Does Temporal Reduction Surgery Affect Muscle Function?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have some questions about temporal reduction surgery. 

1 What is the thickness  of the temporalis muscle?

2. I have been searching for the this kind of surgery on the Internet and I have not found many surgeons who deal with this, why? Is it because it’s the most difficult operations of all or is it because there is no big demand for this procedure?

3. Do you have any materials (video, pictures) of this kind of operation?

4. When the temporalis muscle is removed , would it influence any other muscle or anything related to that section of head?

5. In your message to me you wrote : ” A vertical incision is made and the entire posterior temporalis muscle is removed and the underlying bone burred as much as possible”  What is burred?  

6. Is there any chance that you can make a picture for me of how I would look like after the surgery ?

7. This operation can not cause any damage to my brain?

A: In answer to your questions:

1) The thickness of the temporalis muscle differs depending on its location. The average thickness of the temporalis muscle above the ear is usually around 7mms or so.

2) Temporal muscle reduction surgery is not commonly practiced due to lack of awareness and patient demand, it is not complex surgery.

3) I do not have any videos of this type of surgery but do have intraoperative pictures of it.

4) Removal of the posterior portion of the temporalis muscle has no functional effects on the workings of the muscle and its jaw opening/closing function.

5) Some temporal bone burring is done is some cases.

6) I can do some computer imaging if I have a frontal view picture of you.

7) This is an extra cranial procedure not an intracranial one so there is no risk of any brain injury.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana