What are Facial Implants?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Facial Implants?
Facial implants are three-dimensional, solid, pre-shaped objects that are compatible with the human tissues and used for improving the appearance and size of different facial areas including the jaw, chin, cheeks, nose, and the area beside the nose (paranasal area). Facial implant surgery is required to place the facial implants. This surgery helps in providing a more harmonious appearance to the face.
There are different types and shapes of implant materials available to achieve contour changes in the face. The type and shape of the implant chosen depend on the facial area that needs to be enhanced.
In this article, we will be discussing facial implants in detail-
- What are the different types of Facial Implants?
- What is the purpose of a Facial Implant?
- Who is a good candidate for Facial Implants?
- What is the diagnostic procedure before a Facial Implant Surgery?
- How to prepare for Facial Implants Surgery?
- What is the procedure of Facial Implant Surgery?
- How to care after Facial Implants procedure?
- What are the risks of Facial Implants?
- What is the cost of Facial Implants treatment in India?
What are the different types of Facial Implants?
Any area of the face can be augmented with facial implants. However, the chin, cheeks, and jaw are the most common sites for facial implants.
The different types of facial implants include:
Chin implants:
- Chin implants increase the size and projection of a chin that is not in proportion with the mid-face and forehead.
- A sunken or small chin that appears to fuse with the neck rather than being a separate facial characteristic, even if the individual is not overweight can also be corrected by a chin implant.
Cheek implants:
- Cheek implants may be used to improve the projection of the cheekbones.
- Cheek implants also help in adding bulk to the cheek areas, which could possibly be flat or submerged.
- High cheekbones can also be adjusted by facial implant surgery.
Jaw implants:
- Jaw Implants help in increasing the width of the lower third of the face.
- A jaw may not be well-defined and distinct from the neck, or it may slope rather than angle from the ear to the chin. This can be corrected using jaw implants.
Forehead implants:
- These implants lift the skin of the forehead to give a more youthful appearance.
Nose implants:
- Nose implants may be used for increasing the projection of the nose tip.
- These implants may also be used to widen the nose bridge.
What is the purpose of a Facial Implant?
A facial implant is usually done in the following cases:
- Facial features are disproportionate
- Facial features require reconstruction due to an injury, birth defect, or disease
- The cheeks are flat or sunken
- The chin is recessed and cannot be distinguished from the neck
- The forehead is misshapen or sloping
- The jaw is not distinct from the neck, leading to the sloping of the jaw from the ears to the chin
- The nose is flat at the tip or across the bridge
- You want a more youthful appearance
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Who is a good candidate for Facial Implants?
A good candidate for facial implants includes the following:
- A person whose facial bones have reached physical maturity, which usually occurs in late adolescence
- An individual who is physically healthy
- A non-smoker
- An individual who is bothered by a weak jaw, small chin, or lack of facial contour
- A person having specific goals and a positive outlook in mind for a facial implant surgery
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What is the diagnostic procedure before a Facial Implant Surgery?
- Physical examination: The doctor will physically evaluate the patient and check for the various facial characteristics. The patient’s medical history is also noted.
- Further testing depends on the age, health, and the type of procedure being performed. This may include:
- Chest x-ray: This may be done to visualize the bones, organs, and other structures in the chest region.
- Facial x-ray: A facial x-ray is a series of pictures of the facial bones.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG): It is a painless test done to record the electrical activity of the heart. This helps in diagnosing any heart problems.
- Blood tests: These may be done to check the blood cells count and to check for any underlying medical infections or disorders.
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How to prepare for Facial Implants Surgery?
- Have a consultation with your doctor and discuss your surgical goals.
- Inform your doctor about any pre-existing medical conditions, drug allergies that you may be having.
- Tell your doctor about the current medications, supplements, herbs, alcohol or tobacco consumption, or recreational drugs that you may be taking.
- Tell your doctor about any previous surgeries that you may have had.
- The doctor may take before and after photographs to evaluate the results of the treatment.
- The doctor will evaluate your general health and discuss the various treatment options, and course of treatment.
- The doctor will also discuss with you the potential risks and outcomes of facial implant surgery.
- The doctor may recommend taking certain medications or adjusting your current medications before the procedure.
- Quit smoking at least two weeks before the procedure.
- The doctor may recommend you to stop taking blood-thinning medications like warfarin, and anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin a few days before the surgery. These medications can increase the risk of bleeding during and after the procedure.
- Follow the instructions of not eating or drinking anything before the surgery as directed by your doctor.
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What is the procedure of Facial Implant Surgery?
- In most cases, facial implant surgery is performed on an outpatient basis (the patient goes home on the day of the surgery and does not require an overnight stay in the hospital).
- The procedure may be performed under local anesthesia with sedation (the treatment area is numbed), or general anesthesia (the patient is put to sleep during the procedure).
- The procedure for the different types of facial implants is as follows:
Cheek implants:
- The position of the implant is determined by the specific area in the cheek that needs to be augmented.
- Cheek implants are most often placed through the incisions (cuts)in the mouth.
- When cheek implants are placed along with other procedures, alternate incisions may be recommended including the placement through an incision within the hairline or inside the lower eyelid.
Chin implants:
- The incision may be made inside the mouth, along the crease joining the lower lip and gums to place the chin implants.
- Alternatively, an incision may be made just beneath the chin.
Jaw implants:
- Jaw implants are usually placed through the mouth by making incisions inside the mouth, back along the jawline at the crease where the gums and inside of the cheek meet.
- The incisions are closed by absorbable sutures (stitches) that are removed one to two weeks after the surgery.
Forehead implant:
- These types of implants require an incision in the hairline.
Nose implant:
- A minimally invasive incision is either made inside the nostrils or an open incision is made in the columella (strip of tissue above the upper lip and between the nostrils).
The procedure usually takes one to two hours to complete.
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How to care after Facial Implants procedure?
- Bandages or dressings may be applied to the site of surgery to keep the site clean and support the position of the implant during the initial healing period once the procedure is complete.
- It is normal to have swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the surgical area after the placement of the facial implant.
- The doctor will recommend pain medications to relieve the pain and discomfort experienced after the procedure.
- The swelling and bruising should subside in a couple of weeks on their own.
- You may require wearing a brace (a device that holds the implant in position) while sleeping for a couple of weeks.
- Follow your doctor’s recommendations about oral care, dietary, and lifestyle changes after the procedure.
- The recovery after a facial implant is gradual.
- The recovery time varies depending on the type of procedure done, the age, and the general health of the patient.
- You can resume your daily activities after a week of the procedure.
- Avoid strenuous activities for four to six weeks after the surgery.
- Complete recovery and facial improvement is seen after three to four months of facial implant placement.
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What are the risks of Facial Implants?
The risks associated with the facial implant surgery include:
- Scarring
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Poor healing after the surgery
- Anesthesia risks like problems with breathing and allergic reactions
- Formation of blood clots
- Displacement of the implant
- Firmness and hardness in and around the implant
- Changes in the skin contours and sensation
- Damage to nerves, muscles, and blood vessels
- Swelling
- Continuous pain in the surgical area
- Discoloration of the skin
- Increased sensitivity of the skin
- Asymmetry of the face
- Allergic reactions to injections, topical (applied to the skin directly) preparations, glues, tapes, and suture
- Need to repeat the surgery
Contact your doctor if you notice any of the above complications.
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What is the cost of Facial Implants treatment in India?
The total cost of facial implants treatment in India can range from around INR 80,000 to INR 1,50,000 depending on the type of procedure done. However, the cost of the procedure may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for facial implants treatment. The cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of facial implants treatment, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. So, the total cost of facial implants treatment in India will be around INR 1,00,000 to INR 2,00,000.
We hope that we were able to answer all your questions regarding facial implants through this article.
If you want more information and treatment for facial implants, you can contact a Plastic surgeon.
We only aim to give you information through the article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
