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POSTED UNDER Cheek Implants REVIEWS

Cut my Custom Implant Up Without Permission

ORIGINAL POST

Cut my Custom Implant Up Without Permission

Enthusiastic57254
$30,000
I had jaw and cheek implants done in 2018. I also had otoplasty to pin back ears and reduce the height of long lobes. The work was mediocre at best with pronounced scarring on my left earlobe. My treatment surrounding the left cheek implant was awful.
The focus of this practice is custom implants which are fabricated using ct scans. If placed well they are supposed to fit near perfectly. Unlike previous gen implants which had SML sizes these implants are 3d printed to be patient-specific. Good pitch, and likely true. However the kicker is they have to be placed properly.
He placed one implant too low leaving a nub visibly protruding from my cheek. I returned a month later, for, as the paperwork says, a "left cheek implant adjustment". I went expecting my implant would be repositioned. After all it was custom to my skull so the protrusion meant it wasn't placed correctly. In our brief, perhaps 2 minute, pre-surgical talk Eppley asked me to point out the nub saying "I think I know what you're talking about but I want to be sure". (I found this gaslighty as it was clearly visible.) I did and he put his finger on it agreeing that he could feel the implant poking. My next memory is after surgery and him asking if I could still feel the implant poking. I still could so he put me back under. (Is waking people for a loopy anesthesia chat then knocking them right back out normal/ethical/safe?) After waking up a second time it was mentioned to me that the implant had been "trimmed". He didn't attempt to reposition the implant but simply cut some away in the first revision surgery and more in the second removing a good chunk of the implant. The philosophy seems to be put the implant kinda maybe close to where it's supposed to go and then cut away any inconvenient protrusions the poor placement causes. I WAS NOT TOLD prior to "adjustment" that his plan was to cut away as much of the implant as it took. If told my OBVIOUS response would be to ask why cutting and not repositioning the implant was the way to go. Ponder the ego and flippancy and deceit of someone who doesn't feel they should tell you what they plan to do inside your own face. I don't know why he did this. My very best guess is that my revision was late in the afternoon after a long day operating and repositioning the implant was more difficult and time consuming than hacking it up.
There's a hollow on my left side by the outer edge of my eye whereas it's filled in on the right side. The orbital rim augmentation I paid for was simply cut off without consent.
After the implant was cut I had notable asymmetry in eye shape (as well as on the zygomatic arch) but tried to let it go. A month ago after seething for 2.5 years and losing weight making the poor work more visible I contacted them to say I wanted to replace the damaged implant.
After 3 emails the response: "Dr. Eppley has reviewed the details of your case and he doesn't feel confident that he can surgically achieve the aesthetic outcome you desire. We wish you the best of luck."
I desired no "aesthetic outcome". I merely wanted an effort to be made at a result resembling the pre surgical imaging. After I shared my anger Cindy the Mgr called to say that Eppley would pay for a new implant but I should find a new surgeon. To be clear he feels his accountability extends to the $1000 piece of silicon, not the roughly $20k replacement surgery. Or the time off work. Or the hassle. Or the additional scar tissue. He can do indefensibly flippant work for tens of thousands and by way of apology he feels he should pay for a piece of plastic.
I've asked REPEATEDLY why cut the implant rather than reposition. They simply won't answer.
I've posted a pic of the protrusion visible after the first surgery. I've posted a picture of my actual result. The jaw implants are a bit wonky with pronounced step-offs. The left cheek implant has a chunk missing which was treated as disposable despite it being a key design feature. This causes asymmetric eyes and negates the high cheek bone look Eppley is so fond of selling.
I've also posted my pre-surgical imaging with perfectly placed implants in blue. Eppley regularly uses this pre-surgical imaging as advertising in lieu of real "after" photos/scans. Think about this. Other surgeons have hundreds of impressive before and afters on their Instagrams. Eppley has projections and operating room videos and videos of him talking in to the camera about how much he knows. If his results were good he would show before and afters. And sorry, not buying their line that Eppley's patients are somehow more private than other surgeons.
In hindsight my surgical experience matches pre-surgical. After selling three design sessions he was pressuring me to sign off on the design after just one. Prepare for a production line feel. There's a reason he's cheaper than doctors Binder, Dhir, and Diamond in LA who all have much more time for their patients. If you think you will be able to sit down at a desk with a computer screen and carefully design an implant you will NOT get that experience here. You'll get a couple of 15-20 minute zoom calls at best and then be pushed to call it good "so that implantech has time to make it before your surgery date".
Truly best to stay away. Feel free to message me for more details.

Enthusiastic57254's provider

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Enthusiastic57254 rating for Dr. Eppley:

Overall rating

Replies (17)

March 17, 2021
THIS IS INSANE
March 19, 2021
You have made a lot of very valid points that I have long suspected about this surgeon. I never bought his 'my patients are more private' argument either and have come across a lot of Eppley's botched work through Instagram.

Not his Instagram of course, but other surgeons who have had to fix his awful work. I came across one poor gentleman who's eyes were left permanently drooping after failed cheek implant placement on a Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon's Instagram who was trying to fix it. It was quite shocking to me and when I asked him about who had botched him he direct messaged me telling me it was Eppley.

Yes, what you experienced was harrowing for you and I am sorry you had to go through that, but your post will hopefully stop other people from having to go through the same thing. I had seriously considered Eppley for some procedures on my own face (mainly because of the price) but after seeing some of his actual work and hearing about his bedside manner, I decided against it.

Yes, it will take me longer to get the money together to go to a Binder, Dhir, and Diamond in LA but I'll just have to wait because I just know in my heart that if I go to Eppley he will botch me.
March 25, 2021
I feel you are making the same mistake many patients make; to believe that a doctor on a video or Instagram is better than the other. If money was the actual problem for these atrocities, then we would not see any unhappy patients.

No, money is not your answer. I feel I understand why you think that those doctors you mentioned are the answer, but unfortunately you are not the first who thought this way.
March 25, 2021
You probably thought your surgeon had magic powers before the surgery. QUESTIONS: 1- "The focus of this practice is custom implants which are fabricated using ct scans." What makes you think your implants were actual custom implants? Did you see them before surgery? 2- "If placed well they are supposed to fit near perfectly" - If he used SILICON, you should always expect trouble because how is he supposed to attach the gelatinous silicone implant to your bone structure? Screws do nothing for silicon. 3- "He placed one implant too low leaving a nub visibly protruding from my cheek." -This might have occurred because likely they were not custom (patient-specific) implants. Did you see the implants or do you have a physical copy of them? 4- "I returned a month later, for, as the paperwork says, a "left cheek implant adjustment". -I understand why you did it, but you should have NEVER gone back. You don't fix bad with bad. 5- "I went expecting my implant would be repositioned. After all it was custom to my skull so the protrusion meant it wasn't placed correctly." -That was never going to happen and again, do you have proof that they were custom? 6- After waking up a second time it was mentioned to me that the implant had been "trimmed". He didn't attempt to reposition the implant but simply cut some away in the first revision surgery and more in the second removing a good chunk of the implant." -Custom implants rarely behave like that. This paragraph does not make sense to me. 7- "I WAS NOT TOLD prior to "adjustment" that his plan was to cut away as much of the implant as it took. If told my OBVIOUS response would be to ask why cutting and not repositioning the implant was the way to go." -How much input did you have in the design in the first place? 8-"There's a hollow on my left side by the outer edge of my eye whereas it's filled in on the right side. The orbital rim augmentation I paid for was simply cut off without consent." -The doctor must make decisions to the best of his abilities; he did what he thought was best at the moment. 9-After the implant was cut I had notable asymmetry in eye shape (as well as on the zygomatic arch) but tried to let it go. A month ago after seething for 2.5 years and losing weight making the poor work more visible I contacted them to say I wanted to replace the damaged implant. -This is impossible; he or any other doctor would never fix you up after that period. Again, you are going back to the problem. 10- After I shared my anger Cindy the Mgr called to say that Eppley would pay for a new implant but I should find a new surgeon. To be clear he feels his accountability extends to the $1000 piece of silicon. -Custom implant????? $1000 a piece???? I'll take 20, please. 11- I've asked REPEATEDLY why cut the implant rather than reposition. They simply won't answer." -NO, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE NEAR HIM. 12- The jaw implants are a bit wonky with pronounced step-offs. The left cheek implant has a chunk missing which was treated as disposable despite it being a key design feature. This causes asymmetric eyes and negates the high cheek bone look Eppley is so fond of selling" HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY WERE CUSTOM? DID YOU PHYSICALLY SEE THEM? PLEASE EXPLAIN "WONKY WITH PRONOUNCE STEP-OFFS". PICTURES WILL HELP US ALL. 13- I've also posted my pre-surgical imaging with perfectly placed implants in blue. Eppley regularly uses this pre-surgical imaging as advertising in lieu of real "after" photos/scans. Think about this. Other surgeons have hundreds of impressive before and afters on their Instagrams. -Why didn't you go to those other doctors? I feel you are thinking that doctors can make magic happen. These doctors are also victims of what they think they can achieve but won't admit it, of course. 14- If you think you will be able to sit down at a desk with a computer screen and carefully design an implant you will NOT get that experience here. You'll get a couple of 15-20 minute zoom calls at best and then be pushed to call it good "so that implantech has time to make it before your surgery date". You are 100% correct. 15- "Feel free to message me for more details." Even those other doctors you mentioned have issues (which patients don't talk about). Patient-specific implants are not as simple as Dr. Diamond, Eppley, or any other out there make them out to be. What is the next step for you now? Before you waste another 20K - 35k, I feel you should think it through. Were your implants screwed in place? Were they made out of silicon? Did your jaw need vertical enhancement or only horizontal? I am sorry for what you are going through. Unfortunately, most people who get facial implants have no less than two failed procedures for the same implants.
October 16, 2021
Silicon facial implants are not gelatinous. You clearly have no idea what you as talking about.
October 16, 2021
You are correct- they are not “gelatinous” like. Silicone implants are made of a firm silicone.

These silicone implants are not as hard as PEEK , Medpor or Titanium, and using screws on silicone is not useful because any movement will tear the silicone away from the screws. Usually, Doctors don’t use screws on silicone implants (they are loose in a “pocket”)

I made the “gelatinous” comment in regards to (screws and silicone don’t work well)

I am aware of a lot of issues with silicone implants, and I guess I’m just a bit tired of seeing those problems.
I feel I used that word out of frustration.

I hope I have cleared the subject.

Best,
October 19, 2021
Lol you are wrong again about the screws. The implant is not "torn" away from any movement- it's a SOLID implant - almost like hard plastic - the durometer is customizable. The screws secure the implant in place and guarantee it is where the surgeon placed it after the procedure. You have NO idea what you are talking about.
October 19, 2021
Ok. I can see there is no way to have productive conversation with you.
I just had my silicone chin implant replaced. (Second time)

I don’t have a silicone implant anymore. I have seen, touched, owned, and more importantly, I have dealt with many patients (friends) who have had theirs taken out.

Ok. I don’t know what I’m talking about. Good bye.
May 6, 2022
you are absolutely wrong. infact the major issue with silicone implants is the fact that it ends up migrating to other locations when NOT screwed on. screwing silicone implants in for cheek implant placement should always be done.
May 7, 2022
Oh, I am not disagreeing with you. I know you are correct. My silicone implants caused me to develop a "pocket' from the shifting. I might have done a bad job explaining myself before.
March 26, 2021
I guess I am not 100% certain that the implants are custom although three out of the four implants were placed ok without any "trimming" so I believe they are in fact custom.

My opinions that other surgeons would take more time with you are based on the fact that I consulted with Dhir and Binder prior to going with Eppley. Binder and Dhir both took WELL more time with me an had a serious first consultation about MY face vs Eppley's boilerplate sales pitch. I actually flew to Eppley prior to surgery hoping to sit at a computer or at least get his opinion about my specific face. But no he just gave me the boilerplate sales pitch but in person. I have reason to suspect, (based on the experiences of another Eppley botch job I personally know) that he outsources design ENTIRELY to Implantech. I cannot know that Binder or Dhir would have been done a much better job though I strongly suspect they would have at least been more careful. I can also be near certain that they would have been more involved and communicative with me based on the initial consult with them. I truly don't think they would have cut up my implant without even informing me.

And to answer your question why I didn't go with someone else I honestly cheaped out. Eppley is about 55% percent the price of the guys in Beverly Hills.

Implant revisions (or remove and replace) can and are done years after the initial implant. Respectfully I feel you're acting as a bit of an expert in the field when you might not be.

On another note, the implants are not gelatinous. They are soft but not jelly. Facial implants are not made of the same kind of material as what goes in breast implants.
March 27, 2021
I read my words after I posted them and I have to say I felt a bit embarrassed.

No, I am not an expert.

I guess I'm just tired of seeing these recurring problems. I am aware of many similar situations and it is overwhelming at times.

When we can't rely on the experts (like you did), what do we do?

I want to apologize for my snobby comments from before.

I am sincerely sorry for what you had to go through. Thank you for helping us with your story.
March 28, 2021
Thank you for sharing. I hope you can revise the work. I was considering this surgeon but completely changed my mind. Thanks for helping us. Best wishes.