Facial Reduction

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a very large and disproportionate face. My brows are hugely overgrown and my jawline is equally as big. I look like a Neanderthal! What type of facial reshaping or facial reduction surgery would be beneficial for me?

A: Thank you for sending your pictures and I can clearly see your brow and jawline overgrowth concerns. While reduction of these facial bones is certainly one part of the solution, it is not the complete or most effective approach for either area. For your brow bones, their prominence is partly contributed to by the recessed or backward sloping of your forehead. That would be become very apparent if the brow bones were reduced alone. The best result comes from a combination of an oteoplastic brow bone setback (not just shaving) and forehead augmentation above it. I have shown this type of result in the imaging attached. From the jawline standpoint, bone needs to be removed along the inferior border of the jawline from the angles to the chin. But the chin bone needs to be vertically lengthened and setback a bit to make the jawline more harmonious and smooth. I have attached imaging of this type of combined chin and jawline change. For all facial areas it is also important to not overdo them as your entire face is skeletally strong and any drastic change to one area would look out of proportion or even feminizing to your face.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana