Facial Implants in Birmingham, Alabama

Chin, Cheek, Jaw and Nasal Implants at Hedden & Gunn Plastic Surgery

If you are bothered by a small chin, weak jaw or lack of facial contour, you may be a candidate for plastic surgery with Facial Implants.

Made of specially formed solid materials that are compatible with human tissues, facial implants bring balance and better proportion to the structural appearance of the face. While any area of the face can be enhanced or augmented with implants, the most common sites for facial implants are the cheeks, chin, jaw and nose.

• Chin Implants can increase the size and projection of a chin that is not in proportion with the forehead and mid-face.
• Jaw Implants increase the width of the lower third of your face.
• Cheek Implants increase the projection of the cheekbones, adding volume to areas that may be recessed or flat.
• Nasal Implants are used to clear obstructions, enhance the shape of the nose, correct malformed areas and improve facial symmetry.

Following an evaluaion of your goals and the features you wish to correct, plastic surgeons Dr. William Hedden, Dr. Stephen Gunn and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Pasha Mostofi at our Birmingham, Alabama practice can help you select the type and size of facial implants that best suit you and your goals for cosmetic surgery.

Facial Implants Candidates

A small or recessed chin can also be described as one that seems to disappear into the neck of an individual of normal weight rather than appearing as a distinct facial feature. Much like the chin, a weak jaw can be thought of as one that is not well-defined and distinct from the neck or one that slopes rather than angles from the ear to the chin. In some cases, both the chin and jaw can contribute to facial imbalance.

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.
• You do not 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

By choosing a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) for your facial implants procedure, you can be assured that you are choosing a highly-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon. ASPS Member Surgeons must meet rigorous standards for training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery.

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 will also:

• Evaluate your general health and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors.
• Take photographs.
• 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.

Be sure to ask questions at your consultation. It is very important to understand all aspects of your facial implant surgery. It's natural to feel some anxiety, whether preoperative stress or excitement about your anticipated new look. Don't be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.

Facial Implants Risks and Safety Information

The decision to have facial implant surgery is extremely personal. You will have to decide if the benefits of facial implants will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.

The risks of facial implants include:

• Unfavorable scarring.
• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Poor healing of incisions.
• Anesthesia risks.
• Change in skin sensation.
• Damage to deeper structures (such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles and lungs), which may be temporary or permanent.
• Allergies to tape, suture materials and glues, blood products, topical preparations or injected agents.
• Firmness around the implant.
• Shifting of implants.
• Skin contour irregularities.
• Skin discoloration, swelling and sensitivity.
• Persistent pain.
• Possible revisional surgery.

These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. 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, as they can increase bleeding.

Facial implant surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, licensed ambulatory surgical center or hospital. If performed as an outpatient procedure, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and stay with you for at least the first night.

Facial Implants Procedure

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

Cheek Implants

The specific area to be augmented in the cheek determines where an implant will be positioned on the cheekbone. Cheek implants are most often placed through incisions in the mouth. When performed with other procedures, alternate incisions may be recommended, including placement through an incision inside the lower eyelid or within the hairline.

Chin Implants

The incision for chin implants may be inside your mouth along the crease that joins your lower lip and gums. An alternative is an incision just beneath the chin.

Jaw Implants

Jaw implants are generally placed through the mouth with incisions inside the mouth, back along the jawline at the crease where the inside of your cheek and gums meet. Your incisions will be closed with absorbable sutures or stitches that will be removed within 1 to 2 weeks.

Nasal Implants

Nasal implants are carefully inserted into a small pocket along the bridge of the nose, the base of the nose or both. Incisions may be made inside one or both nostrils. Once your plastic surgeon adjusts the implant for a proper fit, he or she will close the incision with self-dissolving sutures. Stabilizing tape and a nasal splint are usually applied to keep the implant in position as it heals.

This form of Nose Surgery sometimes involves altering or reshaping cartilage and bone to change the profile of the nose. However, the desired results are often seen by adjusting the size of the implant.

Facial Implants Recovery

Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself. Following your physician's instructions is essential to the success of your facial implant surgery and recovery. These 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.

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.

Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your facial implants recovery period.

• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery, and when will they be removed?
• Are stitches removed, and when?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?

Facial Implants Results

While the initial outcome of facial implant surgery 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.

It's important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion or motion during the time of healing.

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.