Blog

Q: Dr. Eppley, the question is that I have a flat head. I mean the back of my head is very flat and it really bothers me so that I can’t have short hair. I look very funny or deformed if my hair is too short, what can I do about it? I went through […]

Q: Dr. Eppley,  my first pregnancy was one very big baby for my little body. My stomach was completely stretched out like a big balloon. It got so big at the top of my stomach that it fractured the end of my sternum. It now sticks out and I am told it is called the […]

Q: Dr. Eppley,  my jaw is small, not much of a jaw line, and have a slight receding chin. Wondering if an implant could achieve a balanced/symmetrical look or if I should pursue Orthognathic Surgery. Interested in Rhinoplasty as well. How long would recovery time be? Would the implant be permanent? A:In looking at your […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, when using diced cartilage graft for nose augmentation do you overgraft to compensate for potential resorption?  Did you use a columellar strut on your nasal augmentations and do you do anything for wide and flared nostrils? In some rib graft rhinoplasty results, the nose looks pinched. I have read that some doctors […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have found your website to be very helpful.  I was wondering if I could please make an inquiry on an important personal matter. My son is now 5 years old. He had a laceration in his scalp when he was 3, and the stitches were made by an emergency room doctor (not plastic […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 37 years old and although I still have a fairly young looking face, I am beginning to develop a few bothersome issues. I am beginning to get some marionette lines and the very beginnings of jowling. I have tried some injectable fillers to improve these issues and all they did […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, what is the best way to correct skin discoloration above upper lip and to fix lines? A: Both hyperpigmentation and vertical wrinkles line of the upper lip are challenging problems. There is no ‘one best way’ or one single method that will work for every women afflicted with these lip concerns. Upper […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I researched and read many articles and visited many websites before I had my Bullhorn procedure performed. Unfortunately, I don’t believe my plastic surgeon had much experience with the procedure. At first he removed an eliptical piece of skin inside the nostril (“italian lip lift”) which did nothing to decrease the distance […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve had two procedures done 20 yrs ago. I don’t know the name of the procedure but I had a large amount of gums showing when I used to smile. They cut my upper jaw and raised it up, so I didn’t have the “gummy” smile. I then had my chin moved […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am considering getting liposuction on my stomach and waistline but am curious how do you know how much fat to remove. In fact, why don’t or can’t you take all the fat that is there? I don’t want to you can just take it all? I have been searching for answer […]

Q: Dr. Eppley,I am really considering butt augmentation (but I’m nervous).  I am a 33 year old women, who was born with one leg longer than the other and mild scoliosis.  It was no problem in the begining because it was barely noticeable.  Now, however, my shorter leg is much bigger than the longer leg, […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a long-time reader of your blog and it has been a terrific resource over the years, so thanks for all the great work that you do! I have a concern about the jaw angle implants I had placed about seven weeks ago. I wanted and thought I was getting Medpor […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 33 years old and  my cheeks are coming forward creating deep folds around mouth. I hate fillers as they don’t help, they make the cheeks look worse. I like the look of the cheeks slightly pulled back giving me a more youthful look. Is this something you could do on […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a mentalis muscle resuspension about 10 years ago. This was due to complications from a sliding genioplasty that made my chin huge, and a subsequent reduction a few years later. The suspension worked well but my lower gumline has slowly receded to the point where a few front teeth may […]

Q: Dr. Eppley,  why is diced cartilage used in rhinoplasty? What is the risk of cartilage graft resorption in the nose? Does diced cartilage resorb less than regular cartilage? In using diced cartilage wrapped in surgicel, I keep coming upon studies showing that when compared to a patient’s fascia, it is much more often reabsorbed, at a […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a gummy smile procedure done about 3 years ago. I have attached a link so you can see what type of procedure the doctor did. Given that the soft tissue procedure did not work, I am thinking that I need the bone surgery instead. How long is the maxillary impaction […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello, I am interested in non-surgical rhinoplasty as well as a small amount of Botox. What is the cost per unit of Botox and the approximate cost of non-surgical rhinoplasty for a dorsal hump. Thanks! A: My assumption is that you are inquiring about 12 to 16 units of Botox for the glabellar […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve had silicone chin and jaw implants in for 3 months. However, I’m thinking of getting a bigger chin implant and a slightly smaller jaw implant. How difficult would the revision be and how much would such revision surgeries on cost on average (i.e. would they be much more expensive)? A: With […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello! I used to have my bellybutton pierced around a year ago. I loved it until it got severely infected and I was forced to take it out. However, now there is this medium sized swollen scar where my piercing used to be. Is there anyway that the doctor could remove this […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a male 35 years old and I am interested in having facial implants. What’s the process to get them? What is the period of time to get healed after the surgery? And how much will it cost? A: Your questions as posed are both vague and impossible to answer. Facial […]

Q: Dr. Eppley,   I am a 25 old year guy and I am really not  satisfied with my looks. I am looking to improve upon my face for a more youthful look .I know it’s not wise to compare yourself to others as everyone’s face is unique but I think the most distracting feature of […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I write to you to inquire if Lefort 1 osteotomy can be done for cosmetic purposes ( for instance: if a person considers herself to have a long mid face). I know my question is vain and somewhat selfish, but it is something that really bothers me about my appearance. Thank you […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would love to show less gum when I smile. I have tried Botox and it has slightly improved the amount of gum shown, however I would like a more permanent solution. I have had repositioning which involved sewing the lip down, and although it looked nice for a while, it appeared […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would like to ask about the inconsistency that I see and you have talked about in jaw angle implant outcomes. For some reason, results seem to be very inconsistent with this procedure even with the same  plastic surgeon. Could you explain why this happens? A: Jaw angle implants are a very […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I definitely have come to the conclusion Silicone/Goretex, and a  foreign implant of any sortfor my rhinoplasty  is not the route I want to go. Not only am I worried about the complications as far as infections, extrusions, and any deformity it might bring to the skin if it ever decides to […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, my three year-old son has an 8 x 10 cm parieto-occipital defect after a craniectomy. I know there are numerous methods of skull reconstruction such as bone cements, bone grafts and computer-generated implants. Is the computer-generated implant the best method? I also have few more queries: How safe is bone cement in […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have some questions about custom jaw implants. First, can they not be made of Medpor material as opposed to silicone? Secondly, what is the limit of vertical lengthening of the chin. I have read that if you lengthen it very much you will disrupt the mentalis muscle sling. How do you […]

Q: Dr. Eppley,  I am 24 years old and am needing a breast lift with implants. I am looking for the least amount of breast scarring as possible but also the best results. What type of breast lift do you think is best for me? I have seen scars from the periareolar breast lifts and […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a cranioplasty on August 2012 after having a craniotomy in June.  A of now I have temporal wasting of the muscle on my right side and a serious indention where the muscle should be. My neurosurgeon says thats because the temporal muscle has fallen down and is being clinched in […]

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am considering having jaw surgery.  We have email conversed before and I am impressed with your perception and knowledge.  I hope you will help me in my search for answers. I have attached photos for you to review if you so choose. I wore braces in the past and had no […]