Can You Provide Advice On My Custom Facial Implants Designs?

Q: Dr. Eppley, you recently responded to a question I posted on Realself.com and, if you wouldn’t mind, I would like your advice on a matter.

I have recently had a CT scan done as I’m planning on having custom implants made. The only problem at this stage is that they are being made in overseas, were I’m not residing, and also most of the surgeons where I am currently residing, don’t have any software with which to show their patients rough results or possibilities.

I’m aware that I’m not a client, but if you could perhaps just glance over my CT scan and profile shots, I would greatly appreciate it. I would just like to know what implant you would create if you were the surgeon. It would give me something to compare their ideas to so as to get the best possible result. These things are somewhat difficult to coordinate overseas.

Thank you for your time.

A: I would be very suspect of any custom facial implant design process where the planned results and the design used to create it are not made available for you to see. For best results a collaborative relationship about the implant design needs to be preoperatively established between the patient and the surgeon. Given that the revision rate for any custom facial implant averages 33% mainly due to a mismatch between the design and the patients expected aesthetic result from what I observe, this is not how I would have this process done.

Given that you are not my patient, and no such relationship has been established as indicated above, it would not not only be impossible but ill-advised to provide any commentary on your custom facial implant designs.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana