Temporal Implants

Q: Dr. Eppley, I hope this email finds you well. I have always been self conscious of my small head and weak Jaw. I recently had custom jaw and chin implants placed 7 months ago. I am happy with the results, especially with the chin, but would like to go with something bigger at the jaw with more support at the side between the jaw and chin. I assume I would need an inferior drop to the jaw, where my prior implants had none.  I wanted to know how feasible this is to do from a safety standpoint and how the recovery would be compared to the original?

Regarding my forehead, it narrows inward and is concave compared to my zygomatic arch. I saw that you perform temporal implants with amazing results. I just wanted to know if these implants will feel natural once they are placed?

Finally, what kind of costs am I looking at for these procedures? I would want custom implants again for the chin/jaw but I don’t know what you would recommend for the temporal area. I would of course defer to you for both decisions. Finally, how much would these procedures cost in total if done together versus done staged? 

A: Thank you for your inquiry. I would need to see pictures of you to give specific answers but I can provide the following general comments.

Since you have indwelling jaw angle implants in place that do not appear to provide any vertical elongation, new jaw angles can be placed. It helps that you have existing pocket so, in theory, the swelling and recovery would be less. (I assume your custom implants are made of silicone. Releasing the implant pocket and dropping the jaw angles down further is not a safety concern.

Based on your description of your temporal deficiency, it sounds like it goes all the way up to the forehead. Thus what you need would be what I call extended and Zone 1 and 2 temporal implants. All such temporal implants are placed on top of the muscle but under the fascia. Patients do not report any problems with such temporal implants feeling unnatural.

As for cost I am a but unclear as to how your current chin and jaw implants were made when you say custom. I assume this was done off of a 3D CT scan. If so that same scan can be used again. I will have my assistant Camille pass along the cost of the procedures if done together during the same surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana