Mandibular Angle (Jaw) Implants for Facial Enhancement
For those male patients who desire a more square and angular facial appearance, the mandibular angle or jaw angle implant has become a popular facial implant option. By squaring off and extending the junction of the back and lower borders of the mandible (jaw), the appearance of the jaw becomes wider and more square. This type of look is often desired by younger males, particularly those interested in or already in the modeling field. It is also a very helpful procedure for those patients, male or female, with weaker jaw appearances or jaw asymmetry. I have placed as many mandibular angle implants for jaw asymmetries (one jaw side is very different than the other) as I have for bilateral (both sides) cosmetic enhancements.
In my practice here in Indianapolis, I discuss mandibular angle enhancement through the use of these implants. There are no practical bone-moving procedures for cosmetic enhancement of the mandibular angle, so implants are always used.While mandibular angle implants are available in different materials, I prefer the use of solid silicone (rubber) cheek implants, which are by far the most commonly used. They are soft, flexible, and slide easily into place along the side of the lower jaw. A mandibular angle implant is inserted through an incision in the mouth along the bone in the back part of the jaw. This leaves no visible scar. It can be inserted through a direct skin incision just behind the jaw angles in rare cases. The mandibular angle implant is slide along the side of the back part of the lower jaw into its position over the edge of the bone. Usually a mandibular angle implant is held in place simply by the pocket into which it is placed. Occasionally, I will use a metal screw to secure the implant to the bone. This screw fixation method can eliminate one of the very few complications of mandibular angle implants, that of shifting position after surgery causing jaw asymmetry and loss of the desired .While any implant (foreign-body) has some risk of infection, mandibular angle implant infections are quite uncommon.
Enhancing the jaw angle with an implant is the least performed facial implant procedure, compared to cheek and chin implants. The goal of a mandibular angle implant is to produce a fullness to the back part of the lower jaw, resulting in a more square facial appearance. There are only a few variations in the styles of mandibular angle implants. The most basic differences in mandibular angle implants is in the amount of extension that can occur from the edges of the bone, both in the back edge as well as the lower edge. Also, different width thicknesses are available, dependent upon how much increase in width of the jaw angle is desired.
Mandibular angle implants are usually done alone but I have also performed them in conjunction with chin and cheek implants. The most powerful way to masculinize a male’s face is the combination of mandibular angle, chin, and cheek implants all done at the same time.
Dr Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana