Facial Implants Facial implants are typically used to enhance three areas of the face: the cheekbones, the chin, and the jawline. Placement of implants in these areas help enhance projection of these facial features in patients that may have natural deficiencies or have had loss of projection with aging. They can also be utilized to address facial asymmetries. They are a wonderful solution to improve facial balance and harmony. Dr. Maria, is in a unique position to provide expert facial implant treatment. She is a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, and is Fellowship trained in Facial Cosmetic Surgery. For cheekbone augmentation, small pocket incisions are created inside the mouth. This gives your surgeon excellent access to the cheek bones for implant placement. Once the implant is positioned, it is typically held in place with small screws. Don’t worry - you won’t be able to see them or feel them! The incision pockets are then closed with dissolvable stitches. When chin implants are placed, an incision under the chin through skin is the preferred approach. This small incision is hidden in a natural crease and provides your surgeon access to the chin and border of the lower jaw. It’s a safer, cleaner, and more comfortable approach than through the mouth. Once the chin implant is in place, it is secured with screws to keep it from shifting. Again, you will not be able to see or feel these. The incision is closed with stitches, which are removed one week after surgery. Your surgeon will dress the wound and chin area with a special tape to minimize swelling after surgery. A chin implant may be performed as a stand-alone procedure or in conjunction with a rhinoplasty, facelift, or neck lift. Your surgeon may consider placing a chin implant as an add-on procedure to maximize facial balance and harmony with your other surgical procedures. Cheek and chin implants can be done one of two ways - either with stock “off the shelf” implants that come in various sizes, or custom implants. Your surgeon will select which will give you the best result. When it comes to jawline augmentation, however, a customized approach is used since a larger area is being addressed. Because a larger surface area is being accessed, an intraoral approach is used. Using incisions inside the mouth gives your surgeon access to the entire lower jaw, so the implant can be placed and secured more easily. The incisions are closed with long-lasting dissolvable stitches. Patients are required to wear a headwrap around the clock for the first 48 hours to help minimize swelling, then on a nightly basis for two weeks. The majority of the swelling will resolve over the first 2-4 weeks and continue slowly over the course of the next few months. Bruising is expected, but resolves with time. Final results are expected around the 6 months mark, although this can sometimes take longer. With jaw implants, buccal fat pad reduction may be included to achieve the appropriate “sculpted” look or the patient’s esthetic goals. Facial implants can often address the same concerns that can be improved with dermal fillers. However, facial implants can offer a permanent solution, while fillers require repeat treatments every year. In p atients that are unsure of having facial implants placed, fillers can be used as a temporary, reversible solution before making the decision to have a permanent augmentation. However, in patients with larger deficiencies, dermal fillers may not be an option, as they simply cannot offer the same results in a natural and predictable manner. Dr. Maria, a Fellowship trained Facial Cosmetic Surgeon, will listen carefully to understand the areas of concern for you and discuss appropriate treatment options to give you the desired natural, rejuvenated look. |
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