How Can My Cheek Implant Asymmetry Be Fixed?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am hoping that you can help. I have previously had Medpor Malar cheek implant surgery done through the mouth, upper/ lower eyelid blepharoplasty procedures in the past 6 months. However I am not satisfied with the results, one implant is oversized to the other. Would you be able to help correct my condition to help improve the asymmetry in my face? 

Thanks

A: Thank you for the implant info. Because two different cheek implant sizes were placed I assume you have some cheek asymmetry to start. Like many ‘eyeball’ implant techniques for fixing facial bone asymmetries the asymmetry is not solved and is often more apparent than before. While it would be prudent to get a 3D CT scan to understand the bone and implant differences between the two sides, Medpor material rarely shows up on 3D CT scans. So there is no way to know with accuracy whether the right cheek implant has a size, placement or a combination of both problems which account for the asymmetry from the left side.

The ‘simplest’ path forward is to eyeball the asymmetry correction, remove the implant, modify in size if needed and do an immediate replacement in the same or different position. While this is not mu usual recommended facial implant modification technique it is the most practical one given the implant’s material composition.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon