Cheek And Chin Implants

Sometimes the smallest change can have a profound effect on one’s appearance. Balance and symmetry are the hallmarks of beauty and a skilled plastic surgeon understands this.

Sometimes the feature you wish to enhance or diminish requires surgery to adjust. For example, in patients with underlying structural defects in the chin or jaw or nose, surgery will be necessary to restore functionality or balance.

Chin and cheek augmentation, can be done surgically, through the use of implants or modification of the jaw bone, or nonsurgically with fillers that are injected into the target areas. It all depends on your goals and which procedure will realistically achieve the goal you set with our doctor during the pre-treatment consultation.

The benefit of surgery is that they are permanent and can have dramatic effects, although there is more recovery time needed. Infections are a risk with any surgery and of particular concern when prosthetic implants are used although the chance of infection is very low and the incisions are very small. There will be swelling and bruising as part of the normal healing process but overall the results are long-lasting and quite effective at addressing the problem.

In the case of the chin the decision to use an implant vs altering the jaw bone itself depends upon several factors unique to each patient’s anatomy. For example, patients with significant asymmetry or particularly short chins may be better candidates for jaw bone surgery.

Fillers are noninvasive and carry very little recovery time since they are administered by injection. They can provide immediate results and since many of them contain substances such as hyaluronic acid, which stimulate collagen, the result can actually improve as time goes on. However, this type of treatment is not permanent and last approximately 9 to 18 months depending upon the particular product used in the injections.

For those who are experiencing mild sagging and early signs of aging, fillers can postpone the need for the more permanent surgical solution. For some patients who cannot undergo anesthesia for medical reasons, fillers may be the safest solution to problems such as hollow cheeks, sagging jaw line and weak chin.

It is very important that our patients understand all aspects of chin & cheek augmentation before making the decision to move forward with surgery. The success of the surgery not only depends on the surgical skills, but also the ability to fully understand the needs and goals of our patients. By taking the time to understand each patient’s desires, we can ensure they get the treatment or procedure that is truly right for them.