Facial Implants

Definition and symmetry are hallmarks of an attractive face. Whether you’re dissatisfied with flat or sunken cheekbones, a weak jawline or a receding chin, facial implants can enhance your natural bone structure and help you achieve a more aesthetically-pleasing profile.

For the most natural results, it’s important to work with an accomplished Houston facial plastic surgeon, like Dr. Freeman, who has extensive experience with different types of facial implants and techniques. Dr. Freeman utilizes the latest advancements in surgical techniques and technology to perform safe and effective facial implant procedures. Please contact the office of Dr. Freeman to learn more about how facial implants can enhance your appearance.

What Are Facial Implants?

Facial Implants

Facial implants are designed to augment, rejuvenate or reconstruct facial contours to create an enhanced aesthetic. They are made in a wide range of shapes, sizes and styles to address deficiencies in many different areas of the face. Dr. Freeman uses small implants made of solid, biocompatible silicone. Standard options are suitable for producing natural-looking improvements in most patients. In some cases, custom-designed implants can be created if it is determined that they will produce a better result. Dr. Freeman will help you choose an implant that will achieve your desired degree of enhancement and give you the most natural-looking outcome.

What Can Facial Implants Accomplish?

A few of the most common reasons our Katy patients express interest in facial implants are:

  • To sculpt a more defined, striking appearance: Facial implants can add definition or prominence to areas that lack definition, such as flat cheekbones or a recessed chin. These improvements lend a more attractive and memorable quality to the face.
  • To enhance the masculine or feminine qualities of the face: For patients who desire a more masculine face, facial implants can be used to augment areas such as the chin and jaw. For patients who wish to enhance the femininity of their face, facial implants can be used to create higher cheekbones or fuller lips.
  • To reduce signs of facial aging: Even features that were once beautifully balanced and defined are subject to the effects of aging. Facial implants can be used to correct changes associated with facial volume loss and loss of skin elasticity.
  • To improve facial symmetry: Many patients express interest in facial implants for asymmetry. Implants can be used to reshape uneven features or features that are disproportionate in size to improve the overall balance of the face.

What Types of Facial Implants Are Available?

There are many types of facial implants. In some cases, a combination of implants allows patients to achieve the most balanced and attractive result.

Chin Implants

For those with chins that are recessed or naturally small, chin implants can help make a “weak” chin more prominent. Chin implants add dimension to the chin, enhance definition of the jawline and improve overall facial harmony by bringing the chin into more aesthetically-pleasing proportion with other features. Chin implants can also be used to correct asymmetry in the face. When in place, chin implants feel very similar to the natural bone and are rarely detectable by others.

Jaw Implants

Jaw implants can help make a face look more symmetrical, enhance a jaw that is too narrow or give the jawline more attractive definition. Patients frequently choose to receive these implants at the same time as a chin implant to strengthen a small jaw. Some patients are better candidates for genioplasty than jaw implants. With this procedure, the jaw bone is cut and moved forward. Small screws and a metal plate hold the jaw in place.

Cheek Implants

Cheek implants dramatically improve a person’s appearance by increasing the volume of less-defined facial features. A shallow midface can be enhanced to create high cheekbones and bring a more dramatic, angular look to the face. These implants are used to rejuvenate areas affected by age-related volume loss and to strengthen naturally flat cheekbones that give the face a gaunt, drawn look. A range of shapes and sizes are available to provide natural-looking results.

Lip Augmentation

Lip augmentation is a surgical procedure designed to permanently enhance the natural contours of the lips with minimal downtime. The implant is a soft, pliable silicone device that gives the lips improved volume and shape without distorting the patient’s smile. The upper lip takes on a more youthful contour with an enhanced Cupid’s bow and a reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. The bottom lip develops a fuller and more attractive pout.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Facial Implants?

Are you considering getting facial implants in Houston? Women and men can both benefit from this procedure. Good candidates for facial implants include patients who have achieved physical maturity and who wish to permanently augment, reconstruct or rejuvenate their facial contours. Individuals considering facial implants may identify the following challenges:

  • Small or receding chin
  • Excessively narrow jaw
  • Poor jawline definition
  • Jowls
  • Thin lips
  • Lack of fullness and definition in the cheeks
  • Facial asymmetry
  • Unsatisfactory facial proportions
  • Facial structures made deficient by loss of fat or skin elasticity due to aging
  • Asymmetry or deformities resulting from injury

If you are in good general health, set realistic expectations and have a positive attitude, you are most likely a good candidate for facial contouring with implants. Schedule a consultation with board-certified surgeon Dr. Freeman to find out if facial implants can help you achieve your appearance goals.

What Procedures Can Enhance the Results of Facial Implants?

Patients may choose to include facial implants as part of an overall plan for facial enhancement. Some come to our Katy office with this in mind already, while others decide this is the best approach after their consultation with Dr. Freeman. Some of the most common combinations include:

Facial Implants and Facelift:

Cheek implants can be a desirable complement to a facelift procedure. While the facelift addresses sagging tissues and excess skin, the cheek implants restore youthful midface fullness that has been lost over the years. Jaw implants or a chin implant also pair well with facelift surgery because they all help to reduce jowls and define the jawline.

Facial Implants and Rhinoplasty:

The chin and the nose are closely tied together in facial aesthetics. A deficient chin can make an average-sized nose appear large and a large nose can make a normal chin look small. A patient who expresses concern about one of these issues may benefit most from improving both areas at once. Rhinoplasty with a chin implant is one of the most common facial contouring procedure combinations.

Facial Implants and Neck Contouring:

A well-defined chin and jaw go hand-in-hand with an elegant neck. Patients with excess fat under the chin may choose to have liposuction at the same time as chin or jaw implants. Patients with sagging neck skin and loose neck muscles may benefit from the same implants. By improving the chin and jaw, the neck looks longer, leaner and more youthful.

Dr. Freeman’s experience, care and discerning eye will ensure that you look your very best, whatever combination of procedures you choose.

What to Expect

Your Facial Implant Consultation

Each facial implant procedure is carefully customized to the patient’s unique features and proportions. During your consultation, Dr. Freeman will discuss your goals in detail to determine the best approach. He will learn more about how you want to look and make sure that you select the best size and type of implant to enhance your natural facial structure. Developing a plan with a skilled facial plastic surgeon is a key component to achieving an enhanced but natural-looking appearance. Dr. Freeman will design your personalized plan around your aesthetic goals and anatomy, and ensure you have a full understanding of what you can expect before you begin treatment.

Your Facial Implant Procedure

The specifics of your Texas facial implant procedure will depend on the plan outlined prior to your surgery. In general, the procedure begins with Dr. Freeman making surgical markings to guide the implant placement. Anesthesia is then administered to keep the patient safe and comfortable during the surgery. Once it has taken effect, Dr. Freeman makes a small incision near where the implant will be placed and creates a pocket in the facial tissue. He gently inserts the implant into the pocket and adjusts its placement until it is in the optimal position, then closes the incision with dissolving sutures. In most cases, a facial implants procedure is completed in under one hour.

Your Facial Implant Recovery

This is an outpatient procedure, so no hospitalization is required, with a relatively quick recovery. Dr. Freeman will provide you with detailed instructions about your postoperative care, including how to care for your incisions, how to alleviate discomfort during healing and how long you can expect to wait before returning to work and your normal level of activity. You will need to sleep face-up with your head elevated for at least one week to protect your healing incisions and help control swelling. You may also be instructed to temporarily consume a liquid-only diet. It is vitally important that you follow these instructions to ensure a safe and smooth recovery. Most facial implant patients experience relatively little downtime and are back to work and light activities within a week after surgery.

Your Facial Implant Results

Results are subtle but profound. Because they are placed over your natural bone structure, facial implants act as part of your skeleton. The soft tissues of your face (skin, muscle, fat) will age naturally over the implants. Most people will not assume you had plastic surgery, but they will definitely notice an incredible improvement in your appearance. Facial implants are strong, durable medical devices that are intended to be permanent. They do not need to be replaced except in the rare instance that they become infected, damaged or displaced. Most patients can expect to enjoy a lifetime of improvement after facial implant surgery.

Bring Out Your Best Features With Facial Implants

Men and women in Texas have a variety of options when it comes to shaping their face. For long-lasting and natural-looking results, facial implants are an excellent way to enhance your bone structure and highlight your most attractive features. Dr. Freeman is a board-certified surgeon who is highly respected in the Houston area for his compassionate nature and high-quality care. He and his enhancement team are available to answer your questions about facial implants and help you determine if they are the right choice for your cosmetic goals. Contact the office of Dr. Freeman today at 281-599-9445 to request a consultation.