What Is The Risk Of Masseter Muscle Dehiscence With Jaw Angle Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, what’s the % of muscle detachment or displacement that happens with jaw angle implants? it seems muscle issues are the main issue and can ruin ur face.

A:The question you are asking is what is the risk of postoperative masseteric muscle dehiscence after jaw angle implants. That risk depends on many factors including the experience of the surgeon, the type and size of the jaw angle implants, the natural shape of the patient’s jaw angle bone and strength of the ligamentous attachments (as seen on a 3D CT scan) and prior jaw angle surgery. (e.g. V line or SSRO osteotomies) So there really is no specific accurate % you can assign as a general nunber. The significance of that risk has to be assigned on an individual basis which I classify as low, medium and high. For example if it is a primary jaw angle implant surgery and it is a standard widening implant style I would assign that risk as low. Conversely if it a prior V line reduction patient who wants to restore their jawline with vertical lengthening implants I would assign them as a higher risk.

It is being overly dramatic to classify masseteric muscle dehiscence as ‘ruining a face’.  This is a soft tissue contour issue which in many cases is mild and often only seen when chewing or biting down.

And no masseter muscle dehiscence is not the risks of jaw angle implant surgery…..infection and implant asymmetry are the far more significantly encountered complications.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon