How Do I Determine Which Facial Implants Would Improve My Facial Balance/Appearance?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have been researching facial implant procedures and came across your work. I am interested in learning more about facial implant surgery and facial contouring in general.

My main question is about your consultation process. During a private consultation, do you also evaluate the face and recommend which implants or procedures might improve facial harmony and overall appearance?

I am asking because I am not entirely sure which implants would be appropriate for my face (for example jawline, chin, infraorbital rim, etc.), and I would be interested in a professional assessment of what could potentially improve my facial balance.

Do you also offer planning or visual simulations to show possible outcomes or different implant designs?

Thank you very much for your time.

A:In the world of facial reshaping surgery, a lot of which is done with implants although there are a few a autologous procedures, it would be very important to know what the patients aesthetic goals are. This is determined preoperatively by imaging of the patient’s pictures to determine their aesthetic targets. There is a common misunderstanding of imaging and the belief that it is done to show outcomes… which is not its purpose as no one can predict with any accuracy what any surgical outcome will be. Conversely it is done to determine what the patient’s goals are from a visual standpoint. Then the operation is designed with these visual targets in mind and hopefully come as close as possible to those imaged goals with the surgical plan.

Such imaging does not guarantee that the preoperative Visual goals will be achieved. But what I do know is you could never hit a target you never had.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon