Restore Volume and Structure
Facial Implants Scottsdale, Arizona
Facial implants are designed to enhance and augment the structure of the face. When placed in the cheek or chin, implants can restore facial volume while creating aesthetically pleasing proportions. To learn more about facial implants, contact Dr. Pamela Henderson in Scottsdale, Arizona today. Because she has dedicated her practice to surgeries of the neck and face, Dr. Henderson is proud to offer patients from the greater Phoenix area a variety of facial procedures designed to help them achieve their aesthetic goals.
Cheek Implants
Loss of soft tissue volume or deficiency of bone structure leads to flattening of the mid-face which increases the appearance of aging and can lead to disproportion. Soft tissue volume loss occurs as a result of natural aging but can also result from significant weight loss. Deficient bone structure can be congenital or as a result of the aging process to a small degree. Cheek implants, also known as submalar implants, are appropriate to augment the mid-face no matter what the cause.
The Consultation
Patients choosing to have facial implants placed will attend a preliminary consultation, during which the mid-face will be examined for bony projection as compared to the forehead and jaw. The thickness of the overlying soft tissues will also be evaluated. With soft tissue volume loss – often the primary issue in the mid-face from the aging process – there is noted to be deepening of a diagonal groove through the mid-face below each eye.
The Procedure
Although cheek augmentation can be performed from the lower lid or temple approaches, Dr. Henderson prefers the intraoral approach. The incisions are placed in the gingivobuccal sulcus, which is the groove between the cheek and upper gums. Once the incision is made, the soft tissues are carefully elevated to create a pocket just large enough to accomodate the implant. Sizer implants are used to help determine the final desired implant size. Once the facial implants are inserted, the incisions are closed with absorbable sutures.
After Surgery
Patients are instructed to gently rinse their mouths after eating and to avoid stretching of the tissues while eating or during dental hygiene such as flossing and tooth brushing. If present, discomfort is controlled with prescribed pain medications but in many cases, the pain is minimal. Swelling is common, whereas bruising is not, and both gradually resolve over several weeks.
If you have questions about facial implants, you are encouraged to contact the Scottsdale, Arizona office of Dr. Henderson. Because her practice is dedicated to surgeries involving the head and neck, she and her knowledgeable staff will be able to answer any inquiries you may have.
Chin Implants
Under-projection of the chin leads to disproportion with other facial features. In profile the mid-face, particularly the nose, can appear large and over-projected, and the depth of the neck can appear shallow. Facial implants can be placed in the chin in order to improve these conditions. Although chin augmentation, clinically referred to as mentoplasty, can be done as a single procedure, it can also be combined with
rhinoplasty, liposuction of the neck, or a face lift.
The Consultation
During the consultation, the chin is examined for projection as compared to the mid-face, and in comparison to an imaginary line drawn down vertically from the lower lip in profile. Ideally, in females, the chin should project to or just slightly behind this line whereas in males, slight projection beyond the line is also acceptable. The height of the chin, the fullness of the lower lip and the depth of the crease between the chin and lip are evaluated. In patients with short height to the chin, full lower lips, and a deep chin/lip crease, it may be elected to avoid complete correction to prevent deepening the crease too much and making the lip appear to rest on the chin. In some patients, particularly in the aging face with jowls, there is noted to be significant deepening of depressions between the chin and the jowls referred to as pre-jowl depressions. In those patients, a single pre-jowl implant may be used. If chin under-projection is also present, a pre-jowl/chin implant may be utilized.
The Procedure
Although chin augmentation can be performed through an intraoral approach, Dr. Henderson prefers an external approach using an incision in the crease under the chin. Once the incision is made, the soft tissues are carefully elevated to create a pocket just large enough to accommodate the implant. Sizer implants are used to help determine the final desired implant size and shape. In males, more square shaped facial implants may be chosen whereas in females a softer contour is usually desired. Once the implant is inserted, it is secured with internal sutures and the external incision is closed. If liposuction and/or tightening of the neck muscles are done at the same time, they are performed through the same incision.
After Surgery
If present, discomfort is controlled with prescribed pain medications but in many cases, the pain is minimal. Swelling is common whereas bruising is not, with both gradually resolving over a few weeks. Temporary numbness of the chin and lower lip and difficulty with normal lower lip mobility, particularly with downward and outward turning of the lower lip, are common and generally resolve over a few weeks.
Preparing for Facial Implant Surgery
Once the decision is made to proceed with facial implants, patients are scheduled for a preoperative appointment approximately two weeks prior to the surgical date. During that appointment, patients are given preoperative instructions and consent forms are reviewed. These instructions generally include avoiding medications that increase the risk of bleeding including herbs, vitamin E, aspirin, and NSAIDS such as ibuprofen.
Anesthesia
Although facial implants are often placed under local anesthesia alone or combined with an oral medication for relaxation, it is most often performed using IV sedation combined with local anesthesia to control bleeding referred to as “twilight anesthesia.” For both local and IV sedation procedures, the surgery is performed in the in-office surgical suite as an outpatient procedure.
Risks
Although uncommon in association with the placement of facial implants, complications can occur with any surgery. These include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, implant extrusion, numbness, nerve paralysis, and hematoma.
Learn More about Facial Implants
Cheek and chin implants restore volume while improving facial structure, creating an attractive and proportioned facial silhouette. Take the first step toward enhancing your appearance with facial implants by contacting Dr. Henderson in Scottsdale, Arizona, to schedule a personal consultation.