What Is The Best Method To Restore The Shape Of The Masseter Muscle Over A Jaw Angle Implant?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I recently read the article you wrote on soft tissue augmentation of the jaw angle. Several years ago, I had a custom wraparound jaw implant placed. As your article identified, due to the extent of vertical lengthening achieved by my implant, the fullness of my masseter muscle actually sits above the bottom of the jaw angle. Whenever my jaw is clenched, this issue is exacerbated – but even at rest the fullness of the muscle being higher than ideal seems undesirable aesthetically.  

Your article suggests that dermal grafts or subdermal soft tissue implants are an option for treatment. But can these grafts be shaped in such a way to provide both angularity and fullness lower than the current masseter position, even at rest? I enjoy the angularity of the implant from the side view, but it seems my current masseter position prevents this from being visible from the front view.

A: Only an ultrasoft silicone soft tissue jaw angle implants can add both assured fullness and angularity back to the jaw angle region. I find them to be superior to that of any form of dermal grafts.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana