What Type Of Jaw Angle Implants Do I Need?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I was browsing through your website looking at facial implants and I realize that you are one of the experts in this field. I have a very small mandible and got my overbite fixed with 3 years of braces. However, afterward I still had a very small mandible. I got a silicone chin implant to fix my small chin. I am mostly satisfied with my chin. But I still have a very thin and weak jaw and I would like to get jaw implants to get width and angles on my mandible in the future. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing with you to determine the best possible process.

A: With a very small mandible, the jaw is usually deficient in more than just the chin area. It is really small from front to back throughout its entire length. The means the jaw angle area will be rotated upward, giving one high jaw angles that have little width. While the chin implant provides greater horizontal projection to the front of the mandible, angle implants are needed to improve balance at its back end. But the jaw angle implants must have a very specific style and dimensions to be effective. With high jaw angles, the implants must provide vertical lengthening as well as some width. Most current styles of jaw angle implants don’t provide these dimensions so you have to very careful to get the correct style to get the desired aesthetic result.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana