Your Questions
Your Questions
Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a combination of procedures including:
1. Brow bone implant augmentation using a custom made brow bone implant and possibly forehead augmentation as well. As you can see from the attached pictures this area of my face lacks definition. i would like a more masculine look. I had upper eyelid surgery done some six years ago. Unfortunately that was a botched operation, the surgeon operating on me sliced off too much of my left eyelid which has left the eye about half way to a third open when I close my eyes. The left eye is wider than the right when open. I was wondering, since the brow augmentation is performed around this area, would this type of surgery cause my eyes,particularly the left one to open further, thereby leaving the eye completely open when shut or when i am asleep? I guess implanting around this area is bound to pull the upper eyelid area upwards and pressure on the tissue surrounding that area.. I would not consider going ahead with brow bone implant augmentation if this is the case. Your opinion on this is greatly appreciated
2. Lip reduction to lower and upper lips. Just minor reduction to counter drooping which I notice and is probably due to me getting on in age. When at rest I can see the pink of my inner lips showing.
3. Alar base reduction in combination with Weir incisions to reduce nasal side walls and inner nostrils as well. When I smile my nostril flare excessively which bothers me, so I refrain from smiling as much as I can.
4. Finally I would like to raise/heighten my dorsal bridge as well as trim the bony area along the bridge to give definition. In addition I would like the bulbous nasal tip defatted if this is something you can do. Again, I just a subtle change as I do not want it looking to pointy.
5. I have had previous rhinoplasty with a premaxillary implant inserted below nasal base and I want to remove this.
Are these procedures you can do? Can you perform these procedures at the same time? Have you any experience performing all the procedures i have mentioned above on ethnic people like me?
A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending all of your pictures. In answer to your procedural questions:
- When it comes to a brow bone implant it is critically important that the decision for total forehead augmentation be considered using computer imaging. That has to be factored into the implant design. With the slope of your forehead I suspect brow bone augmentation only may only make the forehead look more inclined backward. As for the effect on the eyes, I have not really seen much effect on the eyelid position. If anyway I would think it would push the eyelids down lower and not pulled upward.
- Lip reduction almost produces less of a lip reduction effect than most patients want. So a more subtle lip reduction effect is the more likely one to be achieved as opposed to too much of a reduction.
- Reduction of nostril width changes the outer location of the nostril but has no effect on the inner nostril along the midline columella.
- The height of the nasal bridge can be raised and this can be done by either an implant or a rib graft. Since you may already being having a brow bone-forehead implant, I suspect the implant option would be more appealing. Reducing a bulbous tip in thick-skinned men always produces more of a subtle change and never a dramatic or a pointy one.
- The premaxillary implant can be easily removed.
All of these procedures can be done at the same time (custom forehead implant, rhinoplasty, lip reduction and premaxillary implant removal) The only thing ‘ethnic’ about your procedures is that of the nose and I have done many such ethnic rhinoplasties.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m interested in having brow bone augmentation to give it a deeper and more masculine appearance. I understand that there are various materials available, and I was wondering if you could kindly answer these few questions:
1) Which material would allow for the smallest scar?
2) I understand that custom silicone implants will provide the most dependable results, but will hydroxyapatite (HA) be able to provide a similar augmentation?
3) Which would also have the cheapest overall surgical cost – silicone, HA or PMMA?
4) As I’m leaning towards HA, could you also provide the cost of getting this procedure?
Thank you!
A: When it comes to your questions on brow bone augmentation the answers are as follows:
- A silicone brow bone implant can be placed with the smallest scar. Because of its preformed shape it can be inserted and positioned with a limited incision or endoscopic technique. All other forms of brow bone augmentation (except fat injections) require a wide open scalp incision technique with a long scalp scar.
- Hydroxyapatite can provide a good brow bone augmentation if one can tolerate the coronal incision to have it placed. This is a liquid and powder mixture that must be carefully applied and shaped. To do so requires wide open visibility.
- A preformed silicone implant would provide the most economical approach since it has the shortest operative time to complete.
- I will have my assistant pass along the cost of the different brow bone augmentation procedures to you on Monday.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 28 year-old Asian make who is very interested in having cosmetic surgery performed for overall facial reshaping. As you offer a wide range of procedures which may be relevant to my goals, I hope to receive advice on the achievability of my goals.
First of all, I am very conscious in photos of the roundness and wideness of my face. (especially when smiling, at which point my cheeks appear very round and prominent) In addition, I would like to reduce the fullness of my lower face and make it thinner.
Secondly, I was wondering if a sliding genioplasty was advisable, as my chin appears to be relatively normal sized. I wish to make my jawline less round, and increase the vertical dimensions of my face to alleviate the aforementioned wideness.
Thirdly, I was wondering if procedures were available to create a more ‘deep-set’ look for my eyes. This, in addition to rhinoplasty to reduce the hump and raise the nose bridge, to reduce the ‘flatness’ of my face in profile.
I realize that not all of my expectations will be realistic nor all procedures advisable, so thanks for your time and expertise in advance.
A: A wide collection of procedures are available for facial reshaping as you are aware. In addressing all four areas of your facial concerns from top to bottom, I can make the following initial comments as they relate to your face.
1) I am now using performed or custom brow bone implants to build up the brow ridges. They can be placed through a limited incision endoscopic technique. That is the most effective way to create a more deep-set look to your eyes.
2) Your rhinoplasty would include a humor reduction, radix augmentation and some slight increased tip projection.
3) Cheekbone narrowing is the only way to provide some reduction in the mid-arch bizygomatic distance of probably 4 to 5mms per side.
4) I would consider paranasal augmentation, I have a new paranasal implant that I am really happy with that can not be felt and adds about 5mms projection to the nasal base.
5) I do think that a vertical lengthening genioplasty (which may have to be widened in a male) will help narrow the jawline. You do not need a horizontal advancement but when opening the vertical distance of the chin it does rotate it back a few millimeters so I would do a small advancement as well.
These are some initial thoughts. Computer imaging needs to be done to see how such facial reshaping procedures would look on you.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Q: Dr. Eppley, my left orbital and the left side of my jaw are fairly asymmetrical. I am interested in possible left cheek implant, andleft jaw/chin implant. I would actually also like to build out the left side of my nose and frontal bone if possible and fix my eyebrows as they are different heights. Also if you have suggestions I would like to hear them. I saw two plastic surgeons already, both said they could not help me . They did not actually look at me for more than a couple of seconds before they said that though.
A: Thank you for sending your pictures and indicating your objectives. To summarize your facial asymmetry concerns, I list the following items:
1) Left jawline asymmetry (based on the arrow in the drawing this is located at the prejowl area which is the junction of the back end of the chin and the body of the mandible
2) Left cheek deficiency
3) Left brow bone-nasal deficiency
4) Left eyebrow excessive elevation
I don't know if any of these are from prior facial injuries or just your natural facial development. But either way, I can make the following comments/treatment recommendations:
1) It is not possible to improve your eyebrow asymmetry by lowering the higher left side. There is not a procedure that can accomplish that movement. Eyebrows can be lifted but they can not really be lowered. It is certainly possible to do an endoscopic periosteal release of the supraorbital tissues and see of that will accomplich some lowering (and there is little to lose by so doing) but I can't guarantee if that would really be effective.
2) The medial brow bone and upper nasal deficiency (which is bone based) can be built up by the onlay of a material through an upper eyelid (blepharoplasty) incision. While a wide variety of materials exist, I would opt for either an hydroxyapatite cement or a mersilene mesh onlay.
3) The cheek bone deficiency could be augmented by the use of a cheek implant placed through an intraoral incision.
4) The jawline deficiency (unless I am misinterpreting what your concerns are) appears to be a 'spot' area along the left jawline. I would build up that area with a mersilene mesh onlay to fill in the prejowl deficiency through an intraoral approach.
The three select facial skeletal deficiences (jawline, cheek and left brow-nasal) could be assessed in exact anatomic detail and custom implants made off of a 3-D skull model, but I don't think we have to go to that extent to get a good result. It may be ideal but I don't consider it absolutely necessary in your case.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana