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Facial Implants San Diego
Facial implants can improve your appearance by balancing the symmetry of the face or by creating stronger features.
What types of Facial Implants are available to me?
Chin Implants
Chin Implants help to balance the face of people with underdeveloped chins. Having a "weak" chin can undermine your face, making your nose appear larger and an overbite more pronounced. Chin augmentation will improve the appearance of the chin, bringing better balance to your facial features.
Cheek Implants
Several varieties of cheek implants are available.
- Some enhance the projection of the highest point of the cheek or malar bones. This type of cheek implant is more commonly referred to when discussing a cheek implant procedure.
- Also available are cheek implants that add volume to a sunken or hollow cheek by placement in the submalar area or the hollow below the cheek bone.
- There are extended cheek implants, designed to add volume in the under eye area, by filling in the tear trough. In addition to cheek implants, separate orbital rim and tear trough implants can be used.
Jaw Implants
Jaw Implants help to create a stronger, more defined jawline.
What are the advantages of having Facial Implants?
Implants are effective in strengthening a jaw line or bringing the chin or cheekbones into balance with the rest of the face. Frequently, these implants will help provide a more harmonious balance to your face and features, so that you feel better about the way you look.
Who is a good candidate for Facial Implants?
- If you have a "weak" or underdeveloped chin or jawline
- Your cheeks are sunken or hollow
- You would like balanced facial symmetry
What does a Facial Implant procedure involve?
- Chin implant. The implant can be placed from inside the mouth or through a small incision beneath the chin. Sutures will vary depending on whether they're internal or external.
- Cheek implant. The implant is placed internally through upper lip or externally via your lower eyelid. Sutures will vary depending on whether they're internal or external.
- Jaw implant. The implant is placed inside of the lower lip. Incision site will be secured with sutures that will dissolve in about one week.
Most implants are anchored with either permanent sutures or screws. Once the implant heals into the surrounding pocket that forms - it rarely moves, unless it is dislodged by trauma. The type and location of the implant will determine the choice of anchoring style.
What are Facial Implants made of?
Many implants are available, manufactured from a variety of materials. Some materials are porous; while others are solid. Most implants are made of silicone (solid, not gel) or Gore-Tex (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-ePTFE). They have a small pore size and are well tolerated by the body. There are some larger, more porous implants that have more fibrous tissue ingrowth and are used for specific reconstruction cases.
How long do Facial Implants take?
- Chin Implant: The procedure takes 30 minutes to an hour.
- Cheek Implant: The procedure takes about an hour.
- Jaw Implant: The procedure takes one to two hours.
How long does it take to recover from Facial Implants?
- Chin Implant: The chin is taped after surgery to minimize swelling and discomfort which may last several days. If external sutures are used, they will be removed in five to seven days. If internal sutures are used, they will dissolve.
- Cheek Implant: After surgery, a dressing will be applied to minimize discomfort and swelling. Side effects may vary, especially if another cosmetic procedure was performed at the same time. Your ability to move your mouth and lips may be limited temporarily. Stitches used to close the incisions inside your mouth usually dissolve within about 10 days.
- Jaw Implant: Swelling is sometimes significant immediately after surgery, usually peaking 24-48 hours afterward. Your ability to move your mouth and lips, smile or speak may be limited temporarily. Most of the significant swelling will subside in a few days.
When can I expect to see results from my Facial Implants?
Although most of the significant swelling will subside over a period of several days, prolonged mild swelling may prevent your final contour from becoming apparent for several weeks or months.
When can I go back to work/resume my normal activities after having Facial Implants?
You should need only to take one week off of work, at most. It is not be advisable to participate in certain activities -- especially activity that may result in the face being jarred or bumped -- for several weeks.
How long will Facial Implants last?
The implants will last forever unless there is a complication or an accident to the area of the face which causes the implant to shift.
What are my alternatives to having Facial Implants?
There are none currently.
What are the risks involved with having a Facial Implants?
The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are rare.