Aesthetic & Cosmetic Surgery in New York
Chin & Cheek Implants
Allure Plastic Surgery
Chin and Cheek Augmentation
Along with your nose, your chin and cheeks shape the overall symmetry of your face. Cheek implants create more prominent, defined cheekbones. Chin implants create a stronger profile and a more defined jawline.
Whether used separately or together, these chin and cheek augmentation procedures can help give you the shape and dimension you desire for your face. For more information about the procedures can help you, please read below to learn more about them or call us today at (866) 477-2023 to schedule a consultation at our Staten Island office.
Before & After
Chin
Chin Augmentation
If your chin looks out of proportion with the rest of your face, consider a chin augmentation or chin implant. The procedure reshapes or enlarges the chin, either by reshaping or moving the bone or by inserting an implant.
A chin implant is affixed over the existing bone of your lower jaw to increase its dimensions. The result varies by material. Soft, flexible, rubbery implants insert easily through a small incision. Silicone implants are shaped like the narrow chin guard of a sports helmet, so your doctor can carve them further for a custom fit.
Why Should I Choose Chin Implant Surgery?
There are several reasons to choose chin augmentation. It can define an underdeveloped chin or add prominence, make the face appear longer, or build a wider, stronger chin. It can also be done at the time of a face or neck lift to help define the jawline.
Not everyone is a candidate. Your jaw and teeth must function properly for the procedure to succeed, and your immune system must function well to reduce the risk of infection afterward.
Avoid chin augmentation if you have hypertension or cardiac problems, take anticoagulants, have unrealistic expectations about the outcome, or have taken Accutane® in the past six months, since it affects bone growth and causes keloid scarring.
Should I Consider A Chin Implant?
One of the most common reasons to consider a chin implant is a small chin, or retrognathia. The side profile in particular shows the effects of an underdeveloped chin. With a rounded face, it can also make the neck look heavier and the nose look bigger.
Other common reasons to consider chin augmentation surgery include:
Recessed Chin
The surgeon studies the shape of your chin and selects the implant that gives it the best look.
Pointed or Squared Chin
A chin implant in the hands of a skilled doctor can give a squared or pointed chin a more rounded look.
Prominent Nose
Rhinoplasty can correct a larger nose, but sometimes the proportions are off because of an imbalanced chin.
Fleshy Neck
For a fuller chin, the area can be reshaped through chin reduction surgery for a natural-looking result.
Because chin implants add definition to the jaw and balance the nose and face, patients often combine them with other procedures in the same surgery, such as rhinoplasty, cheek implants, and lip augmentation.
Your In-Person Consultation
During the initial consultation, your surgeon explains the chin implant options, the procedure, and its risks and limitations. He examines your face, skin, and bone structure to determine the right approach for your goals, and recommends the type of anesthesia for the operation.
Computer Imaging
Computer imaging software then plans the changes to your facial structure and gives you an accurate visual reference, so you can see how your face and profile will likely change with each type of chin implant.
Scheduling Your Procedure
After your consultation, you'll schedule your appointment to have the procedure performed. Depending on the decisions you and the doctor have made, your chin augmentation surgery can be done in an outpatient surgery center or in our office, and can be performed in combination with other facial surgical procedures, such as jaw implants, cheek implants, lip lift, blepharoplasty, and facelift surgery.
Our Surgeons
The Chin Implant Procedure
If your chin implants are made from silicone, your doctor will make a small incision under your chin and if your chin augmentation procedure is being performed at the same time as a face lift, the same incision below your chin will be used for both procedures.
If you've opted for a chin advancement, the incision is made within the lip. A pocket is created in front of the chin under the muscles, and the implant is attached to the jawbone with screws or sutures. At the end of the operation, the chin is often taped to reduce swelling.
The surgery takes 30 to 45 minutes. It may take longer if it is combined with other procedures.
Recovery
Your Recovery Period
Right after surgery, the doctor applies a dressing that stays in place for two to three days. During this time you may feel some tenderness, and chewing may be limited, so stick to a soft and liquid diet for the first week.
You may feel pain and discomfort for several days, eased by over-the-counter pain medication. Smiling, talking, and other facial movements may be difficult for the first week. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
Recovery time depends on whether the chin implant was done alone or with other procedures. Done alone, you should feel fine the day of surgery. Your chin and the surrounding area may feel tight from the swelling response and the added volume of the implant.
For the first few days, keep your head elevated to reduce swelling, and rinse your mouth with salt water after eating to keep debris off the sutures. Avoid strenuous activity on the day of surgery and for the first few days after. Most patients return to normal activities within a week.
Cheek Augmentation
High, well-proportioned cheeks balance the face, highlight the eyes, and accentuate the smile.
As we age, the face loses fat and the cheeks sag. The jaw and nose can look more prominent, and the eyes can look hollow and sunken, throwing off the balance of the face.
Depending on your needs and goals, you may opt for a cheek lift instead.
If you weren't born with high cheekbones, cheek augmentation is often the best way to achieve a sculpted look, especially when you're younger.
Like chin implants, cheek augmentation is a relatively simple and common procedure. Still, there are a few things to consider before scheduling a consultation with one of the specialists at Allure Plastic Surgery in New York.
Choosing To Have Cheek Implant Surgery
Patients choose cheek augmentation for different reasons. Some are born with flat cheeks that are out of balance with their other features. For others, aging is the cause, as the cheeks sink and sag over time. In either case, the result is an older-looking face.
Cheek augmentation restores the full, warm look of younger cheeks.
Are There Risks Involved?
Cheek implants are very safe. There is a small risk of bleeding, allergy, infection, movement of the implant, and bone absorption, but a skilled specialist can largely minimize these.
Many post-surgical risks come from the local anesthesia. Others relate to antidepressants, tobacco, and various substances, which can be managed when the patient discloses them during the initial consultation.
When Should You Consider A Cheek Implant?
Cheek augmentation has become a common procedure. Still, the surgeon weighs several factors first.
The first is age. Because cheek tissues descend and sag with age, the surgeon may choose to work with the sagging tissue through a cheek lift or thread lift instead of a cheek implant.
For younger patients, implants are almost always recommended, since there is no existing tissue to work with for a cheek lift.
The second factor is health. You should be generally healthy and free of sinus and dental issues.
As with most procedures under local anesthetic, the doctor will want your weight to be healthy and stable before surgery.
★★★★★
Chin and cheek implants with Dr. Heller completely balanced my profile. I never realized how much it would change my whole face. Very happy I trusted him.Marcus L., Google Review
What Is the Procedure Like?
Cheek augmentation is a simple and amazingly fast procedure which typically takes about 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the method and technology used.
If you go the non-surgical route, the doctor uses temporary injectable fillers to achieve the look you want. This carries fewer risks than surgery, but the results typically fade within a few months to a year.
Two common temporary fillers are Juvederm and Restylane. Patients who want lasting results without surgery are recommended Sculptra instead, which plumps the cheeks and stimulates collagen production over time.
Implants
Permanent Implant Options
For permanent cheek augmentation with immediate results, surgically affixed cheek implants are the best option.
These implants are made of biocompatible synthetic materials that are safe to insert and give a permanent result. They typically involve one of three applications:
- Malar implants are placed directly on the cheekbones to prove higher projection.
- Submalar implants provide fuller cheeks, rounding out a gaunt or sunken look.
- Combined implants can be used to augment both the cheeks and cheekbones.
Your In-Person Consultation
Some implants, such as hydroxyapatite implants, integrate with natural bone tissue and become part of the bone structure, while others, such as those made from silicone, can be removed later. In some cases, you may opt for a fat transfer injection instead of a silicone implant, but that option would require an additional or previous fat removal surgery - like a liposuction - to collect the necessary fat needed to be injected into your cheeks.
During your initial consultation with your doctor, you'll determine the best method to accomplish your desired results and then schedule your appointment for your surgery.
Schedule a Virtual Consultation
The Cheek Augmentation Procedure
Before the procedure begins, the surgeon will administer local anesthesia to numb the nerves, healing and easing any pain and discomfort during the surgery.
Then, your doctor will make incisions inside the upper lip, near the gums and inside the cheeks, where the implant can be inserted into a pocket created in the tissue. The implant is placed either on or below the cheekbones and is usually fixed with miniature titanium screws. Sutures, which ultimately are absorbed into the body harmlessly, are then used to close the incisions.
If the cheek augmentation surgery is done at the same time as other facial procedures, the implants will be inserted via the incisions used for that procedure.
Our Surgeons
Your Recovery Period
The procedure calls for rest, and most patients recover in about one week. Right after surgery, most report a sensation similar to the numbness after a dental procedure. The next day, normal feeling returns to your cheeks and mouth, though you may still have some soreness from swelling.
If you have pain, your doctor will prescribe pain medication and recommend ways to ease your discomfort in the first few days. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to reduce the risk of infection.
Keep your head elevated during recovery to prevent the implants from shifting. The common side effects, swelling, soreness, bruising, and black eyes, will keep most patients indoors anyway.
Eating may be uncomfortable while you heal, and talking should be limited for the first few days. Stick to a soft diet and rinse your mouth after eating to keep your sutures clear of debris.
For the first few weeks, limit some activities to avoid straining the sutures. Most patients resume work and normal activities within a week. If you have any unexpected side effects or concerns, contact your plastic surgeon right away.
Post-surgical risks, such as incision infections, are usually temporary and easily managed with antibiotics. Other complications include implant shifting and, with a fat transfer instead of a silicone implant, rejection of donor tissue. Take these seriously, as they may require an additional procedure to correct.
Cosmetic Chin Surgery: What Are My Options?
Chin augmentation is one of the best ways to balance your features and improve your profile. The procedure is simple and only requires local anesthesia. A sliding genioplasty, an alternative option, is more involved and riskier. A chin implant should not affect your facial motion or your head-on appearance, unless you and your surgeon are trying to lengthen your chin's vertical height. For that, genioplasty is a little more effective.
Concerns about implants are normal, but infection is rare, and the implants essentially become part of the body as they are enveloped in collagen. To add dimension, the implant is placed on top of the existing bone of your lower jaw. If you still have concerns about the procedure, speak with your Manhattan plastic surgeon, who will answer your questions.
The Next Step
Call our New York office today for a free consultation to discuss chin and cheek implants. For more information about the chin and cheek implant options available at our practice in New York, please get in touch with us online or call (866) 477-2023 to arrange a visit to our Manhattan or Staten Island office today.
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Pay Over Time with Affirm, Cherry, or CareCredit
We work with Affirm, Cherry, and CareCredit so you can spread the cost of your procedure into manageable monthly payments. Approval usually takes minutes, and there is no penalty for paying off early.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please schedule a consultation with our team to discuss your individual needs.