Custom Jaw and Cheek Implants

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a custom jaw and cheek implants (the one that covers the entire cheek area to achieve the “male model” look. After extensive research I have decided that you are the best surgeon for these procedures so I will be definitely visiting you.

I would really like you to answer a couple of my questions about the procedure though.

1. What is the total cost. As far as I know a custom chin implant can be up to 9000$ and the cheek implant 15000$ for a maximum total of 24000$. Am I right?

2. I live in Europe so I would like to know about the entire travel. As far as i know I should visit you 1.5 months before the procedure to have the implants designed.

How long will I have to stay in the US for that first trip? Can I get the CT scan there?

3. For the second trip how long will I have to stay in the US? After the procedures what are the recovery times? How much time until I look normal again and how much time until I can see at least 90% of the final result, how much time until 100%?

4. What about the pricing plans? Can I pay over a period of 24 months? If yes will there be any interest?

A: Thank you for your inquiry. The first place to start is to see whether you truly need custom jaw and cheek implants or whether any of our special designed facial implant styles may suit your needs. Special design facial implants come from a inventory of many other patients who have had custom implants made and I will occasionally use them when what the patient wants to achieve can be done just as effectively in my opinion as a true custom implant. Thus I would like to see some pictures of your face for my assessment and computer imaging to see what is possible.

For custom facial implants implant designing is done from a 3D CT scan which you can get where you live and have it sent to me. You do NOT have to come here for the scan. That scan is then used to design the implants which is done online and a process that I do elicit patient input during the implant design process.

You would come here just for the surgery and could probably go home in a few days after the procedure. It will take about 2 weeks until you look fairly reasonable and will be more comfortable in public. The full facial recovery process is one that takes closer to 6 to 8 weeks.

For the sake of some cost information education, I will have my assistant provide you next week the cost of two custom facial implants performed during the same surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana