Changing the Shape of the Face with Chin Implants and Cheek Fillers

Society has long held that certain facial features were undesirable or unattractive. An undefined chin is seen as evidence that the person was weak or untrustworthy. Somebody with a gaunt appearance to the cheeks is seen as ghoulish or creepy. For women, a long, hollowed face was seen as unattractive. A person with an undefined chin or very hollow cheeks may feel self conscious about his or her appearance. This can eventually lead to embarrassment and even social anxiety about the appearance of the face.

Fortunately, there are several options available to those patients who are looking to change the shape of their face on either a temporary or a permanent basis. The plastic surgeons at Crawford Plastic Surgery recommend that these patients consider some of the facial sculpting cosmetic procedures that can firm up an undefined chin or fill out the cheeks to give the face a rounder, more appealing shape.

Facial Symmetry

It is important to understand the concept of facial symmetry when discussing any type of facial implant or filler. A symmetrical face is one in which all the elements are in proportion and arranged in a pleasant manner. The face can be divided up into nine equal sections - three horizontal and three vertical. Symmetrical facial features should be balanced between these nine squares. For example, the nose should only take up the middle third of the face, both horizontally and vertically. The cheeks should each take up the right- and left-hand middle squares, and the chin should fill the bottom middle third. The goal of any sort of facial implant or dermal filler is to make the facial features more symmetrical.

Dermal Fillers for Cheeks

As the body ages, it will lose collagen, which is a protein that fills out the body over the skeleton. Collagen loss around the cheeks can lead to a sunken, hollowed appearance. Dermal fillers add volume to the cheeks to produce a more youthful appearance. Depending on the type of dermal filler, results will last anywhere from 12 to 24 months before the filler is reabsorbed into the body.

The actual cheek dermal filler procedure is quite simple and straightforward. The surgeon will inject the dermal filler just under the outer layer of the skin at specific areas around the cheeks in order to fill them out.

Chin Implants

Chin implants are designed to make the chin stand out as a more distinct feature on the face. Although in most cases, this is purely for cosmetic purposes, it may also be medically necessary if the lower jaw has a severe under bite. The implants are made of silicone, Teflon, Dacron, or some of the newer biological tissue implants. The implant is actually attached to the facial bones by means of wires or screws to hold it in place. Chin implants are generally considered to be more permanent fixtures, unlike dermal fillers.

During the procedure, an incision is made either inside the mouth or under the chin. The surgeon will then create a pocket that will hold the implant. In cases where the actual jaw bone may need to be moved, he will make a second cut into the jawbone itself to move it into proper position.

Certainly genetics play a significant role in how our various facial features are arranged. However, there are now options that can allow people to make their face look more symmetrical and balanced. Contact Crawford Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.