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Phone 512.401.2500 | Fax 512.401.2501
2745 Bee Caves Road, Suite 101
Austin,
Texas
78746
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Question:
My sister was telling me how happy she was with her chin implant and recommended that I get one too. How exactly will a chin implant benefit the look of my face?
Answer:
I can’t answer whether a chin implant will benefit your face without a consultation. In general however, an implant will bring harmony to the face by balancing the lower 1/3 with the nose and forehead. Also, a chin implant will often improve the appearance of the neck to some degree which can be further improved by liposuction and platysmaplasty (necklift).
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I am a 45-year-old man with what I consider to be a very weak facial profile. I am considering a chin implant procedure, but I would like to know what the chin implant is composed of.
Answer:
The chin implant we use is silicone. Silicone is a polymer of siloxane molecules that have been linked together. Depending on how many molecules are linked the silicone can be a liquid, gel or solid. The implant is a solid. It is completely inert in the body and is not at risk or resorption or spread.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I am male, 26 years old, and would like chin augmentation. How long do the effects of this surgery last? What do you use to augment the chin, an implant or fat transfer?
Answer:
We usually use an implant to augment the chin if that is the only concern, but if a patient is looking for a temporary result without down-time then filler can be used. Fat is only used for a chin augmentation if the patient is having a fat transfer to the entire face and wants a chin augmentation as well. The effects of implant surgery are permanent.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
Are there different types of implants that can be used for chin augmentation? What are they and are some better than others?
Answer:
Usually chin implants are made from silicone. Other materials are used for the implants, but most have fallen out of favor. There are still implants made from a solid substance called medpor. The disadvantage of medpor is that it allows significant tissue ingrowth and makes removal difficult. There are silicone implants which are coated in Gortex. This has the advantage of the silicone implant with its precise shape and resilience and the added benefit of Gortex which allows for a small amount of implant stabilization. Having said that, we utilize a standard silicone implant as we do not feel that the Gortex coating provides a significant advantage.
Question:
I’m planning on getting a rhinoplasty and my doctor recommended that I get a chin implant at the same time. Is it normal and safe for these two procedures to be performed at once? What’s the benefit?
Answer:
It is normal and recommended if indicated to get a chin implant at the time of the rhinoplasty. The appearance of the nose is related to the size of the chin. A small chin will make the nose look larger. The benefit of performing both of these procedures is that with the enhanced chin the nose will look more balanced. Additionally, by performing the procedures at the same time you will only have to recover once.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’m looking for a way to add more definition to my cheeks. Are implants a good choice for this or are there any other options?
Answer:
There are essentially two options available to improve the definition of the upper cheek. Those are implants or fillers. The fillers can be injectable such as Sculptra, Radiesse, Juvederm or Perlane, or can be your own fat cells. The injectable fillers are performed in the office with minimal down-time, but time-limited results. Facial fat injections are the procedure of choice in middle-aged and older patients because they have usually lost fat in their face and we are merely replacing what has been lost. In younger patients, fat injection is an option, but they have to understand that large weight shifts later in life may have detrimental effects. In those cases an implant may be a better option.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I have read that some chin augmentations involve removing bones from the chin. What type of people need this type of procedure? I’ve always felt that my chin is large but lacks definition. Could this be good for me?
Answer:
Usually chin augmentation does not involve removing bones from the chin, but rather cutting the bone and repositioning it. The other method is to use an implant. There are two general techniques involved in moving the bone. One involves cutting and advancing the lower part of the jaw-bone not including the teeth and the other involves cutting the jaw farther back and including movement of the teeth. The later is used for individuals with malocclusion of their teeth where the top teeth are in front of the back teeth. Both of the bone cutting procedures are more often performed by oral surgeons. In our practice, we assess the patient’s bite to determine if a mandibular advancement is indicated. If so we will refer out to an oral surgeon. In most cases, the bite is normal and an implant is a much less invasive method to improve the appearance with less risk and down-time. A consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon will help determine which procedure is best for you.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’m 50, female, and I know that as we age, we lose fat in our faces. My chin and jowls have sagged somewhat, giving me a very grim appearance. I’m a very trim woman, so I don’t have any extra fat to graft to my face, and I don’t like the idea of injectable fillers. Could a chin implant be used as a substitute for facial fat grafting treatments?
Answer:
A chin implant can be used to augment the chin and pre-jowl, which is the area along the jaw bone in front of the jowl. This may provide the improvement needed, however often the jowls need to be lifted as well. This can be done with a variety of facelift procedures tailored to individual patients. If you are very thin, it is likely that you would benefit from fat grafting. It is rare that a fat deposit cannot be located to accomplish the goal.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’m looking to have a chin augmentation, but does the implant feel fake? Would my husband think it felt unnatural?
Answer:
Usually once the implant is in place, not even the patient can feel the implant. As the physician I can usually feel the ends of the implant, but with some difficulty. On rare occasion the patient can feel the ends of the implant with the finger tips, but it is usually not bothersome.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
What is a cheek implant made of?
Answer:
Most cheek implants are made of silicone. Silicone is a solid combination of recurring molecular chains producing a solid, but flexible form. Fewer of the same molecules linked together will produce either liquid or gel forms of silicone. Some silicone implants are coated in Gortex, which adds a slightly porous nature to the external aspect allowing a small amount of tissue in-growth and therefore stability. Custom implants can also be made from other materials, but these are usually reserved for traumatic reconstruction.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
