Cheek Augmentation

Cheek augmentation takes about one hour. Some patients choose to have cheek implants placed during a facelift or brow lift. In this case, surgery would be closer to 4 hours total.

Your plastic surgeon will first lift the tissue away from your cheekbone which will create a pocket that will hold the implant in place. The implant rests directly on the bone, which must be completely bare of tissue before the implant is inserted in order to provide a stable "seal". For patients who choose to have cheek implants placed during a facelift, the implant may be placed through an external incision already created.

Your surgeon will then place the implant in the pocket created, stitch it to hold it in place, and stitch the incision closed. A light compression dressing may be applied to your cheek to control swelling and offer extra support immediately following surgery.

Most patients report very little pain after this procedure, although you may experience stiffness and numbness in your cheeks. Yawning, chewing, and talking might be slightly uncomfortable for a few days. You may also notice that your smile may not feel completely normal right away. These symptoms will pass within 7-14 days after the procedure.

Your surgeon may recommend that you maintain a diet of mostly soft foods and liquids for the first week to ten days after surgery. You may brush your teeth gently the day after your procedure, but your surgeon will likely advise you to rinse your mouth several times per day with salt water, diluted peroxide, or an antibiotic mouthwash to kill bacteria and fight infection. The stitches will dissolve or be removed within ten days.

Any activity that may cause your face to be bumped or jarred should be avoided for at least six weeks. By the six-week mark, scar tissue will have formed around the implant to hold it securely in place. Minor swelling or bruising may be concealed by camouflage makeup.

Chin augmentation, or genioplasty, is an option to improve the appearance of a "weak chin". Having a "weak chin" can cause the rest of the facial features to appear disproportionate to one another.

The plastic surgeons at The Centre, P.C. use chin implants to strengthen the appearance of the patient’s chin thus providing more balance between the chin and other prominent facial features.

Because chin implants come in all textures and shapes, the plastic surgeons at The Centre, P.C. have ample options to ensure that the best possible look is attained for each patient.

Chin augmentation is an outpatient procedure that takes about one hour. Incisions are typically made under the chin area. Surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia.

The plastic surgeons at The Centre, P.C. may use computer imaging for educational purposes and to help define the size and location of the implant. Most patients wear a facial garment for one to two weeks following the procedure to aid in the healing process and to control swelling. Minor swelling and bruising can be concealed with camouflage makeup.

Patients describe the procedure as sore and uncomfortable, but tolerable. Most patients who elect to have chin augmentation may resume normal activities within seven to ten days of the procedure, resumption of exercise and strenuous activity is closer to 4 weeks. 

Jaw augmentation, also known as mandibular augmentation, is a surgical procedure that balances the appearance for the jaw with the other facial features. Often, it can be used to create a more masculine appearance or to correct facial trauma due to an injury or accident.

Insertion of a jaw implant usually takes between one and two hours. Your surgeon will make an incision inside of your mouth along one side of the lower jaw and separate the tissue from the jawbone. The implant is placed directly onto the jawbone and the incision is closed. In most cases, the surgeon will repeat this process on the other side of your mouth.

Most patients will experience noticeable swelling immediately following the procedure, but most of it will resolve within several weeks. 

You may be restricted to a liquid diet for a week to ten days following surgery. You will then be restricted to soft foods and liquids for a week to ten days. You may brush your teeth gently within a few days after the procedure and you will be instructed to rinse your mouth out several times per day with salt water, diluted peroxide, or an antibiotic mouthwash to kill bacteria and fight infection.

As with most facial surgeries, you will be able to return to work within a week of the procedure. Many people, however, don’t feel what's considered "socially acceptable" until the bruising and swelling diminish, which can take up to three weeks.

Any activity that may cause your face to be bumped or jarred should be avoided for at least six weeks. By the six-week mark, scar tissue will have formed around the implant to hold it securely in place. Minor swelling or bruising may be concealed with makeup.