How Can I Best Fix The Asymmetry Of My Custom Jawline Implant?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a custom wraparound jaw implant placed about a year ago. I have some significant asymmetry, with my right side jawline being smaller and not as sharp. What options would I have in regards of symmetry by augmenting the right side without a total replacement. Could I have a goretex strip overlay? Could I just have the right side of a one piece wraparound replaced without damaging the chin and left side?

A: When one has asymmetry of a custom jawline implant the first question is whether this is the result of implant placement, implant design or some differences in the thickness of the soft tissues. Knowing that most custom facial implants are designed with mirroring software, asymmetries due to design are very uncommon. The most common cause of jawline asymmetries, by far, is placement. Even slight asymmetries in position along one side of the jawline can make for a very visible external appearance change between the two sides. Thus you never consider a revision until you know exactly why it looks the way it does with a postop 3D CT scan. Such scans are tremendously revealing and will help make the choice whether it is to adjust the implant position or perform an overly implant for the smaller less defined side.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon