Facial Implants

When patients desire a more prominent chin or cheeks, they often turn to facial implants. In his Dobbs Ferry and White Plains, NY offices, Dr. Neal Golderg is proud to offer a variety of facial implants to patients wishing to improve the proportion of their face.

• Chin implants can reshape the chin and improve projection
• Cheek implants can balance the face and add a youthful fullness
• Lip implants can add fullness to the lips
• Jaw implants can correct asymmetry of the jaw

Am I a good candidate for facial implants?

For patients who struggle with a face they feel is out of proportion, facial implants are a viable option to create proportion and symmetry of the face.

Patients who are candidates for cheek implants may have inadequate underlying bone structure, a hollow appearance in the cheeks or a flat and wrinkled mid-face, which may occur after weight loss.

Patients who wish to bring their chin more in proportion with the projection of their forehead and nose may elect a chin implant. This lack of proportion may be due to microgenia, or inadequate bone structure.

Patients who select a type of facial implant should be psychologically stable with reasonable expectations and a clear understanding of the risks and benefits. Patients whose microgenia is too severe or whose teeth are misaligned when the jaws are closed (chin implant) may not be good candidates for facial implants.

What can I expect from the procedure?

When a chin implant is inserted, the surgeon will select the appropriate alloplastic implant to use. Under local or general anesthesia, the surgeon will make one of two incisions, either in the mouth or below the chin. A pocket will then be created for the implant and the implant will be placed in front of the jawbone. The surgeon will then use soft sutures and a dressing to close the incision.

Cheek implant procedures take between 30 and 45 minutes to complete and are performed under general anesthesia, though sometimes a local anesthetic may be used. The surgeon will make an incision either inside the upper lip or lower eyelid. A pocket will be created and then the implant is inserted. The implants may be fastened with screws or sutures.

Rather than using cheek implants, some patients may choose dermal fillers to add volume to the mid-face. This procedure is shorter and less extensive and pain is controlled with a nerve block or numbing cream.

When a lip implant is inserted, the implant itself is usually either Gore-Tex or SoftForm. As the lip implants are known to shorten over time, the surgeon may choose to add some extra length to the implants. Oftentimes, since the upper lip moves more than the lower lip, two separate implants may be used in the upper lip, while one implant may be used in the lower lip.

The most common jaw implant material is a polyester compound and can be either vertical or lateral, depending on the needs of the patient. The surgeon will make an incision either inside or outside the patient’s mouth. Once a pocket has been created for the implant, the implant is placed on the bone and secured with wires, screws or sutures.

What will my life be like after facial implants?

Following either procedure, patients can expect immediate results but know it may take some time for the swelling to subside, though the implant is permanent.

With chin augmentation, the patient should stick to a soft diet and elevate their head. Good oral hygiene is important and may include using an antiseptic mouthwash daily. Caution must be used when using a toothbrush.

After one week, the sutures used to close the incisions may be removed.

As with other surgical procedures, some side effects are possible and may include bleeding, infection, implant malposition/mobility or nerve injury.

For more information about facial implants, contact Dr. Neal Goldberg at our White Plains or Dobbs Ferry plastic surgery offices.