What cheek and chin augmentation involves
The bone structure of the face largely shapes how others see us: prominent cheekbones bring light to the face, and a well-defined chin balances the nose and the jawline. When the cheekbones are flat or the chin recedes, the face can look flat and the nose larger than it really is.
Facial implants made of medical silicone, in different shapes and sizes, are placed directly on the bone and change the contour permanently. Malar implants are used for the cheeks and chin implants for the chin.
Options
- Cheek or chin implant, a permanent solution for volume and projection.
- Fat transfer, volume with your own fat, suited to age-related volume loss.
- Hyaluronic acid, a temporary non-surgical correction, also useful to preview the result.
Chin augmentation is sometimes combined with rhinoplasty for a balanced profile.
How the operation is done
The operation is done under local anaesthesia with sedation or under general anaesthesia and takes one to two hours. Chin implants are inserted through a small incision under the chin or inside the mouth, and cheek implants through the inside of the mouth or, when combined with other procedures, through the lower eyelid incision.
Recovery
- First days: swelling and tightness; if the incision is inside the mouth, soft food and careful oral hygiene.
- 7–10 days: back to normal activities.
- 1–3 months: swelling has gone completely.
Risks and things to know
- asymmetry or implant displacement;
- infection, which sometimes requires removing the implant;
- temporary numbness of the lip, chin or cheeks;
- being able to feel the edges of the implant.
Results vary from one patient to another.
