years) exhibiting true Class III dental and skeletal malocclusions were treated orthodontically with the edgewise appliance and extractions of mandibular first premolars together with simultaneous anterior expansion of the maxillary arch. A retrospective cephalometric study was undertaken to determine the soft tissue profile changes at least 6 months postretention. Significant cephalometric changes included decrease in the mandibular incisor protrusiveness by 6.4 mm (P < .001) and accompanying lower lip protrusiveness by 4.4 mm (P < .01), together with a slight forward movement of the maxillary incisors by 1.7 mm (P < .05) and, consequently, a slight increase in upper lip protrusiveness by 1.2 mm (P < .05) and decrease in nasolabial angle (P < .05). The overall improvement in lip profile provided by this mandibular arch contraction/maxillary arch expansion orthodontic appraoch appears to be a viable alternative in mild-to-moderate Class III patients who decline orthognathic surgery.