Can I Modify A Custom Jawline Implant?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a custom jawline implant placed three months ago and I think it is a fine result. However, I would like to make just a few changes to the size and shape of the chin implant portion. Can this be done? Is it a complicated surgery? Recovery time? Can these modifications be made to the original implants or do you believe we need to design a new chin/jaw implant? Thank you and I appreciate all your help.

A: Even with perfect placement and an uncomplicated surgery and recovery, I find that it is not rare that patient’s want to change slightly or modify their custom jawline implant. The good news is that this is a very simple surgery and so much easier than the first time. With an established pocket it is very easy to remove and replace it with very little swelling and no pain. If the initial recovery was a 10, this one will be a 1 or 2. The key question is how to change the implant. It is choice between using the existing one and simply carving it down in the selected areas or making a new one with the new dimensions. Each way has its own advantages and disadvantages being hand carving down the existing one eliminates any new implant cost but requires a good artistic eye to do the changes and keep it smooth. A new implant absolutely ensures smoothness and the exact changes in the right location but incurs the cost of the implant. The difference in the two options is that of the implant cost only.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana