the laser system, were superimposed to determine distribution of changes in the perioral soft tissue. Mean volume changes were 1032.3 mm3 in the Subnasale-UL area and 8700.9 mm3 in the LL-Menton area. Changes in both areas were symmetrical around the mid-sagittal plane in some patients and asymmetrical in others. This measurement system provided a simple method of determining 3-D changes in soft tissue following surgery and might be useful for clinical purposes.