What is Cheek and Chin Implants?
A beautiful face is a balanced face with the eyes, nose, lips, cheeks, and chin in proportion to each other. Facial implants can be used to enhance structural integrity and create a more balanced and attractive face in patients with a disproportion between the different sections of the face.
Augmentation of the cheeks and the chin is the most common facial implant procedure. A chin implant can improve the appearance of the chin, whereas cheeks implants can give a more voluminous look to otherwise flat cheeks. These facial implants are made of biocompatible materials and are available in different shapes and sizes to achieve the desired results.
Good health is one of the prerequisites for the implantation procedure. Smoking hampers the wound healing ability of the body and causes increased scarring. If you are a smoker, the surgeon may ask you to quit smoking before the surgery and continue to abstain from it after the procedure as well.
Procedure for Cheek and Chin implants
The implant surgery is performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. For the chin implant, an incision is made either below the chin or inside the mouth below the lower lip. For a cheek implant, an incision is usually made inside the mouth through the upper lip. When coupled with other procedures for the face, the incision may be made inside the lower eyelid or within the hairline. Hence the surgical scar is either not visible or hardly noticeable. An appropriate implant is then inserted in the chin or cheek, through the incision. The implant is held in place either by making a well-fitting pocket or fixing it to the surrounding bone or soft tissue. The incision is finally closed with absorbable sutures or stitches that will be removed 1-2 weeks after the surgery.
Post-surgical Procedures for Cheek and Chin implants
Pain killers and antibiotics are prescribed, after the surgery, to reduce pain and the risk of infection. Localized swelling, discoloration, numbness or discomfort at the operated site, may develop after the procedure. Some facial movements may also be temporarily restricted during the healing phase.
The final results of the surgery and the actual improvement in appearance can be appreciated only after 3-4 months of the surgery. This final improvement in appearance is permanent.
Contact your surgeon immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after the surgery:
- Abnormal pain or swelling
- Abnormal discharge from the incision site
- Fever greater than 100 ÌŠ C
