Your Questions

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a custom chin implant but have some questions about it. I’d like to add significant height and projection to my chin (while avoiding a deep labiomental fold). I’d also like to add some slight width to the jaw while maintaining my well-defined cheekbones. To what extent could a custom chin  implant achieve this desired look?

A: A custom chin implant (really a modified jawline implant) is the most effective method for creating the chin projection and slight jawline width that you seek. It is best because one controls the dimensions of the implant in the pre surgical design and allows a smooth jawline to be created from the chin on back to the jaw angles. This is not an effect that any off-the-shelf chin implant design can do.

You will not, however, avoid deepening the labiomental fold (technically the labiomental sulcus) with a custom chin implant. The depth of the fold is a fixed point so any substantial increase in the horizontal projection of the chin, and yours would be considered substantial, will deepen the fold. This can not be avoided short of leaving your chin where it is.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Dr. Eppley, I am interested in facial asymmetry surgery. I have an an asymmetrical face due to irregular growth of the jaw bone. Will the chin reduction on the right side correct it? I also notice that the right side of my face has less soft tissue so will the jaw angle implant balance out my face? Thank you.

A: Your facial asymmetry correction surgery approach certainly appears to be the correct one. Based on your pictures, the right side of the chin is longer and the width of the right jaw angle is more narrow than those two jawline areas on the left side of your face. So a right vertical chin reduction and right lateral width jaw angle implant should create improved facial symmetry. The only question is whether one wants to make the judgments for the amount of vertical chin reduction an the amount of width needed in the jaw angle up to the surgeon’s aesthetic sense or whether to make a more scientific quantitative assessment of them. That may be best done using a 3D CT scan or, at the least, get a panorex and lateral cephalometric x-rays to make some preoperative measurements.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a car accident over a year ago and had a portion of my scalp avulsed. I was missing a long swath of my scalp. I had to have surgery where my scalp was undermined and made into a flap and stapled back together. Everything has healed nicely and I have thick hair which covers the scar. However, there is a noticeable dent and asymmetry with my scalp which looks funny and requires me to grow my hair longer on that side to cover the area, kind of like a small comb over which I am not comfortable with. I am interested in having that area filled to improve the symmetry of my scalp and provide a normal look to the shape of my head. I buzzed my head and provided a picture that you will see attached.

A: Since your original injury was a soft tissue one (scalp) and not loss of bone, the indentation along the line of the original scalp avulsion closure is from a soft tissued defect not a bone defect. Building up the skull is not the solution to solving the scalp dent problem. This is a scalp reconstruction issue. The likely solution is either fat injections to release the scalp scar and build up the dent or open the scar and implant a dermal-fat graft or an alogeneic dermal graft. Either way the scalp tissue needs to be built up or thickened to create a smoother scalp contour.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am currently an A cup and would like to set up a consultation to review my eligibility for breast augmentation. I would like to consider a full B cup. Some information about me – 32 year old female, kidney transplant recipient five years ago and on dialysis for seven years prior to the transplant.I have wanted to have breast augmentation for many years and after a lot of research I have not been able to find anyone locally who has previously done this type of plastic surgery on a kidney transplant recipient. Please let me know your thoughts, I see that you do have previous experience in this specialized procedure.

A: I have done various types of cosmetic surgery in kidney transplant patients from breast augmentation, breast reconstruction, tummy tucks and facelifts. I have not seen any complications from any of these procedures despite the patients having a kidney transplant and being on immunosuppression. I think as long as your transplant doctors so not see a contraindication you should have an uncomplicated postoperative course.

In theory the elective placement of a synthetic device, like in breast augmentation, in a patient on immunosuppression seems one that would be fraught with peril but that has not been my experience.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, As for back of the head surgery (occipital augmentation) I have a few questions? 

1) how much in cm or mm can I expect the head to become rounder using implants? 

2) if the implants get infected how dangerous is it? Can it be prevented or treated?

3) Very important question – So the back of my head is flat but it is not level. The right hand side it is about 1 cm bigger than the left so basically I have Plagiocephaly and brachephly. (I think) Can a good result still be achieved and how? Are you able to shave some bone off the skull to get it to the same level and then insert the implant?

A: Thank you for your inquiry. In answer to your questions about occipital augmentation by an occipital implant:

1) Usually 12 to 15mm is the maximum implant thickness that most scalps will accommodate.

2) I have never seen an occipital augmentation infection. But the implant can be easily removed if needed.

3) With skull asymmetry the implant would only be placed on some side to have the two sides match. In these cases, the best way to make the implant would be from a 3D CT scan to get the best match between the two sides.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hi, I had some questions about cost and procedures for the fat transfer breast augmentation/liposuction. I am 28 year-old Caucasian weighing around 130 lbs and have been doing exercise over the last couple months to reduce my body fat percentage however there are some problem areas that while they decrease I can’t seem to get the results that I want in particular stomach/thighs/triceps areas. Also unfortunately with my overall weight loss I am noticing I am losing volume in my breasts, not a significant amount, but enough to where I am considering the fat transfer from unwanted areas to my chest.

A:Thank you for your inquiry. Fat transfer breast augmentation, while understandably very appealing, is for only a few very well selected patients. First and foremost, one has to have enough fat to be able to do the procedure to make it worthwhile. Being only 130 lbs this already make you a bit suspect in that regard. Then there is the issue of your athleticism and focus on weight loss which bodes very poorly for fat survival and retention. That is why in young athletic fairly lean women fat grafting is often not a viable option. Breast implants offer a more assured outcome and do not prohibit one from any type of physical activity.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I met with a plastic surgery this week for a consultation and asked about the posterior jaw implants. He said no one really does them any more because the implants are known to slip and move a lot. What do you do different to combat this complication? Is this a frequent problem you have dealt with? Thanks.

A: I am afraid that your surgeon is misinformed and not up to date on the most contemporary techniques and use of jaw angle implants. Not only have the styles of jaw angle implants changed but it is now routinue to secure them into place with a single small microscrew. This obviates the entire problem of jaw angle implant slippage after surgery and does a much better job of maintaining intraoperative positioning. There can still be issues with malposition due to intraoperative placement like any other bilateral implant procedure but secure fixation to the bone is the key to obviating the potential movements of jaw angle implants in the submasseteric pocket location.

Along with the understanding that fixation is needed is the development and use of new styles and sizes for jaw angle implants. Vertically lengthening has been an inability to be achieved with older style jaw angle implants.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m a plastic surgeon and I did some internet search on options for treating prominent temporal artery and I came across your opinions and website. I have chatted with a few of my colleagues and seniors and nobody seems to have experience with this ! Have you had success in treating the prominence with temporal artery ligation? I have a bald male patient who is very bothered by the prominence and is looking at surgical options. I would totally appreciate it if you would give me your opinion on the temporal artery ligation procedure.

A: This is a procedure that I have done many times and with good success. It is not, however, performed as has been historically done for temporal artery ligation for temporal arteritis or for temporal artery biopsies. It requires careful tracking of the arterial branches with multiple ligation points to prevent back flow and to get any feeders coming into the main anterior branch of the superficial temporal artery. The other key element of the procedure is that the incisions must not exceed 5mms in size and requires loupe magnification and head light to meticulously work through such small incisions and tie off the small arterial branches. One must also be prepared to venture out into the forehead to get the distal branches and do careful dissections to avoid the frontal branch of the facial nerve.

While not every case of multiple point temporal artery ligation will result in complete elimination of the prominent vessel, it always results in significant reduction in their visibility.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in custom cheek implants. I have sent in a picture of the design I want and where I want it to cover over my cheeks. I appreciate your comments that you think the design is too big and I understahd what you’re saying. But given the cheek implants I currently in place now, and it is a strength that works for a look of health, that is a strength I would hope to keep. Is it that you object to the look of it, the safety of it, or simply that is has not been customary in your practice?

A: I never professionally care what shape or size the custom implant design that a patient wants.  Custom cheek implants would be no different. What I care about with custom facial implants and what I look at carefully in the planning are only two things. First, can I safely make the implants fit into the tissues and close the incisional entrance. Secondly will the implants be too big and the patient will then have a 100% probability of needing a revision to downsize it. Having performed more computer designed custom skull and facial implants that probably any surgeon in the world, of almost every conceivable shape and size, I have a acute awareness of what will work and what will turn into a problem. I am merely trying to guide you in avoiding the latter. The single greatest error when patients provide their design layouts is that they have no understanding of the powerful effect of a custom implant that covers a large surface area over that of what a traditional implant shape does. Custom cheek implants are very powerful in the size you are envisioning and it would be very easy to make them too big, particularly in a more lean face like yours.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would like to do fat transfer to lips from chin and neck and also possibly contour my face. I want my face to have a more defined shape and my lips to be bigger. I think the combination of the two would really make my face look better!

A: While fat injection lip augmentation can be done, there is not enough fat that would be removed from the neck or any other facial area that would provude enough injectable volume. Fat injections are based on premise of concentrated fat which is liposuctioned fat that is processed so that only the cells are left and one of its liquid content. You would need to use another donor site as the abdomen (though the umbilicus) or the inner knees or thighs. These donor areas provide better quality fat and more of it.

Contouring of your face through buccal lipectomies, perioral mound liposuction as well as sumental/neck liposuction can be done at the same time as the fat injections to the lips. While some fat would obviously be removed from these procedures the volume or quality of the fat would be unacceptable for reliable lip augmentation in my experience.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have always wanted to have a more defined, chiseled, sensual facial appearance and have been considering cheek, chin, and jaw implant along with rhinoplasty. However, I am wondering which one or which combination would be most beneficial aesthetically? Would any of these also help with the slight droopiness of my lower cheeks? Attached are examples of the characteristics I’m interested in and different angles of faces that I like.

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending the link to your pictures. There is no question that the single greatest procedure you could do would be a special jaw implant, a total jawline augmentation including the chin and jaw angles. That would best be done by a custom jawline implant, the single most powerful changer of the jawline. This would be followed by a close second for the rhinoplasty. While cheek augmentation would be helpful, it is a distant third compared to the jaw implant and rhinoplasty in having a significant impact towards your facial goals. It is also important to be aware that there is only a limited amount of facial change that is possible in anyone’s face and, while your pictures are helpful in understanding your basic objectives, you are never going to end up with those very well defined and angular facial features.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, You gave advice to someone with jowls on Real Self where you advised to have jowl liposuction. But everywhere else I read that jowl liposution is dangerous because risk of nerve damage. Could you explain why are in favor of jowl liposuction in that area.

A: The safety and effectiveness of jowl liposuction depends on the quality of the overlying skin and how one chooses to access the jowls. With good quality overlying skin that is not associated with a facial jawline sag from aging, jowl liposuction can be effective. The only potential risk of injury to the jowls is the marginal mandibular nerve (which controls the movement of the lower lip) which does not actually run through the jowl area proper. The risk of injury to it is in the approach or access angle to it. If you come from below in the traditional submental approach to neck and jowl liposuction, as many plastic surgeons do, the risk of injury to that branch of the facial nerve is very real. But if you access the jowl area from a small incision inside the corner of the mouth and come from above, there is no risk of injury to that nerve branch. As I have done many perioral mound liposuction procedures, which is the area right above the jowls, it is straightforward to continue further down and treat the jowl area also if needed.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am in need of a sliding genioplasty. I have visited an orthodontist, oral surgeon and plastic surgeon so far. My goal is to improve my profile, solve the mentalis strain and lip incompetence, balance my front face (not a too long or too short chin) and most importantly, not to create more problems. The concern I have now is that how I can improve my profile without making my chin too long. I have a very round face and I will be happy to keep it that way if possible.

A: Thank you for sending your pictures and x-rays in consideration of a sliding genioplasty. Given your young age and your degree of chin deficiency, I think you are a very good candidate for a sliding genioplasty. How much horizontal advancement is yet to be determined but it would be at least 7mmm to 8mm.  Such horizontal advancement should resolve your mentalis strain and lower lip incompetence. To maintain the vertical height of your lower face, the angle of the bone cut should be slightly angled backward and the chin vertically shortened as it is brought forward. Unlike a chin implant only a sliding genioplasty can bring the chin horizontally forward and make it vertically shorter at the same time.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in laser scar revision. I unfortunately was diagnosed with a sarcoma in my abdominal wall and had resective and reconstructive surgery two months ago. I’m just looking into options to help make my scar look as normal as possible. I was researching laser scar revision and I came across your website and thought you could help with the treatment. I’m just looking at all options at this point. I know now is a bit early since I just had surgery, but I want to continue to stay as proactive as possible and I want to know all my options moving forward. I have attached a picture of my abdominal scar. 

A: Thank you for sending your abdominal scar picture. This is an early scar which fortunately is fairly narrow. It is still very red and is not close to eventual scar maturation. (when the redness of the scar will face) So certainly there will be some improvement in the appearance of the scar by the pure passage of time. When it comes to any form of scar therapy, however, now is the time to act not later. Scar treatments have their best effect between 3 weeks and 3 to 4 months after surgery…not a year later. So your looking into scar treatments now is the appropriate time. The best scar treatment at this time is going to be fractional laser scar revision treatments. A series of three laser treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart is my scar therapy approach followed by intervening topical silicone gel applications. These are treatments that can be done in the office under topical anesthesia. While will never make your scar completely disappear, laser scar revision will make it look better in the long run than just natural healing in its own.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I saw that you mentioned that Botox injections to the posterior temporal area is a possible alternative to surgical resection. I am personally quite interested in this approach, as I’d like to avoid surgery if possible. A few questions:

1. Would the effect after a few sessions be permanent? You mentioned that the posterior temporal area is not used much in chewing, so would this mean that the shrinking of the muscle would stay?

2. Would there be any risk of the Botox ‘spreading’ to the anterior temporal area and causing a hollowing effect?

3. How much temporal width reduction can be achieved with Botox compared to surgery?

Thanks for your time.

A: Like all masticatory muscles, Botox injections can be done to induce muscle atrophy. How permanent the effect size reduction would be is unpredictable. The posterior temporal muscle is much thinner than the anterior temporal muscle but whether the effects of Botox injections is more profound or more permanent is unknown. Botox injections do not migrate more than that of a 1 cm diameter from the point of injection. Compared to surgery, Botox injections at best would produce only about half the the thinning effect of total muscle removal.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a lip scar revision. I am a 26 year old female. My lips were very thin and I had gull wing lift operation on my upper lip in November 2013. The result was terrible with many scars on upper lift. I  have waited for recovery over 1 year and the situation did not change. I subsequently had two laser resurfacing treatments and a revision to reduce vermilion height with inner stitching. As you can see in my most recent photo,  my lips do not look natural and that disturbs me very much even with make up. I want to have better lips and return to my daily life. 

Now my doctor offers another operation this month to reshape the whole vermillion border of my upper lift. He will cut my skin in order to discard distorted surface and he will move down the top layer of the skin in order to elongate the skin layer until the pink line to shape the border.Could you please tell me whether it is possible to stretch the top layer of the skin to stretch down to the vermilion? Any kind of information will be very helpful, looking forward to hearing from you very soon.

A: Your upper lip scar revision poses a dilemma. While the scar can be cut out, it is not going to stretch downward. Rather the vermilion will move up to the top of the cut out. This is due to the tightness of the skin and the relative looseness or stretchability of the vermilion tissue. The operation will not work as you have shown or hoped. It will get rid of the scar but at the trade-off of a much fuller or bigger vermilion. For your lip scar revision I would think more about a subtotal scar excision and consider doing it in stages.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I need diastasis recti muscle repair. I need to see if your office can do a pre determination through my insurance for this procedure. I have chronic low back pain and do not want to continue to take 500-1000 mg of Naproxen for life or Cortisone injections.. I have joined weight watchers and lost 15 lbs and I am not morbidly obese but my back makes my quality of life poor. I cannot jog, run. I cycle 30-60 miles or more a week indoor spinning. I cannot lose my belly since my csection no matter how hard I work out. Can you please help. My back is getting worse and I’m at my wits end. I know that insurance can pay for alot of the procedure but I know I will need abdominoplasty also, but please can you help!

A: Thank you for your inquiry but I am not sure where you are getting information that would indicate that insurance would pay for a diastasis recti muscle repair…as they will not. Insurance only covers two adbominal type procedures for medical reasons…a hernia and in some cases an abdominal panniculectomy. A hernia is not the same as a diastasis of the rectus muscles. A hernia is an actual defect in the abdominal wall where bowel may or may not poke through. A diastasis is a separation of the midline of the vertically oriented rectus muscles but is not an actual defect of the abdominal wall. Most women have a rectus diastasis of various widths from pregnancies. Insurance will cover repair of an abdominal wall defect (hernia) but not for a muscle separation that is not associated with a hernia

In tummy tuck surgery it is common to have a diastasis recti muscle repair with the removal of extra skin and fat. While it is part of almosyt every cosmetic tummy tuck it is not a medically necessary procedure as defined by insurances.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in custom jaw angle implants. Could Porex implants be removed and replaced with custom made ones from three 3 years after surgery? I had porex jaw angle implants placed to restore my jaw bone deformity after jaw reduction surgery. But I’m not happy with that result. I realized now that off-the-shelf implants do not suffice in my case. So I have decided to make my implants removed and replaced with custom jaw angle implants. But a long time has passed since the implants were placed. I have heard it is very difficult to remove Porex implants especially after years. The doctor who did the surgery to restore my jaw angle with Porex implants said… You would risk damage to the masseter muscle which has already been manipulated by your previous surgery when trying to remove them. He told me that he found the left side of my jaw muscle was torn by the careless reduction surgery. In this worst scenario, Is it still possible to remove and replace them? If it is possible how much cost it? I hope your reply soon.

A: I have removed numerous Porex jaw angle implants and, although it is far harder than removing silicone implants, it can be successfully done. You would be correct in that a custom jaw angle implants would be the most effective jaw angle restoration method now. I do not think that the masseter muscle would be any further damaged by the implants removals. Where the implants are most adherent to is the underlying bone. They do peel off of the muscle without a lot of difficulty.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am in need of a sliding genioplasty to treat sleep apnea. Can a sliding genioplasty be billed to insurance at all?

A: The question that you are asking is whether insurance will pay for your sliding genioplasty as a medical necessity for your sleep apnea. That is not an unreasonable question but one that can only be determined by the submission of a predetemination letter to your insurance carrier. To do this requires the following information to be submitted:

1) Pictures (which you have)

2) Sleep study results that show you have a high AHI

3) X-rays which show a short jaw.

Once I have this information then a pre letter can be submitted. Only the insurance company can make the decision for approval or denial for the sliding genioplasty but they must have all of the required information for you to have any shot at all of potential coverage.

As an aside, I am not aware that a sliding genioplasty is a primary procedure for improving sleep apnea. It may offer some mld improvement but major skeletal advancement through maxillomandibular osteotomies is usually what is required to make a major improvement in severe sleep apnea problems. A sliding genioplasty is an anterior pull procedure while maxillomandibular osteotomies are a push procedure which is more effective for opening the airway.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in forehead reduction. I was wondering if it’s possible to even out my forehead and make it smooth and symmetrical? I am bothered by the sides areas of my forehead which I have marked in the attached pictures.

A: What you have are prominent anterior temporal lines on each side of your forehead. This is not really due to a prominent forehead per se but due to a deficient temporal muscle on the side. This makes your forehead look very square and boxy. Rather than burring down the temporal lines (forehead reduction) I would recommend extended temporal implants to build up the area beside the forehead. This would be simpler and would create a more masculine forehead as opposed to burring down the bone and making your forehead rounder. (although that could be done based on your personal choice)

The aesthetic problem with temporal line reduction is that it will require a scalp incision to be done which is challenging to place in male without some visibility. Conversely the small temporal incisions for placing extended temporal implants are in the temporal hairline and are much less of an aesthetic concern.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a question about custom facial implants. Is there a standard “ideal” facial structure dimension the digital system will use? Will you send me an image of the implant and how it will fit my chin? I would have a scan sent to you. Most custom facial implants are ready in 3 weeks? Is this correct?  Thank you!

A: Even though custom facial implants are designed on the computer, the computer does not have any innate knowledge as to what looks best for any patient. It is up to the surgeon to create the dimensions of the implant, the computer software does not do that. It merely makes the implant by the dimensions that the surgeon provides. This is a common misconception by many patients. What the computer software will do is make the implant have a perfect fit, be smooth on its outer surface, adjust for any bony asymmetries  and make for a smooth edge transition from implant to the bone. But no software yet can create for the patient some ideal design that will produce the best aesthetic change for the patient.

Custom facial implants usually takes about three weeks from getting the 3D CT scan to having the implant sterilized and ready for implantation. We usually arrange for an actual surgery time once we start the implant design so the surgery process runs expeditiously.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley,  I am interested in chin, cheek and jaw augmentation. Like others, I am looking for exceptionally square, strong and masculine jawline to bring my facial aesthetics to the next level. I already have a fairly low body fat percentage (around 7-8%) but have always had slight TMJ on my right side and for as long as I can remember wanted to really strengthen my face.

Would I be a good candidate for a jaw, cheek, chin augmentation, and/or rhinoplasty to strengthen and balance my face? Or should I address the slight TMJ issue first? Which procedure or combination of the aforementioned would lead to the highly coveted male model facial look? I’ve attached a photo with the front and both sides of my face as well as a goal photo for reference.

A: I have done some imaging looking at rhinoplasty, cheek, and total jaw augmentation for your review. You have a good face for these type of changes because your face is already skeletonized, just disproportionate. The jawline change will require a custom wrap around jawline implant. Whether this would achieve the male model look that you desire is open to  one’s interpretation

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in jaw augmentation. I want to change my whole jawline to make it like one of the men in my goal photos. Up until this point I was assuming the custom wrap around jawline implants would achieve it, but since I shaved my beard off to see what I had, I am unsure if it will even be enough. Do you think I need any other procedure like lefort, jaw advancement, chin wing etc. Do I have a recessed jaw/chin, or is it just generally underdeveloped? I just don’t know, but I’m willing to get whatever jaw augmentation procedure I need.

I attached the best pictures I could take with my phone, I hope they are good enough. Based on them, can you tell me if any of my goals are possible (and what procedure or combination of procedures I would need). If any of the picture’s quality is good enough, is it possible to have a ‘predict my face’ and get a morph of what is maximally possible with custom implants? I really want to achieve a jawline that of one of my goal pictures.

My ultimate goal is to achieve a front jawline as close to any of those goal pictures as possible. And the side profile to have as much of an L shape as possible (male model look). Currently whenever I am in public I push my jaw out as much as possible and also bite my teeth to flex the jaw, it is a small improvement but is too much effort for me to maintain all day (not to mention I shouldn’t have to resort to that just to look less ‘bad’)

Note: I also plan on having other procedures done (rhinoplasty), but right now I am most concerned about jaw augmentation, as I think that will have the biggest impact, and then get the other procedures.

A: Your pictures do not show an abnormal lower jaw that is significantly underdeveloped or would be in need of major orthognathic surgery. To achieve your aesthetic goals you need jaw augmentation by any of the conventional implant methods. There is nothing more powerful and than a custom jawline implant and that would be the ideal approach for you. But the more economic approach to a more complete jaw augmentation is that of a square chin and jaw angle implants. This could also be effective for you since your jaw shape is not overlying deficient and enhancements at the chin and jaw angle areas would go a long way towards a more defined jawline.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had upper and lower blepharoplasty surgery about two years ago. My upper eyelids have scars, the left eye is worse than the right. Another surgeon said the right eye just has some extra fat that needed removed. I have very high cheekbones and when I smile or laugh I still have extra skin below my lower eyelids that bunches up and makes me look a lot older than I really am. I didn’t know if that could be fixed by doing a little tuck. The only problem is I do have dry eyes. I also had a neck lift which I was very pleased with but my double chin seems to be coming back. The other surgeon I spoke with said he would do a chin tuck up. I would go ahead and book with you because I have read all the great reviews about you and I’m not really satisfied with my current plastic surgeon. 

A: Thank you for sending your pictures. What I see are upper blepharopasty scars that are not in the eyelid crease line and are above it. The actual appearance of the blepharoplasty scars are not atypical but because they are high they are ore noticeable than they otherwise would be. Unless there is more skin to remove (and there is in the right eye) the scars ca not be lowered or made less noticeable. While a pinch lower blepharoplasty can be done, whether there would be any worsening of your dry eyes is unknown. It often is not a good idea to do an operation based on excess skin that appears in facial animation. While that may be effective during smiling, the critical question is what impact that may have in eyelid position when you are not.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley,  I am very interested in having a surgical procedure to make the width of my lips longer. (mouth widening procedure) I am fully aware of the pros and cons of this procedure but the pros do weigh out the cons. I’m just enquiring more information as to the procedure such as how long I would be out of work for and is this a procedure that I would need to have done frequently?

A: The mouth procedure to which you refer is technically known as a lateral commissuroplasty (mouth widening procedure) where the corners of the mouth are opened up at the skin level and the vermilion/mucosa lining is brought out to make the horizontal length of the mouth from corner to corner longer. (wider) When you speak to ‘do I need to have it done frequently’ you are likely referring to the potential for scar contracture which may require secondary release. While this is a risk, it is not an expected outcome and hopefully would not occur. Thus a successful mouth widening procedure would be a one time procedure with permanent effects. As a general rule the horizontal width of the mouth can be increased about 5mms per side for a total of a 1 cm mouth width increase.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had contacted you months ago inquiring about temporal artery ligation. But I had to reconsider that procedure because the artery on my left side now appears when doing physical activities or with heat but not as bad as the right. And even down the middle of my forehead. So now I was wondering if you do fat transfers to the entire forehead and if you thinks this could help with my appearance. It seems that I suddenly have lost fat in my forehead which is making these arteries appear worse.

A: Fat transfer is not known to be an effective treatment to camouflage prominent forehead arteries and veins. While this seems like it would work, it does not in my experience. This is because it is difficult, if not impossible, to put the fat on top of the arteries. Rather it ends up going around them and does not result in decreasing theie visibility. Temporal artery ligation is the best approach for prominent arterial vessels of the temporal and forehead area. It is also far simpler as it directly treats the problem…the vessel themselves.

Temporal artery ligation is usually done under local anesthesia using small 5mm incisions to isolate the arterial branches and tie them off.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in buttock augmentation. I am a 53 year old athletic woman who had liposuction years ago that left me with misshaped and sagging buttocks. A skin lift four years ago helped just a little, but, as photos show, still a big problem. I am wanting to fill out my buttocks but keep an athletic look, since the rest of my body has good muscle definition. Is there a buttock augmentation procedure that will enable me to continue to do extreme sports?

A:  The residual problem with your buttocks is a volume issue not one of a skin sag. The dilemma you have is that of two treatment options, fat grafting and implants, one of the them (fat grafting) is not a viable option due to your very lean body. Buttock implants, while effective, poses both a recovery and potential physical activity limitation (during the long recovery process) for what your physical standards are. (extreme sports) It would probably take three months for a full recovery. Given these issues, I do not see any method of buttock augmentation that will work for your specific physical needs. While full gluteal muscle function will return, the impact of intramuscular buttock implants is suspect in very highly athletic people.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am inquiring about skull reshaping surgery. In my opinion I’ve got quite a bit to do on my skull as I guess about 60% of my skull needs filler. My head slopes down from the centre of my skull on the top of my head to the back of my head. Also from the back of my head to my ears has flat spots and low spots that need to be filled on both sides. On both sides of my head above my ears is needs to be filled as it  slopes abit to the top centre of my head. Hope this makes sense. I can draw pictures If that helps or a Ct scan might be needed. Also I live in the  United Kingdom which would mean I would have to fly over. Would that have any effect on having the operation then having to return to the UK?

A: From your pictures, I can clearly see your skull shape concerns which are located onj the back half of your head. I would not think that the skull area involved is as much as 60% surface of your head (probably closer to 1/3) but that is a moto point. Your skull reshaping needs could only be done by a custom skull implant procedure. That is the best way to smoothly and evenly augment your skull contour issues. That requires a 3D CT scan from which the actual implant is made through a computer design process.

I have many patients from the UK for a variety of procedures including various forms of skull reshaping. There are no adverse effects from air travel on this type of aesthetic skull procedure.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley,I underwent an 8mm sliding genioplasty three years ago. Overall I consider it a big improvement for my face, but now instead of lacking a chin, I have a step-off deformity on the right jawline. It is quite visible (you have to look straight to it thought). I could live with it but I’d also be much free from concern if I could get rid of it. Is there any way to fix and unify my jawline, preferably without major surgery? Thank you very much. Kind regards.

A: Step-offs along the jawline after a sliding genioplasty are common particularly the greater the horizontal movement and the more steep the osteotomy cut is. The simplest method to treat these jawline irregularities after a sliding geniplasty is to fill in the defect from an intraoral approach. There are a variety of material options but hydroxyapatite granules or the layering of porous mesh over it is the most common way I do it. It is a surgery but I would not consider it major surgery compared to a sliding genioplasty.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a question about chin implant surgery. I recently had a small central chin implant put in and I am about 3 1/2 weeks post-op. I really dislike the shape and am wondering if an extended chin implant would have been a better option. I have shadows/dents on either side of my chin.

A:  There are numerous styles to choose from for chin implant surgery. Obviously selection of chin implant style and size are critical in getting the optimal desired aesthetic chin augmentation effect. While a central chin implant is often a good choice for some women, it does not provide any augmentation effects to the side of the chin since it does not extend past a vertical line dropped down from the corners of the mouth on the bone. Since you are seeing shadows/indents on the side of the chin, this would strongly suggest that this indeed a chin shape or chin style  issue. The question is at just under four weeks after surgery whether this is too early to make a final judgment about the outcome of your chin augmentation procedure. I would give it a full three months after the initial surgery date before making a final judgment about the decision to change your chin implant.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana