Chin and Misc Implants

This section will pertain to solid implants that can be inserted to enhance a chin, jaw angles, cheeks, lips, nose, upper arms, chest wall (“pecs), buttocks or calves. Many patients feel that a certain body part does not match their overall facial features or body physique. In certain situations, balance can be achieved by inserting an implant to receive the desired correction. The solid implants can be made of a soft, smooth silicone rubber or a porous material such as Gortex. Lips may be augmented with a variety of injectibles, a Gortex graft, cadaver skin, or your own tissues, fat or a fat-skin combination. The Gortex grafts are permanent but not very popular because they are palpable and cause the lip to feel unnaturally firm. The cadaver (Alloderm®) as well as the patients own fat or dermal-fat grafts may absorb with time. Lip enhancement is achieved most frequently and safely with an injection of an absorbable, hyaluronic acid substance such as Restylane ®, Pearlane® or Juvederm®.

The most commonly performed procedure in this group is chin augmentation.  Most people feel that a stronger chin is more aesthetically pleasing than weak chin.    A weak chin will also make a nose look larger or a neck droopier than it actually is.   

Less frequently, patients will present with a narrow jaw and request enhancement of the angles of the mandible, or with a weaker upper jaw and request a “pre maxillary implant” that is inserted just under the nose.   Implants can also be inserted to give someone more prominent cheek bones.

Most patients who present themselves for nasal surgery are concerned with a nose that is too large for their face.  Occasionally, we will see patients who have a deficient nasal bridge. The top of the nose can be enhanced with a variety of cartilage grafts (from the septum, ear or rib), cranial bone or with a man-made, silicone implant that comes from a box.   

Some patients present with a concern about a flat pectoral area, small biceps, a weak gluteal area, or thin calves in spite of many hours spent working to enhance these areas in a gym.   Such patients cannot build these muscles any further because of genetic limitations, and may be candidates for implants in the areas of concern.  Options regarding implant size and type will be discussed with you before the procedure and every effort will be made to create an optimal result for you, but the final determination of an appropriate implant has to rest with the surgeon, and this final decision cannot be made until the pocket has been dissected during your surgical procedure.

The following information has been prepared to familiarize you with facts about a variety of implants that can be inserted for your cosmetic enhancement.   The most commonly used implants in aesthetic surgery are used to enhance the breasts.    Breast augmentation is performed with silicone rubber bags that are filled with either saline solution or silicone gel – breast implant surgery is covered in a separate section.   This section will pertain to solid implants that can be inserted to enhance a chin, jaw angles, cheeks, lips, nose, upper arms, chest wall (“pecs), buttocks or calves. 

You are requested to read this information thoroughly and to discuss any questions which might arise with your surgeon before proceeding with the surgical procedure known as an augmentation of the part of concern.  You are also requested to keep this form as a reference during the postoperative period.