Can I Reshape My Face By A Simultaneous Rhinoplasty, Chin and Jaw Angle Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, My goals are increased horizontal projection of my chin( no vertical lengthening)and a more square chin. Jaw angles flared out with augmentation of the angle itself and of the ramus but not the body? ( not necessarily a drop down of the angle itself as I think the angle is low enough currently). Rhinoplasty to decrease the hump in the nose possibly decreasing the width of the bony part of the nose when viewed from the front and the tip refined somewhat( picture with red hat)( My morph( lateral view of my nose in the blue shirt) I admittedly got a bit crazy/unrealistic with the tip of the nose. Finally, liposuction below the lower jaw/chin area to get rid of the adipose tissue that has always been there no matter my weight( a good 10-15 mm in various spots under the jaw/chin when I do a pinch test.) Also, wondering if the chin implant can be placed through an existing scar on my chin from my childhood.( picture added of scar 20 mm long and 10 mm long in the 2nd aspect and around 3 mm of width to the actual scar line( the scar is basically a T shape) Attached are some before and after pictures that I’ve done in photoshop as what I’m kind of looking for in general terms. I don’t know if this is even possible / what would be proportional for my face, but thought I would include them as a rough reference since I’m not there in person currently. My overall goals are increased balance in my face as I think the upper 1/3 of my face/ head is much larger then the lower 1/3. Also, I’m looking to do this with IV/ twilight sedation and not general. I’ve had septoplasty (2004) and a hernia operation in the past with just iv sedation(+ spinal for the hernia sx) and prefer this option. Thanks a lot.

A: Thank you for sending your pictures and doing the array of imaging. My review of the imaging matches fairly well with your goal descriptions and I would agree with much of it with the exception of a few minor variations.

For your chin you seek more horizontal projection, a more square shape in the frontal view and no change in its vertical length That would be possible using a square silicone chin implant, probably of at least 7mm to 9mms in thickness placed through a submental incision. It would not be wise to use your existing scar as it is too small, would become more prominent as the chin is pushed forward and would dive through the mentalis muscle in the process. A scar revision can be done on it but it would not be used to place the implant.

Your jaw angles show width expansion, a sharpening of the angles and no vertical lengthening. That could be accomplised by a 9mms silicone lateral augmentation implant placed directly over the existing angles.

The only comments about potential results with these implants is that the angularity of them (point of the angles and sharpness of the chin corner) may or may not be as sharp/pronounced as you have shown. The other issue is the continuity or smoothness of the jawline from the chin back to the angle. While the ends of a square chin and jaw angle implants will overlap, these overlapping areas are not as thick as the other parts of the implants. This it is not clear that the jawline will be as perfectly smooth from front to back as you have imaged.

The nose can be changed through an open rhinoplasty with a hump reduction and tip narrowing and some mild lift. I think those results are very achieveable.

Lastly, this collection of combined facial structura procedures can be done very well under just IV sedation. These are operations that are best performed under general anesthetic to get the best result.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana