How Do I Fix My Torn Masseter Muscles?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a custom jawline implant placed four years ago in Beverly Hills. Besides implant malpositioning I also got ripped masseter muscles. The surgeon stated he could do revision and fix the issues with the implant as well as decrease visibility of ripped masseter muscles so I had the revision two years later. Revision did not fix the issues with implant or reduce visibility of issue. During revision, masseter muscle on left side tore completely, masseter muscle on right side ripped further. What do I do now?

A:Thank you for sending your pictures and detailing your surgical history. Once the masseter muscle has retraction and fibrosis it can never be put back to its original length (over the implant). Thus the concept that it was going to be fixed in any type of implant revision surgery was, to be kind, overly optimistic. The question now is how to manage it (the left side is the most affected) and what remaining problems do you have with your implants…. Issues which will require further in-depth discussion.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon