Cheek & Chin Implants

A beautiful face is a balanced face with the eyes, nose, lips, cheek 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 cheek is one of the most common facial implant procedures. A chin implant can improve the appearance of the chin, whereas a cheek implant can give a more voluminous look to otherwise flat cheeks. These facial implants are made of biocompatible materials and are available in different 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

The implant surgery is performed under general anaesthesia or intravenous sedation. For chin implant, an incision is made either below the chin or inside the mouth below the lower lip. For cheek implant, an incision is usually made inside the mouth between the gum and the cheek. When coupled with other procedures for the face, the incision may be made through the lower eyelid. Hence the surgical scar is either not visible or hardly noticeable. An appropriate implant is then inserted in the 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 5-7 days after the surgery.

After the surgery

Pain killers and antibiotics are prescribed, after the surgery, to reduce pain and the risk of infection. Localised swelling, discolouration, 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.

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