Can I Reverse A Zygomatic Sandwich Osteotomy?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a Zygomantic Sandwich Osteotomy 1 year ago. I want to reverse it and not do anything else. My face became somehow “bloated” and I don’t like it. I also had SARPE. I know, that a genioplasty would also improve my face, but that is not a concern at this moment. 

A: Bone rarely grows over the ZSO osteotomy fixation site. And whatever bone growth around the plates and screws that is going to occur has already occurred by now. Reversal of ZSO involves cutting out the healed bone graftand putting the cheekbone back from whence it came.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana