Facial implants are specially shaped, biocompatible (coexisting with living tissue without causing harm), materials designed to enhance or augment the physical makeup of your face.  Facial implants augment the three-dimensional structure of your face in order to achieve a more harmonious aesthetic appearance. The implants are offered in pre-formed nasal, chin and malar (cheek) shapes.  Custom implants are also available if needed.

Candidates for facial implants include a variety of patients presenting with various facial aesthetic conditions.  Younger individuals with facial skeletal deficiencies such as a weak or receded chin or flat mid facial appearance may benefit from augmentation of their facial contour through the use of facial implants.  Older patients who are experiencing facial volume loss thorough the aging process are also good candidates for facial implants. Restoring lost facial volume due to aging of the mid face is a common reason to use facial implants. The type and size of facial implants best matched for you requires an evaluation of your goals and expectations along with your surgeons recommendation.

While injectable fillers and facial implants are both used to enhance and augment the three –dimensional physical facial structure, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to both treatments. Dermal fillers can be used in multiple facial planes or levels to achieve both facial volume restoration as well as fill in visible skin lines and wrinkles. Facial dermal fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, Restylane and Juvederm are substances designed to “inflate” areas of the face.  Restylane or Juvederm are the primary and ideal mode of treatment to plump the lips or fill in hollowness under the eyes. There is not a permanent lip implant on the market that can rival the outcome of well-placed dermal filler. Dermal fillers are also used to add a greater amount of volume in the deeper facial tissues similar to how a permanent implant would “fill-in” the cheek or give a higher appearing cheekbone. However, there is not a better alternative for a weak or receded chin than a permanent chin implant.   Dermal fillers are considered temporary or semi-permanent and therefore will last between 6-18 months. Facial implants in contrast are considered to be a permanent solution to facial volume deficiency and can last a lifetime. Dermal fillers are performed comfortably in the office setting and have little to no downtime after the treatment. Facial implants are a surgical treatment and require sedation or general anesthesia.

Chin implants may be inserted through either an oral (mouth) incision or chin incision.  It is my practice to insert chin implants through a small incision on the undersurface of the chin.  While a small scar will result from this procedure, it is hidden under the chin. In addition, the chance of infection is reduced by avoiding contact of the implant with the oral cavity.  Finally, the chance the implant shifts to a higher position is decreased by developing the implant pocket from below as opposed to above. Midfacial and mandibular implants are inserted through the oral cavity.  A small incision is made in the mucosa in the “gutter” above the teeth on each side. The dissection is essentially bloodless for both of these techniques. Once the implants are in position, one or two small microscrews are used to fixate the implant and guard against significant movement.

The amount of time required to place facial implants varies between thirty and sixty minutes.  Chin implants take the least amount of time to place since there is only one implant and the site of implantation is easiest to access. Mid-facial and mandibular implants take longer to place due to there being two sides as well as a slightly more challenging placement.