Facial Implants
High cheek bones, a defined jaw line and facial balance are highly desirable facial features. These features are determined by the shape and position of the facial bones rather than the soft tissues of the face. Modern facial implants are used to enhance the shape and size of facial bones, to restore facial balance and provide aesthetically pleasing highlights to the face.
There are a wide variety of prefabricated implants for the face, and custom made implants can be fabricated when required. Each of these implants has advantages and disadvantages that will be discussed during your consultation. The ideal implant is biologically inert, easily inserted, stable in position, predictable in its result, durable and easily reversible. These issues will be discussed during your consultation.
Before and after photographs
The New Zealand Medical Council has banned New Zealand doctors from using "Before and After" photographs in any form of public communication, including websites. The only permissible use of such photographs under the New Zealand Medical Council rules is during a medical consultation.
Dr Masters will show you examples of previous patient's "Before and After" photographs during your consultation.
Cheek Implants.
Cheek implants are used to increase the fullness of the cheek bones on both frontal and profile view. They can be used in people who have always had relatively flat cheekbones or more subtly to counteract the upper cheek flatness often associated with aging.
Chin Augmentation
The insertion of a chin implant can rapidly correct the facial imbalance brought about by having a small weak chin. They are also very useful when correcting a witches chin deformity. By restoring the dimensions of the lower face, other facial features can also be brought back into balance; often a nose which appears too large in association with a small chin will appear completely normal once the chin is augmented.
Jaw line (Mandibular) Implants
By inserting these implants the width of the jaw and the definition of the jaw line can be improved once again leading to a more youthful angular face. They are also helpful for reducing the apparent size of jowls and camouflaging a pointed chin.
Relevant Anatomy
The implants are placed immediately adjacent to the bone on the facial skeleton, well beneath the soft tissues, so that its edges can not be seen or felt. The outer surface of bones have a layer attached, called the periosteum, that is elevated to form a small pocket to place the implant in. As the pocket is fashioned to the correct size and implant is manufactured to the correct bony shape, the net result is the implant is held in position and is highly unlikely to move into an incorrect position.
Anaesthesia
The implants are usually placed with the patients under general anaesthetic in a full operating room.
Operative Technique
The opening, or incision, used to site the implant varies with the type of implant and whether or not other procedures are also being performed. The aim is to always use a hidden scar. Jaw line implants are almost always inserted via small incisions within the mouth, leaving no visible external scars. Chin implants can be placed either via an oral route or through a small incision located under the chin (this route is particularly preferred when a neck lift or similar procedure is being performed at the same time). Cheek implants are also usually placed via the mouth leaving no visible external scar, but can be placed through lower eyelid incisions if a lower eyelid reduction is being performed at the same time.
Post-operative care
There is no specific post-operative care required for the implants. Oral antibiotics are taken for 5 days to help prevent infection. If an intra oral approach has been used then patients are encouraged to have a soft diet and perform mouth washing after meals for at least two weeks. All stitches within the mouth dissolve in their own time and do not require removal. Initially the area where the implant has been placed will feel odd and be slightly swollen; however this will pass quite rapidly. Within weeks the implant is firmly attached to the bone surface and the patient cannot feel the implant edges. Raising the head of the bed and using ice packs for first two or three days following surgery helps speed up this process by diminishing any associated swelling and bruising.
Complications specific to facial implants
The potential complications specific to the use facial implants are uncommon and include infection, temporary numbness, temporary difficulty in chewing, implant rejection, implant malposition and in very rare cases nerve damage.
Complications (general)
Before deciding to proceed with surgery, every patient needs to thoroughly consider the risks, as well as the benefits, of the proposed procedure. During your pre-operative consultation(s), Mr Masters will openly discuss the risks with you so that you can consider them. A full listing of all the potential complications and risks of this procedure is beyond the scope of this website.
There are two broad groupings of surgical risks: those that pertain to surgery in general; and those specific to the procedure being performed.
Generalised surgical risks include:
- Bleeding – usually occurs within the first 24-48 hours of the procedure and may require a return to the operating room. A quiet, restful post-operative period will help to avoid this problem.
- Bruising – whenever possible, Mr Masters uses medications and techniques that help to avoid post-operative bruising.
- Infection – surgical incisions, even though created in ideal circumstances, can become infected. When appropriate, antibiotics will be prescribed to lower this risk.
- Unfavourable scarring – every surgical incision results in a scar. It is Mr Masters’ role to maximise the quality of your scars and, whenever possible, to hide them in natural skin creases.
Approximate Costs
A written quote will be given following your consultation with Dr Masters. Including the operating theatre fees, consumable items used, implants, anaesthetist and surgeons fees the cost of this surgery starts from $7,500.
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