“I had been dissatisfied with my recessed, weak, chin since my early teens,” confides Mark, a 34-year-old chin implant patient of Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery. “I just didn’t feel like my facial features were very masculine, strong, or attractive,” he explains. “It was like my chin got lost on my face, and over the years it really started to impact my self-esteem and confidence in both my dating life and career,” he continues, “I finally decided to take action when I hit 30. It seemed like a milestone birthday and I wanted to commemorate it with finally being happy with the appearance of my chin. I began researching the best facial plastic surgeons in Minneapolis, which led me to discovering Dr. Tolan.”
Like Mark, most of us have some aspect of our appearance that we’re dissatisfied with, whether it’s a bump on our noses or a sagging jawline. But, while many of us are now aware of solutions, such as cosmetic injectables and lasers to enhance our appearance, facial implants are not an option on many people’s radar. Insufficiencies in our facial bone structure can create noticeable facial disproportions, such as a recessed chin. Augmentation of these deficient areas can be performed using solid cheek, jaw or chin implants, restoring facial harmony. These implants can balance the appearance of the face by augmenting specific features and enhancing the contours and angles of the face.
Generally Targeted Areas of Facial Implants
- Jaw (Mandibuloplasty)
- Cheek (Malarplasty)
- Chin (Mentoplasty)
“Facial Implants are a wonderful option to enhance the underlying structure of your facial features and restore an overall balance and proportion to your face,” explains Dr. Christopher Tolan, a double-board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon with Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery. “Like Mark, many men seek out this option because a strong chin and jawline are such crucial features that denote masculinity on the male face,” he continues.
The most common sites for facial implants are usually the cheeks, jawline and chin. In some procedures, your surgeon will use a bone graft or donated tissue from the ribs or hip bone instead of synthetic implant. However, the facial implants that are typically used are made of solid silicone or Gore-Tex, a synthetic solid material similar in texture to silicone. Unlike breast implants, the silicone used in this procedure is solid, so the concerns associated with the liquid silicone used in breast augmentation are not relevant.
In cheek augmentation, or malarplasty, the implant is inserted into a pocket made by the surgeon next to the cheek bone. Depending on your preference, the implant can be placed in such a way that it creates a more narrow and angular cheek, or a softer, rounder cheek. You and your surgeon will discuss what placement will look best to enhance your existing features and appear the most natural.
Chin augmentation, or mentoplasty, can be used to make a weak chin more prominent. A small chin can make the nose seem disproportionately large, creating an imbalanced appearance. For this reason, chin augmentation is often done in conjunction with rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping. Your surgeon will discuss whether or not he believes this is a good recommendation with you.
Jaw augmentation, or mandibuloplasty, can be used to adjust the contours of the jawline. This procedure is commonly requested by men seeking a stronger and firmer jaw. A jawline augmentation is typically performed to create a squarer and more masculine jawline.
One of the many benefits of facial implants that make them so popular is that they require a relatively short recovery period. The surgery generally takes between one to two hours and patients are often able to return to their normal daily routine within one week. In some cases, your surgeon may discuss the use of dermal fillers such as Voluma® and Juvederm® to further enhance your surgery.
“I am so happy with my results,” says Mark. “The recovery was simple and, although it may sound weird, I finally feel like I look how I’m supposed to look now,” he shares. “It instantly renewed my confidence in my appearance, I only wish I had done it sooner!”
Are you a man who would like to sharpen or strengthen your jawline? Are you a woman who would like to see the apple restored to your cheeks? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Christopher Tolan or Dr. Garrett Griffin of Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery to discuss Facial Implants! Call (651) 632-9700.