Facial Implants in Birmingham AL

Facial Implants Candidates

You may be a good candidate for facial implants if:

• You are concerned by a small or recessed chin, weak jaw or flat cheeks.
• You are physically healthy and don't smoke.
• You have a positive outlook and specific goals for improving your facial contours.

Plastic surgery with facial implants is best performed on people whose head and skull have reached physical maturity, which generally occurs in late adolescence.

Your Facial Implants Consultation

During your facial implants consultation, be prepared to discuss:

• Your surgical goals.
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments.
• Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Previous surgeries.

Your facial implants surgeon will also:

• Evaluate your general health and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors.
• Take photographs for your medical records.
• Discuss your facial rejuvenation options and recommend a course of treatment.
• Discuss the likely outcomes of facial implant surgery and any risks or potential complications.
• Answer any questions you have about facial implants.

Facial Implants Risks and Safety

Each patient must decide if the benefits of facial implant surgery will achieve their goals, and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable. The risks of facial implants include:

• Allergies to tape, suture materials and glues, blood products, topical preparations or injected agents.
• Anesthesia risks.
• Bleeding.
• Change in skin sensation.
• Temporary or permanent damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles and lungs.
• Firmness around the implant.
• Infection.
• Persistent pain.
• Poor incision healing.
• Possible revisional surgery.
• Implant shifting.
• Skin contour irregularities.
• Skin discoloration, swelling and sensitivity.
• Unfavorable scarring.

Facial implants risks will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It's important that you address all of your concerns about risks with your plastic surgeon. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.

Preparing for Facial Implants

In preparing for facial implants, you may be asked to:

• Get lab testing or a medical evaluation.
• Take certain medications or adjust your current medications.
• Stop smoking.
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, which can increase bleeding.

Facial implants procedures are performed at our accredited Outpatient Surgery Facility in Birmingham, Alabama. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.

Facial Implants Procedure

Anesthesia options for facial implant surgery include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your surgeon will recommend the best option for you.

Facial Implants Recovery

Once your facial implants procedure is completed, bandages or dressings may be applied to keep the surgical site clean and support the position of the implant during initial healing.

Your plastic surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself after facial implant surgery. Following these instructions is essential to the success of your cheek, chin or jaw implants procedure. The instructions may include:

• How to care for the surgical site.
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection.
• Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health.
• When to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

The surgical incisions should not be subjected to excessive force, motion, swelling or abrasion during the time of healing.

Facial Implants Results

While the initial outcome of facial implant surgery with Dr. William Hedden, Dr. Stephen Gunn or Dr. Joshua Halka is noticeable almost immediately, it will be obscured by visible swelling. The initial healing phase may include localized swelling, discoloration, numbness or discomfort. It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate. Facial movements may be temporarily restricted or impaired.

The final results of your facial implant surgery will be long-lasting. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

Facial Implants Words to Know

• Biocompatible materials: Synthetic or natural material used in facial implants, designed to function along with living tissue.
• External incisions: Surgical incisions made on the surface of your skin.
• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
• Intraoral incisions: Surgical incisions made inside the mouth.
• Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection to help you relax.
• Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision to relieve pain during an operation.