Procedures

Facial Implants

Whether or not we notice it consciously, full cheeks are often a part of how we judge a person’s face. Cheek implants can have a major impact on the appearance and self-confidence of patients whose cheeks have thinned or sunken due to age, illness or other causes.

The chin helps provide harmony to the facial features. Patient’s come to the office desiring a smaller nose when, in fact, a chin augmentation provides a balance to the facial features. Implant sizes and shapes to augment the cheek and chin are tailored to each patient’s desired appearance.

The insertion of pre-jowl implants is a cosmetic procedure to correct the small “dent” that appears near the sides of the chin as a result of sagging jowls. Sagging jowls not only affect the jaw line but they create a bulge in the jaw line that looks like a small “dent” just between the jowl and the chin.

Although a face lift can correct the sagging jowl to smooth out the jaw line, this can be much more effective if a pre-jowl implant is inserted underneath the tissues to simultaneously push out the hollow that was created by the sagging jowls. This does not create a different chin but instead smoothes out the jaw line. This procedure is a permanent alternative to getting a filler such as Radiesse or Perlane in the pre-jowl areas. The procedure takes about 1-2 hours.

It is very common for us to perform a cheek or mid-face lift while placing cheek implants. Please see additional mid-face lift section.

Good candidates for facial implants

Pre-jowl implant surgery can be performed on any healthy adult with the problems mentioned above. Your surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits of pre-jowl implant surgery at your consultation to confirm that this particular implant is the best course of action for your needs.

How are facial implant surgeries performed?

Pre-jowl implant procedures are performed under either IV sedation and local anesthesia or general anesthesia in our Jupiter AAASF accredited in-office surgery suite on an outpatient basis.

If performed during another facial cosmetic procedure, such as a face lift, it will be done under general anesthesia. During the procedure, an incision is placed underneath the chin, behind the crease. Once inserted, the implant is stabilized with a tiny titanium screw and the tissues and skin sutured after the skin has been re-draped around the new framework.  The procedure takes about 90 minutes if no other procedure is being performed.

Recovery from facial implants

Pre-jowl & Chin

After a pre-jowl implant procedure, recovery time is very brief but may be slightly longer if additional procedures were done at the same time, such as a face lift. You will experience some swelling and bruising, which can be relieved with pain medication and ice packs.

Most patients are back to full activity within 2-4 days, though you will wear a chinstrap 24 hours a day for about a week. You will be most comfortable if you eat a soft diet during this recovery time.

When you leave our office after the procedure, your follow-up appointment will be set within 4-5 days at which time the sutures will be removed. You should avoid strenuous physical activity for about a month after your procedure and avoid any contact sports or other activities that might cause trauma to the implant.

Cheek

Dr. Goldberg has spent years developing facial implants including the mandibular matrix system and has extensive experience with cheek implants. Cheek implants are inserted to bring the cheek into better balance with other facial features. The implants themselves may be hard implantable material such as silicone or Medipore, or demineralized bone.

Cheek implants may be inserted during other facial surgery such as rhinoplasty is done and/or during a face lift to correct sunken cheekbones.