"I always had a very short chin. It was just like my
dad's, which was okay, but I never felt very attractive. My chin
implant has given me new confidence in everything I do!"
—T.D. (age 26)
Who is a Candidate?
Anyone who would like to alter the underlying facial structure and
change their appearance or profile may be a candidate for facial implant plastic surgery in Maryland at our Frederick practice. Facial implants are most often made
of solid cured pieces of silicone rubber or other inert substances.
They are now engineered on computers for optimal fit and benefit. They
are used to change the appearance of the underlying support structures of the face
(bone or cartilage).
Ready to learn more about facial implants? Start seeing what's possible when you view facial implant photos from actual patients of the practice. When you're ready, request a consultation with Dr. Kress at the office of Plastic Surgery One on Opossumtown Pike in Frederick.
Facial Implants in Frederick, Maryland
The exact procedure Dr. Kress will use depends on such factors as implant type and your existing anatomical structure. Frequently the implants
are inserted under local anesthesia as an outpatient. They are generally placed through incisions inside the mouth or in inconspicuous
locations outside the mouth. They are minimally invasive and may require some form of stabilization during recovery.
Types of implants include:
- Chin: Dozens of different types, performed to compliment nasal surgery approximately 25% of the time.
- Malar: These are cheek implants that can help balance your profile.
- Sub-Malar: Used to augment the hollow area just below the cheek prominence.
- Mandibular Angle: Implants for the corner of the jaw.
- Tear-Trough: Fills in the groove extending from the middle corner of the eye down the cheek.
- Nasal: Used in conjunction with nose reshaping in Frederick, these are not safe with many skin types.
Several other implant types are available at Plastic Surgery One, including custom implants and combinations.
Recovery Time
Patient recovery time varies depending upon the type of implant, the location, and several other factors.
There may be discomfort which is controlled with medications and a 10 to 14 day period of swelling and bruising. If external stitches are
used they generally require removal in about 7 days.
Your Result
Facial implant plastic surgery in Frederick is capable of not only turning back the clock but
of altering the underlying support structures creating a new look,
which is more than just age reversal. Results can range from subtle
improvements in facial balance to very dramatic alterations of the
entire appearance.
Facial Implant FAQ's
- Are implants ever made from materials other than silicone?
There are many other materials that have come and gone over the past
twenty years. Silicone is the most common implant material, but there
are other implants made out of Teflon or Gore-Tex. Natural substances,
such as donor rib or bone, can also be carved and reshaped to create
implants that can change the shape of the facial skeleton.
- What if I don't like my implants after they're done?
All of the implants can easily be removed, but I feel strongly that
since facial implants are appearance-altering, psychologically most
people require a period of about three months to adjust to anything
this dramatic. I usually have an agreement with my patients that we
won't do anything to alter the implant for a full three months to allow
them, and their families, to adjust to this new appearance. I have had
patients who were very unhappy in the few weeks immediately following
the surgery, but who, by the end of three months, were absolutely
delighted with their facial implants.
- I have a wide nose. Is there an implant that can give a little more height to my nose?
Yes. There is a silicone implant that does this job, but for reasons
that are not fully appreciated, Caucasian noses usually don't tolerate
this well and do much better with natural cartilage or a bone graft.
African American or Asian noses, conversely, tolerate the silicone
nasal implant quite well.
- I was involved in a motor vehicle accident and now my face is more hollow on the left side. If I wanted to correct this, how could it be done?
Aided by sophisticated computer technology, there is a company in
California that, by utilizing special x-rays, can design and
manufacture an implant that will exactly correct the lingering
imperfections from the accident.
- I was talking to a surgeon about my nose, and he starts talking about my chin. Is he just trying to run up the charges?
No. It is the responsibility of a good Plastic Surgeon to point out the
relationship between the nose and the chin. The relationship is so
strong in fact, that it is actually sometimes easier to reduce the
visual appearance of the nose by increasing the size of a very short
chin. I will sometimes refuse to perform the nose surgery unless I am
allowed to do something to the chin if I feel a patient's results will
not be satisfactory. By increasing the jaw in proportion to decreasing
the nose, the rest of the face can be brought into proper balance.
Have a question that isn't answered here? Request a consultation with Dr. Kress or call us at 240.575.1566.
"Consider the postage stamp—its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there."
—Josh Billings
