A custom jawline implant is the proven most effective method to change the lower third of one’s face. By providing total coverage of the entire jawline it changes the entire contour of the inferolateral aspect of the lower jaw from one jaw angle to the other jaw angle. Designed from the patient’s 3D CT scan, it allows the patient the opportunity to see and participate (at least in my practice) in the intricacies of the implant’s design.
One of the ‘problems’ in custom jawline implant designing, or any custom facial implant design for that matter, is that there is no direct correlation between ‘cause and effect’. This means it is currently impossible to know with absolute accuracy as to the aesthetic impact or change the custom jawline implant will create. This understandably creates some preoperative and short term postoperative anxiety about the final result.
Once the custom implant design has been finalized and sent for manufacture a small number of patients begin to question some of their implant dimensions particularly if they are concerned that it might be too big. In rare cases I have had patients ask right before surgery if I can modify or reduce certain dimensions of the implant. And the answer is yes. If the base material is silicone it is readily able to be carved and reshaped intraoperatively. This is done using large scalpel blades.And while it requires skill and experience to do it both effectively and time efficient, reductive changes to the implant can be done.
The most common changes patients ask to do are in chin/jawline width as well as in jaw angle width. The key in shaving the implant is do so in a smooth and continuous fashion and keep the thickness of the material at the desired amount.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana