Does An Infraorbital-Malar Osteotomy Exist?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I may have asked this question in my consultation, but is osteotomy not possible for the infraobital area? I think you had stated not,even with the orthognathic surgeries I brought up, which is why I am choosing implants. 

I had a few reasonable questions about the long term survival outcome of the implants however – Do they become absorbed by the facial bone over time? What is their material? Most importantly, how do they react to the aging process, (e.g. osteoclast cells/ bone reabsorption) into old age? Just want to know if they will last all the way to grave (given what we know from the long span of time they’ve performed these). Thanks for answering.

A: In answer to your infraorbital-malar augmentation questions:

1) There are no infraorbital osteotomy techniques for augmentation, there are only implants.

2) Implants are structurally stable, they can not change form or degrade over time. They only change physical form at 375 degrees F. Your tissues may change around them as you age, which would be expected, but the implants themselves do not.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon