Can A Custom Wraparound Jaw Implant Elongate The Lower Third Of The Face?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I´m a 42 year old male interested in getting custom-made wrap around jaw (and chin) implants. While considered reasonably good-looking, I´ve always been lacking in self-confidence owing to what I perceive as receding, narrow chin and weak, underdeveloped, receding lower jaw. To address the aforementioned – I´d had a Medpor two-piece chin implant (5mm projection) inserted back in 2008. As it failed to address any one of the described issues, I´ve had it removed in 2015 and replaced with a large silicone chin implant, which, alas, also proved insufficient and inadequate in providing me with a full, robust, chin and lower jaw. To add to the existing problem, the implant also rotated downwards and suffice to say it doesn´t sit properly in its pocket. Since then I´ve tried to treat the receding jaw with fat transplant along the lines of my jaw but that failed to give me that chiselled and robust look the lower jaw should project.

That custom wrap around jaw and chin implant should address

1. receding chin – projection

2. narrow chin – width

3. “short” chin – vertical length

4. depressed jowls – projection

5. receding, underdeveloped lower jaw – projection, width …

Is that achievable? Can wrap around implants “elongate” the lower third of my face the same way Chin-Wing can? Since I have a fairly pronounced case of receding chin, would it be possible in one procedure to remove my silicone chin implant do genioplasty AND on top of that insert wrap around jaw and chin implants? Or is that rather too ambitious? The reason for asking is that I´d rather skip the hustle of undertaking several trips all the way from Sweden, Europe. Also, would fat transplant interfere in any way with the custom made wrap around implant, at least in terms of blunting the final results? If so, should/can it be removed during the surgery?

Finally, would it be possible to get an approximate cost estimate for the surgery at this point?

Of course, I do have more questions, especially in relation to patient safety (for patients outside the US), results, recovery, accommodation during my stay etc., but let us leave those for another time.

Thank You!

Looking forward to Your answers.

A:What you are describing by what you want to address is exactly what a custom wrap around jawline implant does. What it can achieve dimensionally is far superior to the chin wing osteotomy. Your surgical history describes exactly what the limitations of the procedures you have done for lower third of the face augmentation are. The only question is where the custom jawline implant is needed by itself (with simultaneous chin implant removal) or whether your chin augmentation needs as such that it is better to combine a sliding genioplasty with the custom jawline implant. That determination will require photographic imaging of your face as well as a 3D CT scan. Your fat grafts do not need to be removed nor so they pose any limitations in the result as they are likely of low volume.

When you get a chance please send me some facial pictures so I can begin the imaging process. The 3D CT scan can be done in your country as my many Swedish patients get in their geographic area.

All surgical planning is done in a virtual manner so you only come here one time for the surgery. Followups are also done virtually.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon