Do You Think My Custom Jawline Implant Design Looks Too Big?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 32-yo male  looking for a custom jaw implant. I have a preliminary proposal from a NYC-based surgeon but am uncertain around the proposed design and his skill level. Dr. Eppley is highly experienced and I’d like to consult with him about what he thinks, including about having him do the surgery (scheduled for December).

Here is the morph they made me, attached.  I’m very focused on “fixing” the jawline from the side profile, like the first and third picture.  My mandibular angle is too flat – almost like a congenital condition – so that is what I want fixed and that is my key concern.  I don’t think I need much width and only want a tiny amount of new width, at most.

A: You would be astutely correct based on that imaged goal. When you add vertical length to the jaw angles you will by definition add width without even trying. Thus if the goal is minimal jaw angle width with vertical lengthening/reshaping, the custom jaw angle implant width should be minimized …like no more than 3mms. It is very easy to make the face look too heavy from the front view with the creation of lower aw angle even though the jaw angles may look great from the oblique and side view.  This third dimension (front view)  must always be factored into any jaw angle implant design.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon