Deltoid Implants

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would like to have some information regarding aesthetic shoulder augmentation with silicone implants. (deltoid implants)

After a motorcycle accident when I was young, I broke my right collarbone and in the hospital the doctor decided not to operate the shoulder.

As a consequence the bone of the clavicle is welded overlapping with the aesthetic result of shortening the length of 3 cm shoulder.

Moreover, my body was already thin, and has increased the curvature of the right shoulder to the inside. 

A: By your description it is just the right shoulder which is due to the loss of projection of the shoulder due to loss of clavicular length. Your treatment options include:

1)  A camouflage approach with the insertion of a right shoulder deltoid implant or

2) Treatment of the source of the problem by clavicular lengthening by osteotomy and plate fixation

I would need to see pictures of your shoulders to determine if a deltoid implant would offer a reasonable aesthetic improvement.

The use of deltoid implants has its advantages over actually cutting and moving the bone depending upon the degree of location of the shoulder deformity.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana