Facial Reshaping Surgery

Q: Dr. Eppley, We had previously discussed a facial reshaping surgery consisting of verical jaw angle implants, infraorbital-malar implants and a glabellar implant. Last week I had a second consult with another plastic surgeon that also specializes in facial implants as well. He offered very similar plan to you with only minor differences. I do have a few questions/confirmations i wanted to bring up after looking over the surgery plan:

1. The jaw implants for me would have both vertical and horizontal dimension?

2. Are the vertical and horizontal dimensions given in mm’s?  if so, what are the ranges of each dimension?  what size would you use for me?

3. The semi custom infraorbital-malar implants will be 5mm?

4. The other surgeon recommended a subperiosteal midface lift with the infraorbital-malar implants. Would you also do the subperiosteal midface lift?  

5. How many screws to secure jaw implants?  infraorbital-malar implants?  the glabellar implant?

Thanks for your time and answers.

A: In answer to your questions:

1) Every standard jaw angle implant style offers both vertical and width augmentation changes. What makes the two basic styles different (vertical vs widening ) is the ratio of the vertical and width dimensions. Widening jaw angle implants provide more width than vertical length. Vertical jaw angle implants offer more vertical length than width.

2) Every facial implant, regardless of style and size, has very specific millimeter measurements which are provided by the manufacturer on their website complete with drawings and measurements. The best jaw angle implant style for you would be vertical jaw angle implants of the ‘large’ size. (11mm vertical, 5mms width)

3) The semi-custom infraorbital-malar implant will be 5mms at its thickest portion.

4) Every infraorbital-malar implant that is placed through a lower eyelid incisional approach is closed with a ‘subperiosteal midface lift’. Some surgeons chose to specifically call it as part of the procedure and even charge a separate fee for it. But, by definition, making the pocket for the implants requires raising a subperiosteal midface pocket to insert the implant. When the tissues are closed over the implant by sutures to the bone this is what constitutes the subperiosteal midface lift. It is an integral part of the procedure, some surgeons just chose to call it a separate procedure.

5) Jaw angle and glabellar implants generally only require one screw. The infraorbital-cheek implant may also only need one or possibly two. The judgment about the total number of screws is made at the time of surgery based on the stability and fit of the implants to the bone. Probably the correct  number of screws will be 8 not 6.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana