Do I Need A 3D CT Scan To Get Custom Cheek Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a young male patient with a brief question regarding facial implant work. I noticed that on your website, you have articles that refer to customized male model-style cheek implants. If a patient wanted to undergo surgery to have these cheek implants placed, would they need to undergo a 3D CT scan of their skull to have the implants designed? Or are they manufactured in an “off-the-shelf” sense?

A:Ideally true custom cheek implants are manufactured from the patient’s 3D CT scan. There is an option for special design implants (using other patient’s custom facial implant designs) with the understanding that they are like all traditional standard performed implants…they are made for someone else (a patient or a skull model) and their fit may not be exact or the aesthetic outcome may not be ideal.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana