Should I Fix My Slight Jaw Angle Implant Asymmetry?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I took some pics where you can kind of see the slight difference in my jaw angle implants. I don’t think I can handle surgery right now, but in the future, do you think he could make it even for a fair price. the side with the added length is good and I like that side. lol it’s not that noticeable but I’m a perfectionist if you know what I mean.

A:Thank you for the long-term follow-up to which I can make the following comments:

1) I never consider revision and its potential success in facial implants until I see a postoperative 3-D CT scan to know for certain where the implants actually are and what type of changes maybe needed to improve their position.

2) I would be very cautious about being a perfectionist in the jaw angle area. Due to the intraoral approach and the increased risk of infection as well as masseteric muscle dehiscence, both of which you have never experienced but may occur in secondary surgery, there is always the chance in the pursuit of perfection to end up with a postoperative complication that is greater than the original problem in which the surgery was designed to treat. That does not mean one should never do revisional  surgery in jaw angle implants just that you need to be mindful that the risk:benefit ratio is significantly increased in the more times you do the surgery. Another words the benefits are much less than the first surgery but the risk are much greater than the first surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon