Your Questions

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a question what is the difference between the custom implant and the off the shelf jaw implants? I think for my ideal face I would like to achieve is to vertically lengthen my chin only a bit and make it more wide. For my jaw I think just maybe only a little bit widen but more lengthened so I would have a longer smaller looking face. I think for me its not so nice to widen it too much). I want the same face I have now only smaller looking with a better jawline. I have attached a male model’s photo which is what I want to reach is something like that possible for my face?Also I am a bit concerned if something would go wrong, is it being corrected for free then? And how long should I stay in Indianapolis as I don’t want to know people at home.

A: The role of custom facial implants is useful when off-the-shelf implants can not produce the desired effect either due to the size changes needed, a special shape of the implant is required or there is asymmetry between two sides. Another difference is that custom implants cost a lot more and will add $7500 to a surgical procedure such as yours. So you have to have a real good question to go the custom route. 

The model photo you have shown can not be exactly achieved on you because only a custom jawline implant can create a perfectly smooth wrap around effect.

If revisional surgery is needed, the patient is responsible for the costs of the operating room and anesthesia costs. No revisional surgery procedure is completely free.

Most jawline implant patients will stay 2 to 3 days before returning home. But if you are not desiring to go home until most of the obvious swelling is gone, then it will be several weeks. (which is a bit impractical for most patients)

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a combined forehead augmentation and rhinoplasty. Please see the file attached for my thoughts on how I want to look on the front of my face. Please forgive the crudeness of the drawing, I only have Windows Paint on my computer to play with, which is very limited in abilities ;-). It should give you a general idea however. One of my questions is will the forehead augmentation result in a possible simultaneous hairline lowering? Also, how long would the recovery period be?

A: That is actually a very good drawing as it is always important to understand what the patient actually wants. Any forehead augmentation procedure requires a scalp incision which is almost always placed way behind the hairline and does not really result in hairline lowering. That raises the other possibility of making a hairline incision (what we call pretrichial) to do the forehead augmentation and then try to bring the scalp forward to lower the hairline. This would obviously place the incision at the hairline. Just an additional thought although I always feel it is better to have the incision way away from where the cranioplasty material is placed.

When it comes to recovery from a combined forehead augmentation and rhinoplasty (which is actually not a rare combination in my experience), you would expect to look pretty reasonable in about 10 to 14 days. (although all swelling takes about 6 weeks and final refinements up to 3 months after surgery) It is not really a physical recovery but one of appearance.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello! I have a scar on my forehead indented with a small amount of tissue over and it is same color as skin. Any options for improvement? Here is a picture of what it looks like. I am just particular about it and cover it with makeup daily:) My brother thought Juvederm would work, but I am looking for something a little more long term. Thank you so much.

A: When evaluating scars it is first important to evaluate its physical characteristics. That is the key to determining the best treatment for its potential improvement. Your vertical glabellar (between the eyebrows) scar has one feature that makes it the most visible…it is wide with a depressed gap between the skin edges. When you have a depressed scar the only chance for improvement is excision and reclosure to level out the skin edges and make the scar more narrow. In addition to prevent recurrent collapse of the scar line, the closure should not be a straight lone closure but that of a broken line or geometric closure like a w-plasty pattern. Your small forehead scar revision could be done in the office under local anesthesia.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, Could one have a custom made implant for the chin based on a facial casting to set up a mold for a bone paste like kryptonite. The theory here is that if the implant is a perfect fit then the paste will be a fit perfect too. To clarify… The paste would need to be pressed into the custom mold to set up the shape and then inserted into a ready pocket created with the help of the solid implant. You would avoid the blind aspect of shaping from the outside and complete the critical portion within the 4 minutes allotted to hardening.

A: Your thoughts are good ones but is limited by one major factor. Kryptonite is no longer commercially available (for reasons I do not know) and this is the only calcium-based bone cement that has the biomechanical properties to be molded and inserted similar to a solid implant. The other issue is that bone cements, even if preformed, are not flexible so intimate adaptation to the underlying bone may not occur. This could create some rocking and movement of such a custom made chin implant afterwards.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have been bullied for a number of years over the shape of my skull and I am looking to do something about it as it’s ruining my life. The width is an abnormal shape and above the ears it sticks out quite a bit. I have read some of the questions on the website and seen Doctor Eppley’s answers which seem like it would be something that can assist me. Am I right in saying Doctor Eppley is the only person in the world who performs skull reduction surgery? I have spoken briefly with someone over email where I live but I am not sure the procedure they suggested is what I am looking for. I need to find the right procedure as I feel  it is a necessity to have it done to be able to enjoy my life at all. I’m so depressed about it and I’m really searching for someone to help me before I get myself in to a bigger hole with the depression.

I have attached a picture. Are you able to say whether I can be helped or not please?

How long would I need to be in hospital for and when could I travel back home?

I’m worried about the strength of my skull after the surgery, I will be able to live a normal life afterwards won’t I, like play football etc??

I really appreciate your help and you taking the time to read this I understand you are very busy. Another question is that my ears are quite pointy/large and if I was to undertake this surgery I’m worried they will stick out even more, can anything be done with them so this doesn’t happen and they look a bit more normal?

I’m so sorry for so many questions. Whereabouts on my head would the incisions be? Would they be behind the ears and would they be quite deep scars?

I had thought about hair transplants at some point in the future because my hair seems to be disappearing rather quickly but I do prefer the shaved look if I’m honest. Do you think this would be a major problem?

I have to admit it has put a smile on my face knowing that you can possibly help. From the picture do you think the 5mm-7mm you mention in your questions section on the website will be enough to make my head look more normal in terms of shape?

Thank you so much for getting back to me.

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. From what I can see in this one picture (which is the most helpful view), there is temporal skull/muscle protrusion as well as ears that stick out a bit. This could be improved by a combination temporal muscle/bone reduction cranioplasty combined with a setback otoplasty.

This is a procedure that is done as an outpatient and one could return home in 48 hours. There would be no worries about the strength of your skull and you would not have any restrictions after surgery.

The most relevant issue is that an incision is needed on both sides to do the surgery and this is always a concern when it is a male who shaves his head or a has a close cropped hairstyle. We just have to be careful to not ‘trade-off one problem for another’.

To be certain we are looking at the same thing, I have done some before and after imaging to see if the changes that are possible is in line with what your objectives are. This is probably what a 5 to 7mm reduction can achieve.

The incisions would be vertical in the hairline just behind the ears and extending upward about 6 to 7 cms. They are not deep or indented scars but rather just fine lines.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 42 year old male and I am interested in a Chondrolaryngoplasty. (adam’s apple reduction) I am just very self conscious about my large adam’s apple and I am just tired of being harassed about it. I have heard that the cartilage turns to bone at a certain age so at 42 can I still have this procedure done?

A: While it is true that many cartilage areas in the body get partially calcified as one ages, and the thyroid cartilage is no exception, this is not a concern for you at age 42. At this age the thyroid cartilage is still mainly cartilage and it does not change the ability to shave it down. The reality is that even if you were older and the thyroid cartilage was more calcified, it could still be reduced and would be burred down by a machine-driven rotary drill as opposed to shaving. Thus, you should feel completely comfortable being able to have a successful adam’s apple reduction (chondrothyroplasty) at any age regardless of whether the cartilage is uncalcified, partially calcified or even completely calcified.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in the procedures of jaw enhancement, facial fillers, and nosejob. I would like to achieve a more defined and symmetrical jaw line. I want a more filled out face. Perhaps cheek fillers or cheekbone reduction also?  I am not sure which approach would be best to give me a fuller face. I want facial features more similar to Brad Pitt.

A: I can see your concerns in regards to a fuller face. You have a very skeletonized face with virtually no fat between the prominent cheek bones and your jaw line. I have done some imaging based on the procedures of jaw angle implants to widen the lower posterior face, a rhinoplasty and fat injections to the sides of the face below the cheekbones down to the jawline. This combination appears to give you better facial proportions and also demonstrate that the cheekbones are not really so prominent. It is the lack of soft tissue fullness (fat) that is why you have your current facial appearance. While cheek bone reduction is an option, I used fillers just to see how the face would look without changing the width of the cheekbones. This confirms their benefit over cheekbone reduction.

The pictures are not of good enough quality to reveal what a rhinoplasty can really do but I made my best effort.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 57 year old male in good health, who exercises regularly and watches what I eat. Over the last couple of years, my temporal artery on the right side of my forehead has become more pronounced. I visited a vascular surgeon, who said there was no medical reason to do anything. The vessel is very noticeable and I wanted to know if there was anything that could be done to hide it. I am concerned because the surgeon said its removal could cause other issues (eyelid drooping).

A: Ligation of the branches of the superficial temporal artery (STA) can be done to reduce its prominence. The main trunk of the STA lies in the temporal hairline and is far removed from any branch of the facial nerve.  But reduing anterograde (forward flow) of the STA is usally not eough to reduce its visible pulsatile appearance. Retrograde (backward flow) from the STA from its distal extension in the forehead must also be done. (two-point ligation) This is done through a small stab incision somewhere on the forehead where the tail of the visible artery can be seen. This also has a very low risk of injury to the frontal branch of the facial nerve which supplies the forehead and upper eyelid closure.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indianapolis

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in forehead augmentation and possibly rhinoplasty. I have put together a compilation of my head shots along with some of the “standard” head models.  In short, I feel that I have a huge face and no skull.  I would like to achieve a better balance between the two.  So the procedures I was thinking of are 1) Forehead augmentation and 2) Skull Augmentation to the sides, up and back (if possible of course, sounds like a lot). I am also considering a rhinoplasty to reduce the width of my nose. Please see the attached compilation and let me know what you think. Thank you so much for a prompt response.

A: I have done some imaging based on what I see as the causes of your face:skull disproportion. Your forehead is sloped at a near 45 degree angle with no brow prominence. When combined with a long overprojecting nose and a short chin, your face looks out of proportion to your skull.  By doing a forehead augmentation, shortening the nose and bring the chin forward with a central button implant, there is much better balance between your face and skull. I have attached some imaging to show what effects those procedures might have on your appearance. These imaging predictions are just a first pass on the procedures and more or less changes are possible.

Dr. Barry Eppley

indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had mandible angel jaw reduction(removal of square bone at the posterior part/not the front or anywhere towards the frontal part of face) about 5 months ago. Dissolvable stiches were used. The stitching on the inside was fine. The stitches on the outer/upper part of the gum on both sides were dissolved in about 8 days. I had this done in Asia and had to travel back home, realising the stiches on outer/upper gum were dissolved. No infection. The problem now is that both sides of my gum have a gap/opening and I have to gargle after I eat because food bits get into these openings,flap in the gum.

1. WOULD THIS AFFECT THE SWELLING OF THE GUM TO GO DOWN COMPLETELY?( THERE’S NOW A FLAP/OPENING)

2. CAN IT BE STITCHED AGAIN? TO CLOSE THE OPENINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF SURGERY SITE.WHAT COULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

Another thing I’m realising. It looks like the jowl area is protruding, it looks round? The square jaw  is gone but now there is protruding of something (fat?skin?tissue? I don’t know)around the jowl area? Age is 41.I tried to suck the inside of my cheek in and I think it helps get rid of the round, bulge on jowl area. Therefore, I’m thinking that a buccal fat removal will help get rid of this bulge. 

3.Please see pics attached and advise what you can do to take care of this bulge, jowl area?. ( Is it fat? skin? tissue or muscle?)

One more thing I’ve been comtemplating is the nose. Tip augmentation and trimming the fat on the tip area for better definition?

4. I’m not sure what it is that should or could be done to improve the nose. Perhaps there are other things that I am not seeing. Please let me know what you see , what you would suggest doing to improve the nose.

ALSO,LOOKS LIKE DESCENDING FAT BELOW THE EYES, AROUND THE CHEEKS AREA, CREATING A FOLD NEAR BOTTOM PART/SIDE OF NOSE.

5. Is there any method for  this descending fat be removed? Im thinking I’d be better off without them.

Hope to hear from you soon.

A: In answer to your questions:

1) I am not completely sure what this issue is in regards to your gum tissue. Normally the incisions for mandibular ramus surgery are done far away from the gum line in the mandibular vestibule leaving at least 1 cm cuff of tissue from the incision to the attached gingiva. When done in this way there never is any issue with gingival (gum) retraction or healing issues. Because you have these concerns now makes me wonder if your incisions are not either very close to the gumline or actually went through the gumline for access.  At point, gargling is the best way for oral hygiene and to let the tissues heal further. (although at 5 months after surgery things should be fairly well healed. Whether improvement is possible is hard for me to say as I obviously can not see where the flap is in the tissues.

2) As above. Most likely, the gingivomucosal flaps can be re-raised and closed.

3) Jowling is always an issue of loose skin and descended fat. It has nothing to do with the buccal fat pad and its removal will not be helpful for eliminating jowls. It has probably become more apparent and has ‘developed’ now that the bony jaw angles have been removed. (loss of bony support) Jowls can only be treated by either spot liposuction or a jowl lift.

4) I would agree with your assessment of your nose that further tip projection and definition would be aesthetically beneficial. A tip rhinoplasty with a columellar strut and a double stack tip graft with possible nostril narrowing is how that could be accomplished. I have attached some imaging of that potential result.

5) The fat around the nose at the level of the nasolabial fold can be treated by very small cannula liposuction if desired.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I fractured my cheekbone about a year ago, and I definately have noticed a change in it’s appearence compared to the other side, however I believe the break occured on a natural fault line so to speak and I’ve noticed that the bone has not yet joined, I can actually move it out and it will resume close to its normal appearence but the muscles on my face work to pull it back in. I think it’s fixable if I can get some kind of bonding agent to hold the bone in place so it can join. Look forward to hearing from you!

A: Most cheekbone fractures occur along very predictable fracture lines that involve the maxillary sinus and the eye bones. Cheek bone fractures almost always fall downward and inward into the maxillary sinus. It would be highly unusual to still have a mobile fracture a year out from injury…but I have heard of occasional reports of it occurring. To stabilize the fracture in place microplate and screws can be placed from a small incision inside the mouth to stabilize the downward pull of the masseter muscles that you are experiencing That is the best way to stabilize a displaced and mobile cheekbone fracture. There are no bonding agents or glues that are available to hold facial bones in place.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, my goal is a harmonious and ideal ‘male model’ look profile via rhinoplasty and possibly horizontal and vertical chin augment if rhinoplasty is not enough. I want to have rhinoplasty done to correct my deviated septum, hanging columella, raise my tip slightly and smooth a slight nasal hump. I’m wondering if I can get away with rhinoplasty alone to enhance my profile? I feel my chin is a little weak (I have an overbite ~ class II). I did orthodontics/braces to correct my crooked teeth only, but not my bite. I don’t want jaw surgery because I’m OK with my bite function.
Concern: My deep labiomental fold that is between my lower lip and chin. Will a chin augmentation hurt, help or not effect this crease? I don’t want to make this crease worse, I either want it unchanged or improved.

Questions: Chin

Which procedure is recommended to produce an ideal result. Implant, genioplasty or doing nothing?

If implant, how big and what type should be used?

If genioplasty, what kind of cut would be done horizontal?

Will a chin augmentation hurt, help or not not effect labiomental crease??

A:  In answer to your questions;
1) You absolutely can not get away with just a rhinoplasty alone to improve your profile. Your chin position is just too short. For your profile and overall facial aesthetics, chin correction is actually more important than the rhinoplasty.
2) Your chin correction should ideally be done by a sliding genioplasty because you have both a horizontal and a vertical chin deficiency.
3) The vertical component of the sliding genioplasty will allow the depth of the labiomental sulcus depth to remain unchanged as the chin comes forward.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, is it possible during a tummy tuck to injure one’s bowels? I am afraid to have a tummy tuck because I don’t want to suffer a major medical problem just because I want a flatter stomach. How close are my bowels to where a tummy tuck is done?

A: While it is common to have some constipation after a tummy tuck, there is no risk of any long-term gastrointestinal tract issues. Only skin, fat and muscle is manipulated during a tummy tuck and there is no chance of inadvertent injury to the large or small intestines. The bowels lies on the opposite side of the abdominal muscles. Repairing a hernia at the time of a tummy tuck poses some risk for those concerns but it is no greater than any other hernia repair. Since pain medication will be needed after a tummy tuck, and that has a known slowing effect on gastrointestinal mobility, women should drink plenty of fluids during their recovery and take a daily stool softener starting a week before surgery as well as continue it afterwards. In short, a tummy tuck may require some significant recovery time but it is not a dangerous surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am going to deliver my third and final baby next month. I already have a c-section and will be getting another c-section for this final delivery. After the delivery of my second child, I saw how much loose skin and stretch marks I had and that never really went away afterwards. I am wondering if I can get a tummy tuck at the same time as my c-section. It just seems like a logical time to do it, kill two birds with one stone so to speak. Is the hardest part getting two doctors to do it at the same time or can my Ob-Gyn just do it?

A: While loose stomach skin can be removed at the same time as a c-section delivery, it is not the best time to do it. The uterus is swollen and prevents muscle tightening and there is still considerable water weight present. In addition, being under an epidural limits how much overall abdominal reshaping can be done. It is far better to wait six months after delivery and try to lose as much weight as possible before having a tummy tuck…the result will be so much better. While there is nothing wrong with having a little loose skin removed during the c-section but that shouldn’t be confused with a real tummy tuck.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am going to have a tummy tuck but I have a question about how the belly button is made. Where does it come from? Is made from skin thrown away from the tummy tuck or is it somehow carved out from the stomach wall? Can you explain it to me how you do it?

A: The belly button is nothing more than a remnant or stalk of scar tissue from the skin down to the abdominal wall. It is never removed during a tummy tuck but rather the skin around it is. The stalk of the belly button is always preserved, it is the loose skin around it and any extra length of oys stalk that is removed. The shortened stalk of the belly button is simply put back by bringing it through the abdominal skin that has been brought down and tightened over it. Reshaping of the belly button is almost always done whether it is shortened or not. The key to a good looking belly button result in a tummy tuck is to shorten it so that the outer skin dips in, the surrounding scar is on the inside, and it has more of a vertical rather than a round shape.It is always better to have a smaller belly button than a larger one as a result of a tummy tuck.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a question regarding chin and jaw implants. My question is: if a person plans to have both chin and jaw implants, do they have to be done in one procedure? In other words, is it possible to get jaw implants and then in a year get a chin implant? I’ve heard it’s easier when done together, but I just don’t have the resources to get both of them at once right now, so I’m wondering if it is possible to get a jaw implant this year and then next year a chin implant without complications?

A: There is certainly no reason why chin and jaw angle implants they can not be done separately. Economics is a very good reason why some have to ‘stage’ their overall jawline enhancement. Which one you do first is a matter of personal preference and would depend on what you see as your biggest problem. For many patients that would be the chin because it is the most visible part of the jaw and often displays the most obvious deficiency. For others the chin has a more minor deficiency and the high and weak jaw angles is the most deficient part of the jawline.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I wonder if my deep set eyes can be treated by the same procedure which is done for enophthalmos? I heard from a doctor that cartilage can be implanted behind the eyeball. Is that possible?

A: Building up the orbital floor with any form of a graft works in enophthalmos because there exists expanded intraorbital volume and the graft is merely returning the intraorbital space to normal. The eyeball can be oushed up and out because there is space for it to go. where it was once was. In a normal or non-enophthalmic eye, there is normal intraorbital space and lessening that with a graft runs the risk of putting pressure on the eyeball. In other words, you are not going to push the eye out by putting in a graft without the potential risk of visual impairment.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I believe you are a real specialist in the matter of lips aesthetics and procedures and will greatly appreciate your advice if I should undergo a lip lift or fat transplant. Temporary fillers don’t work for me. I have attached some pictures from different angles for you to see the shape of my lips.

A: Thanks for sending your photos. I think they illustrate well your longer upper lip and you have always illustrated to some degree the effects of a subnasal lip lift. I think you are a good candidate for the procedure. I think with your vertical upper lip length that you are much better off  with a lift rather than fat injections. Also the result from a lift will be more predictable than with fat injections. Fat injections also will not shorten your upper lip length nor will they create a more prominent cupid’s bow. This can be done under local anesthesia in the office as I do many isolated lip lifts that way. The biggest issue is the fine line scar along the base of the nose but if well placed it fades very nicely and quickly. (a few months)

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have some queries about Medpor implant surgery. One of my one friends, who is age 26, is looking for ear reshaping surgery. I have a concern about him, I am suggesting him to go for own body material surgery not with medpor implant surgery. Can you give us some guideline on this. Like as which one will be the best for his future.

A: While it is not clear from your inquiry as to the nature of your friend’s ear deformity, I will assume that it is either a subtotal or total ear reconstruction. (variations of congenital microtia or traumatic amputation) That would be the only consideration in which either a synthetic implant, like Medpor, or the use of a rib graft would be debated. There are arguments for the use of Medpor vs. rib grafts and I have done both successfully. (although many more rib grafts than medpor implants) I would agree that the use of rib cartilages are far safer and have much less risk of any long-term complications, in fact there would be few if any long-term issues with a natural material. But if one uses a Medpor implant in the ear it is absolutely critical that a temporalis fascial rotation flap is used to cover the implant to put more of a vascularized cover over most of the implant. This will substantially reduce the long-term risk of skin breakdown and implant exposure.

The reality is that while many patients and some surgeons think that using a synthetic implant is ‘easier’ than harvesting and carving rib grafts for ear reconstruction, it is not just as simple as pulling a preformed ear out of a box and sticking it under the skin. The success of synthetic ear reconstructions depends on the quality of the overlying ear skin and the surrounding tissues and getting good vascularized cover which means rotating a fascial flap. Successful long-term results from ear reconstruction, whether it is done by autologous or synthetic materials, requires experienced presurgical judgment and technical experience in performing them.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in more information on tummy tucks and mommy make-overs for my wife. I think she looks fine, but it would make her feel better about herself if she had a procedure done. So I am taking the first step for her. Please send us more information on the matter and costs. Thank you.

A: The term Mommy Makeover usually refers to a combination breast reshaping and tummy tuck procedure. You have only mentioned a tummy tuck so I am not sure if you mean a breast procedure as well. Knowing whether it is one or both procedures will have an obvious impact on the cost. If you can clarify that issue for me that would be helpful in answering your questions.

In addition, tummy tucks come in two basic varieties in being a more limited or full tummy tuck. Many tummy tucks, regardless of the type, may also include liposuction of the flanks to get a better effect around the waistline into the back. Where your wife falls in regards to these tummy tuck options would be helped be either seeing a picture of tummy or an actual in-office consultation. But for the sake of providing some price information, I will have my assistant forward you a cost quote for a full tummy tuck with flank liposuction so at least you can see the maximal cost that it would be.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am looking to have breast implants, rhinoplasty and mentoplasty. (no implant) Do you offer mentoplasty? If so would I be able to do these 3 procedures at once or if not I would wait to do the implants. I can  send some detailed pictures if needed.

A: Thank you for your inquiry. You certainly can do breast augmentation, rhinoplasty and chin augmentation all during the same surgery. When you refer to a non-implant mentoplasty, I assume you are referring to a sliding genioplasty in which the chin bone is moved forward. That accounts for about 25% of all chin procedures that I do so it is a chin augmentation technique in which I have great familiarity.

To help prepare accurate quoting, please send me some pictures of these areas so I can see exactly what needs to be done and the time it takes to do it. This is most relevant for the nose as there is great variability in rhinoplasty surgery depending upon how much of the nose structures need to be changed.

Once I have received the photos, I will do some computer imaging for the nose and chin and have my assistant send you a collective cost quote.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have deep set eyes and I don’t like them at all. What are the options for me? I have a very hollow appearance to my eyes and I want to improve it.

A: When it comes to trying to improve deep set eyes, there are few options. You can not move the eyeball forward by any method, all that can be done is to reduce the surrounding orbital bone along the brow ridge and the lateral orbital rim. Depending upon the prominence of the brow ridge, this can be particularly effective. It is important, however to separate the terms ‘deep set eyes’ and ‘hollow eyes’ for they represent different orbital morphologies. A deep set eye is when the globe (eyeball) sits far behind the surrounding orbital rims, particularly the superior and lateral orbital rims. Reducing the projection of the surrounding overprojecting bone is what can make the eye seem to come forward. Conversely, a hollow eye appearance implies that the relationship between the globe and the surrounding orbital rims is normal but that there is a lack of fat in the lid areas, having them retract posteriorly. The hollow eye or lid deficiency/retraction can be treated by fat injections.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a male with gynecomastia, I am wondering if you have any experience in gynecomastia removal. I have some bothersome buildups on my chest that I want removed. Here are two pictures of my chest, the tissue build up is most noticeable below and lateral to the nipples.  Thank you for your time and help.

A: Thank you for sending your pictures. It appears that there is a fairly well defined mass below and to the side of the nipple-areolar complexes. I suspect that this may feel like a discrete mass. What you have a form of areolar gynecomastia where the breast tissue buildup is largely restricted to the periareolar area. These could be removed by a gynecomastia surgery technique in which the masses are excised through an inferior areolar technique. I can not tell whether any feathering of the chest beyond the masses is needed based on the angle of the pictures taken with the arms raised. This could be done as an outpatient procedure under IV sedation or general anesthesia. The recovery would be fairly quick with you only having to refrain from working out for several weeks after surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 31 years old, 5’4” and weigh 162 lbs. I have had three children and my stomach certainly isn’t what it used to be. There is stretch marks and loose skin. I really need to get my body in better shape but I don’t want to undergo a tummy tuck even though I know that would probably be the best thing to do. I don’t need to look like a model but I don’t want to have loose hanging skin afterwards if I undergo liposuction. I know that I will not have perfectly smooth skin after liposuction but I am concerned if I will have loose hanging skin afterwards. Online I have seen stomachs just like mine that show good results afterwards with just liposuction. So do you think I will have wrinkled or hanging skin after liposuction?

A: While I don’t know what your stomach looks like, you have described several critical points about your abdominal liposuction concerns. Given that you don’t want a tummy tuck, your only abdominal contouring option is liposuction. With that decision you also recognize that the results will not be perfect. Skin irregularities are always a potential issue with any form of abdominal liposuction but that risk dramatically increases when loose skin is present. This is the issue to ponder when one is using liposuction as a substitute for a tummy tuck. As a general rule, if the abdominal skin does not overhang the waistline only irregular wrinkled skin will result. If there is an abdominal overhang, expect that removing fat will still leave you with a loose skin overhang.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I see you have posted blogs on removal of cephalohematoma on skulls and also filling in flat spots with a bone cement. My son was born with a cephalohematoma on the back left of his skull. He was also prone to sleep on the left side of his head and has caused a slight depression on that side. We have been doing head positioning every day and he is now 2.5 years old. If we were to consider plastic surgery, when is a good age to do this to fix both issues?

A: When fixing any cosmetic skull deformity in a child, there are two relevant issues. First, when is skull growth stable? In other words, when can you correct the asymmetry and have a reasonable expectation that the skull asymmetry will not recur or ‘regrow’? There is not an etched in stone answer and later is always safer in this regard than sooner. In general, when a child reaches 3 or 4 years of age, much of skull growth is completed and the risk of any recurrence is very small. Secondly, when is the best psychological time to intervene with surgery in a child who can not speak for themselves and may not know for a long time if their skull shape is even an issue for them in the future? This is only an issue that a parent can answer, and like many child-rearing decisions, has to be driven by what the parent thinks is best for them based on how they look now.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have come across your website as you seem to be one of the few surgeons who offer chin cleft removal/reduction without the aid of implants or fillers. I am strongly interested in the procedure and I would like to know how it is done and understand how long the recovery time is. I would be willing to travel to undergo this surgery.

A:  Chin cleft removal can be done without the use of implants or injectable fillers by treating the underlying muscle separation by muscle repair and a buccal fat graft. While an injectable filler is simpler, the lack of a permanent injectable material (short of fat) makes this a temporary fix. This is not to say that using a particulated filler (like Artecoll or Aquamid) with a series of treatments may not be a permanent solution.

This is done as an outpatient procedure under IV sedation. Expect chin swelling for a few weeks afterwards.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 19 years old and have developed a problem with my face. It looks crooked and I don’t know why. I saw pictures of me before about 6 years ago and my face wasn’t crooked. So I’m kind of worried about what made it crooked. So can it be fixed?

A:  Thank you for sending your pictures. My assessment shows that your facial asymmetry is caused by a left-sided orbito-zygomatic deficiency. This is evident by a slightly lower eyebrow, a small amount of redundant upper eyelid skin, a lower globe (eyeball) position, a lower positioned lower eyelid and a small cheek bone on that side. This is caused by the underlying cheek and eye socket bones (orbito-zygomatic skeleton) being more underdeveloped than the right side. This makes the overlying soft tissues, including the eyeball, are positioned lower than the other side.

While this is a common facial skeletal deformity seen in cheek bone fractures, yours is clearly development and just grew that way. It has probably only become more evident as you are now nearing full facial skeletal development.

The facial asymmetry could be treated by a combination of procedures including a transpalpebral browlift through an upper eyelid incision (to lift the brow), orbital floor augmentation (to push the eyeball up), lateral canthoplasty (to reposition the outer corner of the lower eyelid) and a cheek implant. (to build up the smaller cheek area) I have attached some imaging which shows the predicted effect of those changes.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have had large breasts as long as I can remember. While they were once more perky, they have fallen and are way out of proportion. They are just super saggy now and hang all the way down to my belly button. I think the reality is that I need a breast reduction although I am not super excited about the possibility of having scars. I am 32 years old and have never been married or had children. I am not sure whether I should wait to have surgery until I have had children or just do it now instead. I am also worried about having a breast reduction and ending up being too small. Being big-breasted is part of a body type that I am most comfortable with and it’s part of who I am and what I am known for. I want my breasts lifted but just don’t want to be flat-chested.

A:  When one has breasts that are so big that they hang down to one’s belly button, they would be a good candidate for a breast reduction procedure. Breast reduction surgery combines a lift with breast tissue reduction to create smaller breasts that sit higher up on one’s chest wall. It is important to understand that there is a wide variability in the amount of breast tissue removal that can be done in any breast reduction. Thus you should not fear having a breast reduction because you think you will end up too small. That is a discussion you need to have with your plastic surgeon beforehand so there is an understanding as to how much smaller in breast size you find acceptable. Given your position, it is always better to end up with uplifted breasts that are still a little big rather than being too small. Whether you should have a breast reduction before or after having children depends on how much neck, back and shoulder pain you are in now. While pregnancy will ultimately affect the shape of your breasts, no matter if they had undergone surgical reshaping or not, the timing of the surgery should be based on musculoskeletal pain relief.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am thinking about using bone cement on my jawline. The mid-portion of my jawline goes up and then back down. Would you be able to attach bone cement there to lower it ? I like the way it looks when its straight, a good lower vector (jawline) I think compliments the upper vector (cheek line) and gives a very nice defined look. Also the advancement in projection I morphed for my chin augmnetation is about twice as far out as most sliding genioplasties I have seen. Would you be able to just cut the bone further back to slide to further forward ? I don’t know if you noticed but I pulled the upper part of my chin out a great amount and then really pulled out the bottom part because I don’t like the way it looks if you were to just pull the bottom out which is what I see most of the time. I know my teeth are there so you would have to put something almost on top of the sliding genioplasty that would give that area the projection I want, would that be bone cement or would you be able to use part of my chin bone? 

A: Based on your projected imaging, I see no problem making the sliding genioplasty advance as much as you have shown. This is about a 10 to 12mm advancement which is well within the range of a genioplasty movement. Filling out the labiomental sulcus (upper part of the chin) does require that the step in the genioplasty be filled out with some material. Whether that is an hydroxyapatite cement, hydroxyapatite block or another material would depend on cost issues for you. When it comes to filling out/smoothing out the jawline behind the chin (other than the step-off in the back part of the osteomy cut), that can not be done with bone cement or any other intraoperatively fashioned material as that will simply not work. Short of making a whole chin-jawline implant from a 3-D model, which can certainly be done to accomplish all of these goals instead of a genioplasty, the jawline behind the chin can not be treated any other way.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have angular cheilitis and have had it for over 8 years since I was 14. I have tried numerous steroid and anti-fungal creams however it does not go away permanently. I was made aware some surgery can be done on the lips, to solve this problem. If there was something to be done, I’d like to know what it might be?

A: While topical medication is the primary treatment for angular cheilitis, some patients have an anatomic arrangement at the corners of their mouth that predisposes them to chronic salivary wetness. If the corners of the mouth are turned down significantly, there is a natural spillway for salivary spill or to allow chronic wetness to occur at the mucosa of the mouth corners. In these cases, it may be beneficial to consider a corner of the mouth lift to relieve this spillway effect.  The lift removes the overhanging tissues and eliminates a downslanting mouth corner. In other cases without a significant corner downturn, the chronically inflamed or irritated mucosa just inside the mouth corners may be simply excised. This removes the chronically infect mucosa and brings in new healthy mucosa that is not inoculated.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianaopolis, Indiana