Should I remove my cheekbone implants - pictures included

[failedhardmax]

Hello everyone, 16 months ago I got a 3D custom jaw implant and cheekbone implant. Right now I look bloated and my face is huge, even at 11% body fat, 150lbs, 6’0

I understand I was born with pretty bad genetics, mouth breathing and all, so I wanted to make the best of what I’ve been born with.

Long story short I almost died in the 12 hour surgery, almost had a heart attack and was about to be rushed to a hospital, got an infection shortly after on my right cheekbone, had to have it removed, then got another infection that left a horrible scar next to my right eye.

Probably the most painful experience I’ve felt in my life and I’ve broken a few bones

When he replaced the implant 6 months later he botched my right eye furthermore leaving a stitch in place and my eye “droopy”.

The surgeon is probably the most famous person that does this procedure and teaches at Harvard, so I blindly trusted his opinion that cheekbone implant would give my face structure (my biggest complaint was that even though I was extremely skinny I had fat cheeks)

50k later and year and a half of my life gone in hiding, I believe these are the final results. He also gave me free bucal fat removal since I guess he felt bad about what happened. He also didn’t place the cheekbone implant he replaced correctly, it is raised on the side closest to my nose and I can physically press it down, it is visible with specific lighting lol

I need to have a canthoplasty since he left both of my eyes with even more negative canthal tilt, and stitches. I’ve been pretty depressed about all of this since it means I’ll have to spend another 8 months waiting for the swelling to go down if I do replace/remove.

That being said, I booked a consultation with Eppley to see what he says and if I should remove the implant but I’d like the opinion of people who maybe have had some sorts of implants or a good eye.

Should I completely remove both cheekbone implants and get filler in the zygo area? Should I get a different custom implant that is only the under eyes/ zygo? Should I leave the implants and get extreme bucal fat removal?


My face is extremely bloated, I can literally press down on it with little force, I don’t think it’s fat, borderline anorexic at this point

Before:

After:

Best lighting possible, without eating for like 16 hours, the skinniest I have ever been in my life

Now normal/bad lighting - I have so much loose skin - I think it’s just my phenotype/thick skin

Implants:

Implant replacement I could get:

Doubt I’ll ever have hollow cheeks which is what I’ve always wanted but I just wanted someone’s opinion based on what they see

lil bonus if you made it this far:

 

[Faaska]

Hello everyone, 16 months ago I got a 3D custom jaw implant and cheekbone implant. Right now I look bloated and my face is huge, even at 11% body fat, 150lbs, 6’0

I understand I was born with pretty bad genetics, mouth breathing and all, so I wanted to make the best of what I’ve been born with.

Long story short I almost died in the 12 hour surgery, almost had a heart attack and was about to be rushed to a hospital, got an infection shortly after on my right cheekbone, had to have it removed, then got another infection that left a horrible scar next to my right eye.

When he replaced the implant 6 months later he botched my right eye furthermore leaving a stitch in place and my eye “droopy”.

The surgeon is probably the most famous person that does this procedure and teaches at Harvard, so I blindly trusted his opinion that cheekbone implant would give my face structure (my biggest complaint was that even though I was extremely skinny I had fat cheeks)

50k later and year and a half of my life gone in hiding, I believe these are the final results. He also gave me free bucal fat removal since I guess he felt bad about what happened. He also didn’t place the cheekbone implant he replaced correctly, it is raised on the side closest to my nose and I can physically press it down, it is visible with specific lighting lol

I need to have a canthoplasty since he left both of my eyes with even more negative canthal tilt, and stitches. I’ve been pretty depressed about all of this since it means I’ll have to spend another 8 months waiting for the swelling to go down if I do replace/remove.

That being said, I booked a consultation with Eppley to see what he says and if I should remove the implant but I’d like the opinion of people who maybe have had some sorts of implants or a good eye.

Should I completely remove both cheekbone implants and get filler in the zygo area? Should I get a different custom implant that is only the under eyes/ zygo? Should I leave the implants and get extreme bucal fat removal?


My face is extremely bloated, I can literally press down on it with little force, I don’t think it’s fat, borderline anorexic at this point

Before:

View attachment 3314080

View attachment 3314083
View attachment 3314089
View attachment 3314091
After:

Best lighting possible, without eating for like 16 hours, the skinniest I have ever been in my life

View attachment 3314118
View attachment 3314126
View attachment 3314092
View attachment 3314093

Now normal/bad lighting - I have so much loose skin - I think it’s just my phenotype/thick skin

View attachment 3314095
View attachment 3314097

Implants:

View attachment 3314106

Implant replacement I could get:

View attachment 3314112

Doubt I’ll ever have hollow cheeks which is what I’ve always wanted but I just wanted someone’s opinion based on what they see

look into paranasal, pre maxillary and infraorbital implants might help with that sunken look you don't like
edit: btw I think the jaw implants are a good idea, btw do you have your basic facial ratios measured yet?

 

[LookmaxBlau]

Man, I wish you the best of luck with recovery; having to deal with long-term side effects sucks. Surgery can be a godsend but can also fuck you up if not done right, which it seems that was the case.

I will be keeping you in my prayers, buddy. stay strong

 

[chrishell]

I'm assuming you did this with Yaremchuk.
I agree the Eppley design is better but it will not address your facial bloat. It is more likely you have that bloat maxilla is recessed which causes your skin to have less bone support. Nothing short of a LF2/3 will solve this structural issue.

Did your surgeon insert this implant through the mouth?

 

[failedhardmax]

I'm assuming you did this with Yaremchuk.
I agree the Eppley design is better but it will not address your facial bloat. It is more likely you have that bloat maxilla is recessed which causes your skin to have less bone support. Nothing short of a LF2/3 will solve this structural issue.

Did your surgeon insert this implant through the mouth?

Hey Chris, thank you for your well thought out response, it makes sense now after looking into what you mentioned. I thought maybe getting an implant would create some of the support a LF2 would without needing to have such a invasive procedure.

I had it through the eyes and mouth, he never told me so when I woke up with my eyes stitched up I was terrified lol

 

[failedhardmax]

Man, I wish you the best of luck with recovery; having to deal with long-term side effects sucks. Surgery can be a godsend but can also fuck you up if not done right, which it seems that was the case.

I will be keeping you in my prayers, buddy. stay strong

I really appreciate the kind words, I’ve been struggling a bit lol so I value this a ton, have a blessed week

 

[LookmaxBlau]

I really appreciate the kind words, I’ve been struggling a bit lol so I value this a ton, have a blessed week

you too.

 

[chrishell]

Hey Chris, thank you for your well thought out response, it makes sense now after looking into what you mentioned. I thought maybe getting an implant would create some of the support a LF2 would without needing to have such a invasive procedure.

I had it through the eyes and mouth, he never told me so when I woke up with my eyes stitched up I was terrified lol

It was when he did it through the eyes that you got those eye complications?

 

[failedhardmax]

It was when he did it through the eyes that you got those eye complications?

Correct, I had yellow discharge coming out of my eye after the first day but he said it was normal, then the cheek plant got infected so he removed it. After removing it the infection came back to my right eye and where he made the incision in my mouth.

 

[chrishell]

Did the implant make your cheeks seem more or less bloated than before, or about the same

 

[PrimoMaxxer]

the implants actually look like a decent improvement imo

 

[Xx_gloomy_bison_xX]

Have you asked giants? Also Yaremchuk Eppley etc.. they are all marketing clowns with 0 results. I would rather be operated in remote slums of Hanoi than go them

 

[Saint Casanova]

the implants actually look like a decent improvement imo

The results aren’t good. You can see it poking out jfl. Besides, it doesn’t matter how good you look with them, if they’re causing issues you’ll go insane.

 

[failedhardmax]

Did the implant make your cheeks seem more or less bloated than before, or about the same

i honestly cannot tell, I’ve been staring at my face for such a long time I don’t know what looks good or bad. People who know me in person say my cheeks looks the same but I weigh 20 pounds less and had bucal fat removal so that probably means it’s worse lol. I thought the cheek implants would give my face support, since I could tell I had all this skin but no where to go

 

[failedhardmax]

Have you asked giants? Also Yaremchuk Eppley etc.. they are all marketing clowns with 0 results. I would rather be operated in remote slums of Hanoi than go them

Never researched him but I just went down the Giant rabbit hole, don’t know whether to be impressed or terrified. One thing is for sure, he’s probably the only person who could understand my situation and what is causing this excessive bloat. Are lf2’s really that dangerous? I’m in a weird spot where I have an amazing girlfriend that mogs me to infinity and even she’s telling me to leave my face how it is. But something inside me just can’t let go until I fix everything that bothers me

 

[marigold]

i honestly cannot tell, I’ve been staring at my face for such a long time I don’t know what looks good or bad. People who know me in person say my cheeks looks the same but I weigh 20 pounds less and had bucal fat removal so that probably means it’s worse lol. I thought the cheek implants would give my face support, since I could tell I had all this skin but no where to go

The design for the zygo implants doesn't look the best but it does seem to be an improvement over what you had before. I would obviously still get them replaced but i dont think the implants themselves are entirely causing the bloated look. Its a combination of your thick skin and the soft tissues of your face not being adjusted to the higher zygo position which is why a lot of people get mini facelifts after implants.

also your lower third looks very weak from the front which contributes to the lack of angularity. the chin looks short and lopsided idk what yaremchuk was cooking

 

[Mr.Proper]

Look into paranasal, pre maxillary and infraorbital implants

I agree. You need a different design this time.
@RealSurgerymax What are your thoughts?

 

[RealSurgerymax]

I agree. You need a different design this time.
@RealSurgerymax What are your thoughts?

Canthal tissue was probably lost to infection (the bacteria digested it) which loosened the canthal area. I have seen this before in one of my own patients (in one of the 3 infections out of nearly 1000 individual implants.) Replacement should be through an eyelid incision with drill hole canthopexies to resuspend the area with a permanent suture acting as a new canthal ligament.

It is a bloated design and needs redesign however he has mid face ptosis. Sometimes in wide periosteal elevation, passive implant placement & closure the soft tissue envelope of the mid face does not heal in a nice position, but slides down with a droopy look. Revision implants need to be able to anchor the soft tissues to the new implants providing a subperiosteal mid facelift which silicone cannot as the sutures will rip like a cheese wire through the rubber. It is possible with medpor to be fair.

3 Dimensional tunnels through additively manufactured titanium implants for this purpose are a patent-pending Giant invention. Look at the suture:

 

[Xx_gloomy_bison_xX]

Never researched him but I just went down the Giant rabbit hole, don’t know whether to be impressed or terrified. One thing is for sure, he’s probably the only person who could understand my situation and what is causing this excessive bloat. Are lf2’s really that dangerous? I’m in a weird spot where I have an amazing girlfriend that mogs me to infinity and even she’s telling me to leave my face how it is. But something inside me just can’t let go until I fix everything that bothers me

she is telling that until she will leave you for a facial more attractive chad, don't be fooled always strive for the best! And NO! Lefort surgeries are certainly not dangerous! Don't fall for that "surgeries are dangerous" narrative made by 12 years old who pass out when they see a drop of blood

 

[iseeblue9]

she is telling that until she will leave you for a facial more attractive chad, don't be fooled always strive for the best! And NO! Lefort surgeries are certainly not dangerous! Don't fall for that "surgeries are dangerous" narrative made by 12 years old who pass out when they see a drop of blood

are you the pioneer of minimally invasive le fort 2

 

[failedhardmax]

Canthal tissue was probably lost to infection (the bacteria digested it) which loosened the canthal area. I have seen this before in one of my own patients (in one of the 3 infections out of nearly 1000 individual implants.) Replacement should be through an eyelid incision with drill hole canthopexies to resuspend the area with a permanent suture acting as a new canthal ligament.

It is a bloated design and needs redesign however he has mid face ptosis. Sometimes in wide periosteal elevation, passive implant placement & closure the soft tissue envelope of the mid face does not heal in a nice position, but slides down with a droopy look. Revision implants need to be able to anchor the soft tissues to the new implants providing a subperiosteal mid facelift which silicone cannot as the sutures will rip like a cheese wire through the rubber. It is possible with medpor to be fair.

3 Dimensional tunnels through additively manufactured titanium implants for this purpose are a patent-pending Giant invention. Look at the suture:

View attachment 3315020View attachment 3315021View attachment 3315022View attachment 3315024View attachment 3315025

I value the time you took for the in depth response, fortunately Giant has responded to me and has been guiding me. He mentioned plenty of the things you mentioned above and pointed me to the right direction. Your wisdom is greatly appreciated, we decided the next step is to complete a new ct scan.

 

[AnnatarGorthaur]

I value the time you took for the in depth response, fortunately Giant has responded to me and has been guiding me. He mentioned plenty of the things you mentioned above and pointed me to the right direction. Your wisdom is greatly appreciated, we decided the next step is to complete a new ct scan.

brother he IS giant

 

[failedhardmax]

brother he IS giant

I was 90% sure but I didn’t want to assume since I’m not familiar with the site. My apologies, I want to thank everyone who pointed me to the right direction, I was lost and confused but now I feel more on track. This means a lot to me.

 

[Sodoku]

I had it through the eyes and mouth, he never told me so when I woke up with my eyes stitched up I was terrified lol

This is horrible. You need to name and shame the surgeon very clearly, be it Yaremchuk or someone else

My take is that you should replace the implants. But the implants weren't the right solution to looking bloated. Even at a low BF, what causes bloat around the midface is the lack of bone supporting the area.

Yes, a lefort is one of the answers but it's unclear what the return would be. Personally, what you needed was paranasal implants to address the sunken nose deficiency in addition to infraorbital implants to add support to your eye area

Can probably consult with Giant on this

 

[longjohnmong]

Why did it take 12 hours?

Ignoring the implant show problem, I think it looks okay aesthetically. Biggest issue is your chin is too narrow, imo.

 

[Curryfinder]

Canthal tissue was probably lost to infection (the bacteria digested it) which loosened the canthal area. I have seen this before in one of my own patients (in one of the 3 infections out of nearly 1000 individual implants.) Replacement should be through an eyelid incision with drill hole canthopexies to resuspend the area with a permanent suture acting as a new canthal ligament.

It is a bloated design and needs redesign however he has mid face ptosis. Sometimes in wide periosteal elevation, passive implant placement & closure the soft tissue envelope of the mid face does not heal in a nice position, but slides down with a droopy look. Revision implants need to be able to anchor the soft tissues to the new implants providing a subperiosteal mid facelift which silicone cannot as the sutures will rip like a cheese wire through the rubber. It is possible with medpor to be fair.

3 Dimensional tunnels through additively manufactured titanium implants for this purpose are a patent-pending Giant invention. Look at the suture:

View attachment 3315020View attachment 3315021View attachment 3315022View attachment 3315024View attachment 3315025

Thanks for the high quality post as usual! What is your opinion on medpor for like infraorbital or medpor in general? Is used more often because I guess price and its older. There seem to be no pro vs peek. Its way better the silicon ofc but the largest con is that revision can be come quite invasive.

 

[RealSurgerymax]

Thanks for the high quality post as usual! What is your opinion on medpor for like infraorbital or medpor in general? Is used more often because I guess price and its older. There seem to be no pro vs peek. Its way better the silicon ofc but the largest con is that revision can be come quite invasive.

High infection rate for medpor.

 

[BimaxLaser]

Rep me gonna read this another time