Jaw Angle Implant Removal

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had jaw angle implant removal surgery last year, and they were removed early this year. The biggest issue is the disruption of my pterygomasseteric sling which is most noticeable when I clench my teeth.

Anyway, after a fair bit of research online, I’ve since accepted that it is not possible to fully fix this. My question is – could fillers be used to camouflage or minimize the disruption? If so, would Radiesse or Sculptra be suitable fillers? Finally, what would be the longevity of these fillers and how much will they cost?

Thank you!

A: Reattaching a contracted masseter muscle after jaw angle implant removal is certainly a challenge and usually only partially successful. How well the masseter muscle can be pulled down is a function

Filling in the muscle defect below the new level of the masseter muscle can be done by injectable fillers or fat injections. The first thing you want to do is to use a hyaluronic-based filler (e.g., Juvederm XC, Voluma) as this has the least risk of irregularities and has an assured dissolution time or can be reversed by hyaluroidase injections in the event that you do not like the result.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana