San Benito Surgery

Facial features are an important and highly visible aspects of a person's physical appearance. For those who want a more balanced face or create stronger features, facial implants may be the answer. Implants placed in the chin, jaw, or cheek will create a more pronounced, contoured, and visually striking face. Facial implants are designed to provide augmentation or reconstruction of the face, as well as rejuvenation of the aging face. Facial implants are widely used for adding or restoring contours for a balanced and youthful face.

FACIAL IMPLANTS - Solide and Porous:The implants are of two main types. Solid implants, which are usually made of silicone and porous implants, which are usually made of polyethylene (as shown above).

The most fundamental difference between them is in how the body responds. Solid implants are walled off by a layer of tissue called a capsule. The porous implants are fixed by surrounding tissue growing into them. One of the disadvantages of the solid implant is that it can move around or migrate. This does not happen with porous implants which are fixed in one place. This has several advantages. In the first place they do not droop or become ptotic. Secondly they are less likely to cause erosion or resorption the underlying bone. Infection is no more common with a porous implant. Both implants can be cut to shape but the silicone is probably a little easier to carve. The main disadvantages of the porous implants are that they are more expensive and more difficult to place than silicone. This usually means a larger incision. The implant must be directly positioned rather than squeezed or pushed into place.

Chin, Cheek, or Jaw Reshaping / Facial Implants
What is chin, cheek, or jaw reshaping? Cosmetic plastic surgery to change the shape of the chin, check, or jaw is called a facial implant. This procedure is typically done to enhance certain facial features, or to bring a certain aspect of the face into proportion with the rest. For the reshaping of the chin, check, or jaw, the surgeon inserts an implant into the area to redefine its appearance.

Cheek Implants
Indications: This operation is done to enhance the shape and appearance of the cheek bones.
Method: There are many ways to perform cheek implantation. The method must be tailored to the individual patient needs. The principal is to create a pocket over the cheek tissue and place an implant into the pocket. There are two types of implant, solid or porous. The incision may be placed in the crease lines outside the eye, in the mouth or on the inner surface of the eye (the conjunctiva). The operation is done under either local anesthetic (you are awake) or general anesthetic (you are asleep). You can often choose. Most of the time this is an outpatient operation and a stay in the hospital is not needed.
Possible Problems: All operations have some risk. The risks of surgery are divided into two groups. First those that are seen in all operations and second those that are unique or special for this operation. In the first group, the main risks are swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, a scar and numbness or change in feeling. The main problems which are special for this operation are patient dissatisfaction and change in position of the implant.
Postoperative care: The recovery takes one to two weeks. Most people are back to work within a week or two.

Chin Implants
Chin implants are used to enhance the shape and appearance of the chin. They are sometimes used to correct a witch's chin deformity.
Method: There are many ways to perform chin implantation. The method must be tailored to the individual patient needs. The principal is to create a pocket at the chin and place an implant into the pocket. There are two types of implant, solid or porous.The incision may be placed in the crease lines under the chin or in the mouth. Some patients need more extensive surgery to re-position the bone of the chin. The operation is done under either local anesthetic (you are awake) or general anesthetic (you are asleep). You can choose. Most of the time this is an outpatient operation and a stay in the hospital is not needed. It is not unusual to combine this operation with a rhinoplasty to improve the facial profile.
Possible Problems: All operations have some risk. The risks of surgery are divided into two groups. First those that are seen in all operations and second those that are unique or special for this operation. In the first group, the main risks are swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, a scar and numbness or change in feeling. The main problems which are special for this operation are change in position and extrusion of the implant.
Postoperative care: The recovery takes one to two weeks. Most people are back to work within a week or two.

Facial Cosmetics | General Questions | Consultation Appt. | Aging Changes
Resurfacing/Facefilt | Surgical Procedures

For more information schedule your free consultation with Dr. Wittenberg to discuss this procedure in full. Our experienced and professional office staff members are here to help you with all your questions. Call our offices at (831) 636-9808.

890 Sunset Drive, Suite B-1A
Hollister, California 95023

Telephone: (831) 636-9808
Facsimile: (831) 636-9843

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