Custom Jawline Implant vs. Standard Chin and Jaw Angle Implants

Q: Dr. Eppley, Thank you for the informative consultation a few days ago, I am currently in the process of narrowing my choices. I just had a few questions.

1.) What are the odds of long term side effects with genioplasty vs jaw implants? Is one significantly safer than the other?

2.) Would a custom jaw implant benefit my chin as well? If yes, would it benefit my chin to the extent a genioplasty would?

3.) Would a custom jaw implants be much better than standard implants in terms of symmetry?

A: In answer to your questions:

1) A genioplasty (chin) and jaw angle implants carry with them different risks. I am not sure I would ever say one is safer than the other but because the jaw angles involve an implant and the chin is done by moving one’s own bone, jaw angle implants carry a risk of infection than a bony genioplasty does not.

2) By definition a custom jawline implant wraps around the entire jawline from angle to angle and crosses the chin. An implant can create the same amount of horizontal augmentation that a sliding genioiplasty but also can widen the chin which a genioplasty can not do. (it actually makes the chin more narrow from the front view)

3) One of the benefits of a custom jawline implant approach is that it is one piece, using standard implants is a three implant approach. This reduces the potential risk of asymmetry both by its design and placement.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana