Should My Jaw Angle Implants Be Revised Or Replaced With New Ones?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had orthognathic surgery of my upper jaw 2 years ago. My upper maxilla was impacted (5mm), advanced (5mm) and moved to the right (2mm) with a Lefort and lateral segmentation of my upper jaw. I got cheek implants, a mentoplasty without implants and jaw angle implants (porex) in standard size. I want my jaw angle implants removed and replaced as I am not happy with the results. My surgeon did a second surgery to try to file the existing implants and create more symmetry (one side is longer than the other with the implants) but even then the result is not good and the only thing to do is to remove the porex implants and replace with custom made. In addition to asymmetry I find that there is not a nice jaw line between the implant and my chin (not continuous line) which create a strange visual effect (it feels that the jaw implant should have continue to meet with my chin). To me is very important that the surgeon that is going to perform the surgery is both knowledgble and has a ‘cosmetic’ eye. I wish to have advice of how difficult this type of corrective procedures are.

A: I am not surprised that revision of porex jaw angle implants did not improve the problem. They are virtually impossible to merely ‘file’ in place due to their harder plastic structure. In addition, it is very common to have some disruption of the jawline between the chin implant and the jaw angle implants, particularly if the jaw angle implants created any vertical lengthening.

While I don’t have the advantage of knowing what your face looks like and an appreciation of skeletal anatomy, I can make some general comments. Removal of porex jaw angle implants is difficult but far from impossible. I have removed such implants numerous times. The question is how best to replace them. There is obviously a reason you had them placed initially whether it was for angle definition, widening or vertical lengthening. Such desired changes would be important to know. It does not appear that standard jaw angle implants may suffice. Custom jaw angle or jawline implants are made off of a 3-D skeletal model. They can be made in any shape and size based on needs and are fabricated out of silicone not porex. Placing the new jaw angle implants is no more difficult than the insertion of the initial jaw angle implants.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana