Chin implants can be permanent if you have a procedure done by a highly experienced surgeon. It is crucial that the implant and surrounding tissue are created in an anatomical shape, carefully sized to resemble your own tissue, and placed onto the body in such a way that it cannot be easily moved from its intended location. In addition to these factors, proper care must be taken to keep your chin implant in good health over time.
Read on to learn more about Is Chin Implant Permanent, Understanding and Making Decision For The Chin Surgery
Is Chin Implant Permanent
Chin implants are used to help people who feel their jaw size, shape, or projection aren’t as aesthetically pleasing as they would like. They are strategically inserted to improve the appearance of the lower face during a procedure known as chin augmentation, and this is a procedure that is often overlooked by media reports in favour of more widely known facial aesthetic surgeries such as the facelift. Despite this, chin implants have been gaining more and more interest over the years and the procedure is actually carried out far more often than you may have thought.
Furthermore, it is a cosmetic procedure that attracts interest from both males and females.
The procedure can also address other issues that patients might typically assume would require rhinoplasty (nose surgery) or a more complex procedure. It’s the perfect surgery to help improve the balance of the face or to enhance an individuals unique masculine or feminine facial features.
It should be highlighted that new developments that are now used by plastic surgeons have improved the results that can be achieved through chin augmentation quite significantly, with new shapes, textured surfaces and more bio-compatible implants now available that make the procedure a far cry from the conventional one-sized-fits-all approach from the past.
Three types of chin augmentation
There are three different approaches to chin augmentation – the most common being with the use of dimethalpolysiloxane, which is a silicon compound and what gives reason to the term chin implants, although other materials may be used.
Other approaches may use your own bone, while another alternative is to use dermal fillers to shape a specific part of the face – in this case, the chin area.
So, how long does each chin augmentation approach last?
Chin augmentation with implants
If a patient opts for chin augmentation surgery with the use of chin implants made of silicone, they should expect the procedure to last an entire lifetime. During the operation, the chin implant is permanently set into place and will not shift or change position. This means that should the patient request for the chin implant to be removed or adjusted at any point in the future, then another surgery will of course be required.
Chin augmentation with bone
An implant-free version of the chin augmentation procedure involves a sliding genioplasty, which is a procedure that carefully repositions portions of the bone to change and improve the projection of the chin. These results will also last an entire lifetime and is often the preferred choice by those who are less comfortable with the idea and potential risks that involved with the insertion of an implant.
Chin augmentation with dermal fillers
Of the three options, chin augmentation with dermal fillers is the least invasive procedure by far but this news also comes with the fact that results are impermanent, typically lasting around six to twelve months depending on the type of filler that is used. Dermal fillers are often used on patients who would like to get a better idea of how a permanent chin augmentation procedure could improve the appearance of they jaw for the rest of their life, or for those who want to temporarily benefit from the results but are not quite ready to undergo a surgical procedure.
Understanding and Making Decision For The Chin Surgery
Each patient’s individual needs and features are considered before their surgery. Here is a general overview of the procedure:
- Once the person is under anesthesia, the surgeon begins by making an incision either in the natural crease line just under the person’s chin or inside the mouth where gum and lower lip meet.
- By gently stretching this tissue, the surgeon creates a space where an implant can be inserted. This implant, made of synthetic material that feels much like natural tissue normally found in the chin, is available in a variety of sizes and shapes. This allows custom fitting of the implant to the configurations of the patient’s face.
- After implantation, the surgeon uses fine sutures to close the incision. When the incision is inside the mouth, no scarring is visible. If the incision is under the chin, the scar is usually imperceptible.
Making the Decision for Chin Surgery
If you are considering chin surgery, here’s what to expect when you meet with a plastic surgeon:
- During a preliminary consultation, the surgeon will take a thorough medical history, as well as assess the person’s mental and emotional attitudes toward the surgery. A positive attitude and realistic expectations are crucial to the success of the surgery.
- The surgeon or a staff member will take photographs so the surgeon can study the person’s facial features and chin.
- The surgeon will carefully assess the person for surgical risks, especially those related to conditions such as high blood pressure, a tendency to scar, smoking and any deficiency in blood clotting.
- If a person, in consultation with the surgeon, elects to proceed with surgery, the surgeon will describe:
- The type of technique most likely to get a good result
- The type of anesthesia recommended
- The surgical facility where the procedure will take place
- Any additional procedures recommended to optimize results
Cheek Implants
As people age, the tissues of the face can become thinner and less firm. Adding volume to the cheek areas or middle of the face below the eyes with implants can improve facial contours and impart a more youthful appearance to the face.
Cheek implants can also restore a more natural appearance to the face after reconstructive surgery for cancer, other illness or traumatic injury.
Facial implants are solid implants typically made of medical silicon, which has a long, established record of safety. The surgeon may choose from a variety of implants, depending on the desired approach. Facial implants are intended to be permanent, but the implants can be removed if desired.
What to Expect After Cheek Implant Surgery
- The surgeon will put a dressing on the person’s face immediately after surgery, and this dressing will remain in place for two to three days. The person will experience some tenderness. Post-operative discomfort may be controlled with prescribed medications.
- Most people feel a stretched, tight sensation in the cheek area after getting cheek implants or fillers, but this usually subsides in a week.
- After about six weeks, most swelling goes down and people can start to see results. The doctor may recommend avoiding rigorous activity for the first few weeks after surgery, but most people can resume normal activities after about 10 days.
Note: These are general guidelines and may not apply to each individual’s situation. Please ask your doctor to fully explain what you can expect after surgery.
Follow-Up Care
Follow-up care is vital for this procedure to monitor healing. Unusual swelling, bleeding, fever or other symptoms should be reported to your surgeon immediately. Patients should ensure that they keep all follow-up appointments with the surgeon to ensure healing is taking place normally.