title: Soft tissue thickness changes after correcting Class III malocclusion with bimaxillar surgery.
abstract: THE AIM OF THIS STUDY was to evaluate and analyse soft tissue thickness changes after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Riga Stradins University, 20 Dzirciema, Riga LV 1007, Latvia. aabeltins@navigator.lv
authors.forename: Andris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abeltins
authors.forename: Gundega
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jakobsone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000601:surgery*; D008334:Mandible / Q000254:growth & development / Q000601:surgery*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000254:growth & development / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus / Q000379:methods; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D055815:Young Adult