Custom Facial Implants

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have several custom facial implants questions. I would like to visit you later this year for a custom midface implant and custom chin implant. Is it possible that I can have both surgeries at the same visit or would I have to wait for the first one to recover? Also what is the recovery time of a custom midface implant that covers the areas from the infraorbital rims to the ears?

A: It would be very common to have more than one area of the face augmented with implants during the same surgery. This is just as true with custom facial implants as standard facial implants.  The most common such combination would be custom jawline and custom midface or forehead/skull implants, treating distinctly different craniofacial regions.

The recovery time for just about any custom facial implants procedure is primarily related to the swelling that occurs in the face. One usually starts to look ‘reasonable’ in about 10 to 14 days after surgery. But full recovery to see the final results of the facial implant surgery can take up to six weeks after the procedure. As a general rule there his always more facial swelling that one expects and it will last longer than one wants.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana