Jaw angles implants are designed to add size and shape to the mandibular ramus area. They are a companion and complement to the more commonly performed and well known chin implant. Together chin and jaw angle implants create a complete jaw augmentation approach.
While selecting the style and size of chin implants is fairly easy, doing so with jaw angle implants is not. Since the chin is a projecting structure on the edge of the jaw, the amount of horizontal projection is frequently the most important dimensional consideration. This is both easy to see, measure as well as perform computer imaging. Jaw angle implants, however, are not an edge enhancement procedure. Rather they provide augmentation to the side of the jaw/face where measurements and even computer imaging is harder to do in a reliable fashion.
Because of the more imprecise nature of jaw angle implant size selection, it is very helpful to be prepared during surgery with multiple implant sizes. Most of the time standard sizes will work (small, medium and large) but this is not always the case. How an implant looks in place can be less than what one would anticipate and there is always the issue of asymmetry which is very common in the jaw angle area.
If necessary it is always possible to stack jaw angle implants together to create the desired augmentation effect. Unlike many other facial implant types, angle implants fit together fairly well… a little bit like nesting dolls. Some trimming does need to be done but the implants can be stacked fairly securely. This will increase the width of the jaw angle augmentation over what any one single implant can do.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana