Your Questions
Your Questions
Q: Dr. Eppley, My face is really chunky and rounded and just full. I would really like to have a slim face with defined cheekbones and a square jaw. I was curious about whether any types of would be capable of altering my facial features. Also if I have facial surgery can I get liposuction in various areas consisting of belly, butt, back, and male breasts, thighs, and arms.
A: In regards to your face slimming desires, the first most important is whether any significant slimming effect with better definition can be obtained. Not all face types can be converted into those desired changes. I would need to see some pictures of your face to determine what may be possible. Fat removal procedures can have some mild to moderate facial slimming effects. Skeletal augmentation such as cheeks, chin and the jawline often produce more profound facial changes.
When it comes to liposuction in men, by far the most common areas would be the abdomen, flanks (love handles) and chest. Thigh, arms and back would be very uncommon requests. (quite frankly I have never had a male request for liposuction in those areas my entire practice career) This raises the question of what your overall weight and body type is. I would be curious to see pictures of these areas of body concerns to determine if liposuction is the appropriate treatment.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Q: I am a former patient of Dr. Eppley. I had buccal fat removal and love my results… however, I am still interested in having facial liposuction to sculpt my cheeks out a bit. I am wondering if he can do this and this is possible.
A: The removal of the buccal fat pads is the largest fat depot that can be surgically removed on the face aside from the neck. Its removal creates a slimming change in but one region of the face, the submalar region or the area right below the cheek bones. There are no other distinct or encapsulated fat areas to remove on the face. The rest and majority of facial fat is located in the subcutaneous level or right under the skin. This is much more difficult to remove and can only be addressed by small cannula liposuction. Many such facial fat areas are not even treatable by liposuction.
When patients seek a slimming effect of the face, they often are referring to the side of the face from the cheeks down to the jaw line. This leaves a lot of facial areas beyond the submalar or buccal fat region. Most of these areas can be treated by liposuction if done carefully and not done too deep. The buccal branches of the facial nerve lie on top of the muscle layer just underneath and injury to them should obviously be avodied. The question is not whether it can be done, but whether any significant change can be achieved. In general you can not make a wholesale facial slimming change by facial liposuction but small discrete areas may be able to be improved.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana