Custom implant designing has been a game changer in the world of facial reshaping surgery. The ability to control the dimensions of a facial implant that typically covers a much greater surface area than standard facial implants offers an unparalleled ability to change the shape of a face.
The most typical custom facial implant done today is that for the entire jawline followed by the infraorbital rim and cheeks, either separately or done as a combined custom implant. (the custom infra-orbital malar implant)
But it is becoming increasingly common that more than one custom facial implant is done at the same time. There are economic reasons to do so, because of the designing costs, but the real motivation is to make a more significant facial shape change.
The most common dual custom facial implant approach involves the jawline and the cheeks using the ‘5 Point’ approach or paired triangular facial shape change. (two cheeks, two jaw angles and one chin or jaw angle-cheek-chin triangle)
One uncommon custom facial combination is the jawline-temporal approach. This is used when the patient has temporal hollowing and a weaker jawline but their cheeks are often adequate. Besides changing the temporal hollows into a flatter or more convex shape, it also allows the temporal width to match that of the width of the jaw angles or back part of the jaw.
Custom temporal and jawline implants is also a high and low approach to facial voluminazation and reshaping by simultaneous widening of the forehead and the lower jaw. In some ways, because of the involvement of the masticatory muscles (temporalis and masseter muscles) that both type of implants involve, this is the only functional type of facial implant augmentation that increases the size of the largest muscles on the face.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis Indiana