Do I Need Custom Facial Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am looking to improve my weak jawline. It is weak not only in the front but all the way to the back. I guess I was just borne with a small underdeveloped jaw. It makes me look very unmasculine and I would like to improve that as I think it would make my life better. I have read about implants that are used for the jawline but it is not clear to me whether I would need custom implants or not.

A: Facial augmentation can be done by a variety of implant approaches which fundamentally breakdown into off-the-shelf, semi-custom, or custom. Off-the shelf implants mean what is currently available in the catalog that the manufacturers have available and can ship with arrival in 1 to 2 days. A semi-custom implant approach means using what is available off-the shelf but modifying them during surgery to fit the patient’s anatomy and their aesthetic desires. Like off-the-shelf implants, they can be ordered and arrive in 1 to 2 days. A custom facial  implant approach is very unique because the implants are made off the patient’s model made from a 3-D CT scan either by hand or computer-generated. These take a certain amount of time to manufacture, which at the minimum is three weeks from when the patient gets their CT scan done locally.

To make the determination of which implant approach needs to be done for any particular patient I use computer imaging to get a feel for the magnitude of facial implant volume and changes that is needed.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana