Facial Reshaping Surgery in Acromegaly

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 35 years old and in need of facial reshaping surgery from Acromegaly. The tumor was removed successfully from her pituitary gland three months ago. My hormone levels are good right now and I’ll be monitored for the rest of my life. I have seen significant changes in my appearance and I am actually the one that researched why this change was happening and discovered it was Acromegaly ! I am asking for your HELP.! It breaks my heart to see my facial features change my beautiful looks!! My friends and family see it too. I was hoping that you can help or recommend a doctor in Montana that could do my facial surgery to soften my facial features. It has really affected my cheek bones, nose and chin! I am also hoping that insurance would cover this because it was caused by this disease. Please help me feel good again about myself and make me look beautiful again! Looking forward to hearing from you!

A: It is unfortunate to hear of your medical condition but encouraging to know that the cause has been identified and safely treated. The facial changes from Acromegaly are well known and effect both bone and soft tissue. I am not aware that once the growth hormone levels are restored to normal that the facial changes, particularly the skeletal ones, are completely reversible. The medical literature suggests that they may be although it takes ‘considerable time’.

That being said the question is what could be done from a facial reshaping standpoint now that would be aesthetically beneficial. Facial reduction procedures are far more challenging to perform, and thus less commonly done, than facial augmentation procedures in the subspecialty of facial reshaping surgery. I can not speak for whom may perform these procedures in Montata if anyone, I can only speak for what I can do and perform on a regular basis. If you would like me to be of assistance the first place to start is to send me some pictures for my assessment and recommendations. Ultimately surgical planning will require a 3D CT facial scan as well as being necessary to submit to insurance to determine possible coverage.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana