Facial Implants
Facial implants are used to improve and enhance facial contours. Chin and cheek implants are a great way to enhance a facial profile by improving the overall proportion and balance of the face. Facial implants can enhance your appearance and bolster your self esteem. If you are looking for improvement, not perfection, in your appearance and are realistic in your expectations, you may find that a facial implant is the right choice for you.
Reasons for Considering a Chin and/or Cheek Implant:
Extend or enlarge the chin if the chin is recessed or small.
Create a more defined facial profile if the jaw, chin, or cheeks lack distinction.
Bring the various aspects of the face into proportion.
Round out the cheeks if they are hollow due to heredity or aging.
Accent the upper cheeks making them appear higher and fuller.
Chin Surgery (Mentoplasty)
Insertion of a chin implant may take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. During the procedure, Dr. Gahankari will select the proper size and shape implant to enhance your appearance and inserts it into a pocket over the front of the jawbone. The small incision to create the pocket and insert the implant is placed inside the mouth (along the lower lip) or in the skin just under the chin area.
Usually, the chin is taped after surgery to minimize swelling and discomfort. Sutures in the skin will be removed in five to seven days. If an intra-oral incision is used, the sutures will dissolve.
You will experience some discomfort and swelling in the affected area for several days. It's normal to experience some temporary difficulty with smiling and talking. Black and blue marks may be visible around the chin and neck. Your plastic surgeon will instruct you about dental hygiene, eating and any restrictions to your activities after surgery.
Cheek Surgery (Malarplasty)
Cheek implant surgery usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes. When cheek implants are being placed in conjunction with another cosmetic procedure, such as a facelift, forehead lift or eyelid surgery, the implants may be inserted through the incisions made for those procedures. Otherwise, an incision will be made either inside your upper lip or your lower eyelid. A pocket is then formed and an implant is inserted.
After surgery, a dressing will be applied to minimize discomfort and swelling. The severity and duration of such side effects may vary, especially if another cosmetic procedure was performed at the same time. However, you should be aware that your ability to move your mouth and lips may be diminished temporarily. Stitches used to close the incisions inside your mouth usually dissolve within about 10 days.
Lower-Jaw Surgery
Swelling is sometimes significant immediately following surgery, usually peaking 24 to 48 hours afterward. Although most of the significant swelling will subside over a period of several days, prolonged mild swelling may prevent your final facial contour from becoming apparent for several months.
During the healing phase, your activities and diet will be restricted. Your ability to smile, talk or move your mouth in any way may be limited for several days to weeks following surgery. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the post-operative directions given after surgery. The substance used for chin and cheek implants is made of durable, solid material that will last for years.
You may not be able to accurately evaluate your appearance for weeks, or perhaps even months. Give yourself plenty of time to get used to your new look.
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