Malar implant and method of inserting the prothesis

A method of placing a silicon rubber malar implant in a patient having a normal malar region comprising the following steps:

• making a transverse lower infratarsal blepharoplasty incision;
• elevating a skin-orbiaris muscle flap;
• using a fixation forcep to separate the orbital septum and its fat contents from the lower eyelid;
• creating a subperiosteal space or pocket to extend from the lateralorbital rim to expand laterally, outward and down on the facial skeleton both toward the zygoma and down underneath the infraorbital foramen;
• undermining if necessary around the lateral orbital rim;
• forming a pocket large enough for visualizing the implants symmetrically in place;
• inserting the implant having a posterior edge forming a rearwardly extending zygomatic extension with a smooth, broad forcep;
• feeding the lateral or zygomatic end in first;
• and
• pushing the implant downwards and medially underneath the infraorbital foramen area;
• and
• repairing the incision with routine closure techniques.

A malar implant used in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery for surgical incision adjacent the human eye socket and between the malar-zygomatic bone complex and the fleshy portion of the cheek area which comprises:

• a three-dimensional asymmetrical implant having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface;
• the longitudinal cross-section of said outer surface being a convex contour;
• the transverse cross-section of said outer surface being a variable convex contour;
• said outer surface having an area of greatest prominence at the lower mid-region of said convex outer surface for forming a naturally appearing prominent cheekbone;
• said transverse cross-section having the most acute convex contour at said area of greatest prominence, said convex contour becoming less acute on either side of said area of greatest prominence;
• the longitudinal cross-section of said inner surface being a concave contour for close positioning of the implant against the malar-zygomatic complex;
• the transverse cross-section of said inner surface being a variable concave contour;
• said inner surface having an area of greatest depression at the lower mid-region of said concave inner surface for providing a snug fit against the underlying cheekbone;
• said transverse concave cross-section having the most acute concave contour at said area of greatest depression, said transverse concave contour becoming less acute on either side of said area of greatest depression;
• said inner and outer surfaces merging to form an upper edge, a lower edge, an anterior edge, and a posterior edge;
• said anterioer edge includes an arcuate shaped maxilla extension extending from the lower region of said anterior edge;
• said upper edge includes a diagonally extending orbital rim surface;
• said posterior edge being arcuate shaped below the end of said orbital rim surface and converging with said lower edge forming a rearwardly extending zygomatic extension.

A malar implant used in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery for surgical incision adjacent the human eye socket and between the malar-zygomatic bone complex and the fleshy portion of the cheek area which comprises:

• a three-dimensional structure resembling a four-pointed diamond shape in silhoutte having four sides, an outer convex surface, and an inner concave surface;
• the longitudinal cross-section of said outer surface being a convex contour;
• the transverse cross-section of said outer surface being a variable convex contour;
• said outer surface having an area of greatest prominence at the lower mid-region of said convex outer surface for forming a naturally appearing prominent cheekbone;
• said transverse cross-section having the most acute convex contour at said area of greatest prominence, said convex contour becoming less acute on either side of said area of greatest prominence;
• the longitudinal cross-section of said inner surface being a concave contour for close positioning of the implant against the malar-zygomatic complex;
• the transverse cross-section of said inner surface being a variable concave contour;
• said inner surface having an area of greatest depression at the lower mid-region of said concave inner surface for providing a snug fit against the underlying cheekbone;
• said transverse concave cross-section having the most acute concave contour at said area of greatest depression, said transverse concave contour becoming less acute on either side of said area of greatest depression;
• said inner and outer surfaces merging to form an upper edge, a lower edge, an anterior edge, and a posterior edge;
• said posterior edge and lower edge converge to form a first lateral point which is positioned against the zygomatic arch when the implant is in place;
• said upper edge and said posterior edge converging to form a top point which is positioned adjacent the orbit when the implant is in place;
• said upper edge and said anterior edge converging to form a second lateral point which is adjacent the infraorbital foramen when the implant is in place;
• said anterior edge and said lower edge converging to form a bottom point which is positioned against the maxilla bone when the implant is in place.

A malar implant used in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery for surgical incision adjacent the human eye socket and between the malar-zygomatic bone complex and the fleshy portion of the cheek area which comprises:

• a three-dimensional structure resembling a four-pointed diamond shape in silhouette having four sides, an outer generally overall convex surface having a lower region and a lower mid-region, and an inner concave surface;
• said outer convex surface in said lower mid-region thereof, having a convex surface in both a longitudinal and transverse cross section such that at an intersection of the surfaces forms a maximum apex to yield an area of greatest prominence for forming a naturally appearing high cheekbone when implanted for aesthetic purposes and also for minimizing the sagging skin of the cheeks caused by the aging process;
• said inner and outer surfaces merging to form an upper edge, a lower edge, an anterior edge, and a posterior edge;
• said posterior edge and lower edge converge to form a first lateral point which is positioned against the zygomatic arch when the implant is in place;
• said upper edge and said posterior edge converging to form a top point which is positioned adjacent the orbit when the implant is in place;
• said upper edge and said anterior edge converging to form a second lateral point which is adjacent the infraorbital foramen when the implant is in place;
• after said implant is implanted, said upper edge and said anterior edge, add support to the patient's lower eyelid to help the eyelid from descending with age to minimize the lower eyelid from drooping caused by the aging process.
• said anterior edge and said lower edge converging to form a bottom point which is positioned against the maxilla bone when the implant is in place.