Facial Implants Procedures Barrie, Ontario

Your face, more than any other part of your body, is what defines you. It is a composite of structural elements – chin, cheeks, brow, and jaw. It is the relationship between these structural elements that creates the look that is uniquely yours. When one of these elements is too big, too small, or too prominent, it tends to throw the face out of balance.

Facial contouring, a form of plastic surgery that changes the basic structure of your face, may use carefully styled implants to create a more attractive, harmonious balance among your facial features. With facial implants, Dr. Dickie can help you achieve, for example, a wider and stronger jaw line, higher cheekbones or a fuller face, or added length and projection to a small chin.

Who is a good candidate for Facial Implants?

The use of facial implants can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with Dr. Dickie. The best candidates for facial implants are people looking for improvement, not perfection, in the way they look. If you’re physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate. Most candidates are younger people interested in a fundamental change in the shape and balance of their face. For older patients, facial implants may be used in conjunction with other surgical procedures, such as a forehead lift or a facelift, to help restore a more youthful look.

Procedure

Facial surgery may be done with local anaesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy so you’ll be relaxed but awake. Or, Dr. Dickie may recommend general anesthesia, so you’ll sleep through the entire operation.

Chin Surgery

Insertion of a chin implant usually takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Dr. Dickie begins by making an incision in the skin under your chin. He will then gently lift the tissue off your chin bone to make a pocket large enough for the implant, usually about an inch and a half to two inches wide. Dr. Dickie will have determined the approximate size and shape of the implant you’ll need before surgery. Dr. Dickie will then place the implant in the pocket, stitch it into place and sew up the incision. Surgical tape or a light compression dressing may be applied to your chin to control swelling and to give your chin support right after the operation.

Recovery After Chin Implant Surgery

You may feel some discomfort for a few hours after surgery, and your chin may be stiff and achy for two or three days. Your lower lip may seem stiff and difficult to control for the first week. Some swelling in your chin and upper neck is possible, but it should go down within a week or two.

Useful Resources:

• How Can Chin Implants Improve the Facial Profile

Cheek Implants

Cheek implant surgery usually takes about one hour. If you are having a facelift or a forehead lift at the same time, your cheek implants may be inserted through the external incision made for these procedures. A lower eyelid incision is used to insert a cheek implant.

Dr. Dickie will first lift the tissue of your cheek away from your cheekbone, creating a tunnel that will hold the implant in place. Dr. Dickie will then place the implant in the tunnel, stitch it into place, and sew up the incision. Surgical tape or a light compression dressing may be applied to your cheek to control swelling and to give you extra support right after surgery.

Recovery After Cheek Implant Surgery

You’ll probably feel very little pain after surgery, although your cheeks may feel stiff and numb. You may not feel like talking much, and your smile won’t feel completely normal for several days. Yawning and chewing may also feel a bit uncomfortable. These sensations will begin to pass four or five days after surgery.

Jaw Surgery

Insertion of a jaw implant usually takes one to two hours and, like chin and cheek surgery, is usually done through the mouth. Dr. Dickie will make an incision inside your mouth along one side of the lower jaw, and then he will lift the tissue away to expose the jawbone. The implant is placed directly on the jawbone and the incision is closed. In most cases, Dr. Dickie will then repeat the procedure on the other side.

Recovery After Jaw Implant Surgery

You may experience marked swelling immediately following surgery, but most of it will disappear in several weeks. You may not be able to move your mouth or smile for several weeks after surgery. Dr. Dickie will give you guidelines and exercises to help you regain normal function.

You may be restricted to a liquid diet for a week or so, then soft foods for another week after that. You can usually brush your teeth gently within a few days after surgery, and you’ll be advised to rinse your mouth several times a day with salt water, diluted peroxide, or an antibiotic mouthwash.

You can usually return to work about a week after facial surgery. Any bruising and swelling usually takes two to three weeks to disappear.

You should avoid any activity that may result in your face getting jarred or bumped for at least six weeks, the time it takes for scar tissue to form around your implant and hold it securely in place.

Cosmetic Surgery Consultation in Barrie

Contact the Royal Centre of Plastic Surgery for more information on facial implants and other possible cosmetic enhancements that you might be considering and to schedule an in-depth consultation with Dr. Dickie. Our clinic is located in Barrie, 40 minutes north of Toronto.

Let us help you achieve your desired look. We are committed to helping you look and feel great.