Azia Medical Spa » Surgical Services

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Rhinoplasty	Prices Start At:	$5,000
Brow lift	Prices Start At:	$3,000
Upper or Lower Belpharoplasty	Prices Start At:	$3,000
Mini Face & Neck lift	Prices Start At:	$5,000
Chic implant	Prices Start At:	$4,000
Chin Implant	Prices Start At:	$4,000

Surgery Of The Nose

Every year, half a million people who are interested in improving the appearance of their noses seek consultation with facial plastic surgeons. Some are unhappy with the noses they were born with, and some with the way aging has changed their nose. For others, an injury may have distorted the nose, or the goal may be improved breathing. But one thing is clear: nothing has a greater impact on how a person looks than the size and shape of the nose. Because the nose is the most defining characteristic of the face, a slight alteration can greatly improve one’s appearance.

If you have wondered how nose surgery, or rhinoplasty, could improve your looks, self-confidence, or health, you need to know how rhinoplasty is performed and what you can expect. No pamphlet can answer all your concerns, but this one can provide answers to many of the questions you may have.

Successful facial plastic surgery is a result of good rapport between patient and surgeon. Trust, based on realistic expectations and exacting medical expertise, develops in the consulting stages before surgery. Your surgeon can answer specific questions about your specific needs.

Is Rhinoplasty For You?

As with all facial plastic surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. Understanding nasal surgery is also critical. Since there is no ideal in rhinoplasty, the goal is to improve the nose aesthetically, making it harmonize better with other facial features.

Skin type, ethnic background, and age are important factors to be considered in discussions with your surgeon prior to surgery. Before the nose is altered, a young patient must reach full growth, usually around age fifteen or sixteen. Exceptions are cases in which breathing is severely impaired.

Before deciding on rhinoplasty, ask your facial plastic surgeon if any additional surgery might be recommended to enhance the appearance of your face. Many patients have chin augmentation in conjunction with rhinoplasty to create a better balance of features.

Making The Decision For Rhinoplasty
Whether the surgery is desired for functional or cosmetic reasons, your choice of a qualified facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance. Many facial plastic surgeons are trained in both ear, nose, throat, and facial cosmetic surgery, which provides you, the patient, with the highest level of training and expertise. Your surgeon will examine the structure of your nose, both externally and internally, to evaluate what you can expect from rhinoplasty. You are most likely to be pleased with the results of your surgery if you have a realistic idea of what nasal surgery can and cannot do.

You can expect a thorough explanation of the surgeon’s expectations and the risks involved in surgery. Following a joint decision by you and your surgeon to proceed with rhinoplasty, the surgeon will take photographs of you and discuss the options available. Your surgeon will explain how the nasal structures, including bone and cartilage, can be sculpted to reshape the nose and indicate how reshaping the chin, for example, could enhance the desired results.

After conducting a thorough medical history, your surgeon will offer information regarding anesthesia, the surgical facility to be used, and the costs for the procedure.

Understanding The Surgery

The definition of rhinoplasty is, literally, shaping the nose. First, incisions are made and the bone and cartilage support system of the nose is accessed. The majority of incisions are made inside the nose, where they are invisible. In some cases, an incision is made in the area of skin separating the nostrils. Next, certain amounts of underlying bone and cartilage are removed, added to, or rearranged to provide a newly shaped structure. For example, when the tip of the nose is too large, the surgeon can sculpt the cartilage in this area to reduce it in size. The angle of the nose in relation to the upper lip can be altered for a more youthful look or to correct a distortion.

The tissues are then redraped over the new frame and the incisions are closed. A splint is applied to the outside of the nose to help retain the new shape while the nose heals. Soft, absorbent material may be used inside the nose to maintain stability along the dividing wall of the air passages called the septum. Alternatively, soft nasal supports that permit nasal breathing post-operatively can be placed.

What To Expct After The Surgery
Immediately after surgery, a small splint will be placed on your nose to protect it and to keep the structure stable for at least five to eight days. If packing is placed inside the nose during surgery, it is removed the morning following the surgery. Your face will feel puffy,especially the first day after surgery. Pain medication may be required. Your surgeon will advise you to avoid blowing your nose for seven days after surgery. In the immediate days following surgery, you may experience bruising and minor swelling in the eye area. Cold compresses often reduce the bruising and discomfort. Absorbable sutures are usually used that do not have to be removed. Nasal dressing and splints are usually removed six or seven days after surgery.

It is crucial that you follow your surgeon’s directions, especially instructions to keep your head elevated for a certain period after surgery. Some activities will be prohibited in the weeks after the procedure. Sun exposure, exertion, and risk of injury must be avoided. If you wear glasses, special arrangements must be made to ensure that the glasses do not rest on the bridge of the nose. Tape and other devices are sometimes used to permit wearing glasses without stressing the area where surgery was performed.

Follow-up care is vital for this procedure to monitor healing. Obviously, anything unusual should be reported to your surgeon immediately. It is essential that you keep your follow-up appointments with your surgeon.

Insurance does not generally cover surgery that is purely for cosmetic reason?. Surgery to correct or improve nasal function or surgery for major deformity or injury may be reimbursable in whole or in part. It is the patient’s responsibility to check with the insurance carrier for information on the degree of coverage.

Surgery of the Eyelids

Every year, one hundred thousand men and women choose blepharoplasty to improve the way they look. Droopy eyelids can make you look older and can also impair vision. Blepharop lasty corrects these problems and also removes puffiness and bags under the eyes that make you look worn and tired. This procedure cannot alter dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, nor can it change sagging eyebrows. Though blepharoplasty is often performed as a single procedure, your surgeon may also recommend a browlift, facelift, or skin resurfacing to achieve the best results.

If you are wondering how blepharoplasty can change the way you look, you need to know how eyelid surgery is performed and what you can expect from this procedure. This pamphlet can address many common questions and provide you the information to begin considering blepharoplasty.

Is Blepharoplasty For You?

As with all facial plastic surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. Blepharoplasty removes the excess fat, muscle, and skin from both upper and lower lids. The results can be a refreshed appearance, with a younger, firmer eye area.

People with circulatory, ophthalmological, or serious medical conditions must rely on the diagnostic skills of their own personal specialists to determine whether blepharoplasty is an option to consider. Consultation with the facial plastic surgeon can help you decide whether any additional, complementary surgery would increase the success of the surgery. Your surgeon might recommend planning a simultaneous forehead lift to correct a drooping brow and smooth the forehead, or skin resurfacing to remove the fine line wrinkling in the eye area.

Making The Decision For Blepharoplasty
Whether the surgery is desired for functional or cosmetic reasons, your choice of a qualified facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance. The patient must also make the commitment to follow the pre-surgical and post-operative instructions of the surgeon.

During the pre-surgical consultation, you will be examined or asked to answer queries concerning vision, tear production, use of lenses, and your desires for surgery. Your surgeon will explain what you can expect from blepharoplasty and take a complete medical history. Factors to be weighed include age, skin type, ethnic background, and degree of vision obstruction. Furthermore, you can expect an open and honest exchange between you and your surgeon, which will establish the basis for a successful outcome.

After a mutual decision is made by both you and your surgeon, the technique indicated for your individual surgery will be discussed. The type of anesthesia, the surgical facility, any supportive surgery, and the risks and costs inherent in the procedure will be outlined.

Understanding The Surgery

In upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon first marks the individual lines and creases of the lids in order to keep the scars as invisible as possible along these natural folds. The incision is made, and excess fat, muscle, and loose skin are removed. Fine sutures are used to close the incisions, thereby minimizing the visibility of any scar.

In lower eyelid surgery, the surgeon makes the incision in an inconspicuous site along the lashline and smile creases of the lower lid. Excess fat, muscle, and skin are then trimmed away before the incision is closed with fine sutures. Eyelid puffiness caused primarily by excess fat may be corrected by a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. The incision in this case is made inside the lower eyelid, and excess fatty material is removed. When sutures are used to close this kind of incision, they are invisible to the eye. They are also self-dissolving and leave no visible scar. Under normal conditions, blepharoplasty can take from one to two hours.

What To Expect After The Surgery
Immediately after the surgery has been completed, your surgeon may apply tiny sterile bandages. This is not done for transconjunctival blepharoplasty. It is not crucial that the eyes be covered. However, an ointment to prevent dryness of the eye area may be used. A certain degree of swelling and bruising is normal. Cold compresses, as well as head elevation when lying down, will enhance healing and relieve discomfort. Your surgeon will prescribe medication for discomfort.

For a week and a half following blepharoplasty, you will clean the eye area (the eyes may feel sticky, dry, and itchy). Eyedrops may be recommended. Your surgeon will also list activities and environments to avoid in the weeks immediately following surgery. Permanent stitches will be removed in three to five days after surgery. Self-absorbing stitches will dissolve on their own.

Facial plastic surgery makes it possible to correct many facial flaws and signs of premature aging that can undermine self-confidence. By changing how you look, facial plastic surgery can help change how you feel about yourself.

Insurance does not generally cover surgery that is done purely for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve vision or surgery for eye deformity or injury may be reimbursable in whole or in part. It is the patient’s responsibility to check with the insurance carrier for information on the degree of coverage.

Forehead Lift Surgery

The effects of aging are inevitable, and, often, the brow and forehead area show the first signs. The skin begins to lose its elasticity. Sun, wind, and the pull of gravity all affect the face, resulting in frown lines, wrinkling across the forehead, and an increasing heaviness of the eyebrows. Even people in their thirties may have faces that look older than their years. Your tired, angry, or sad expression may not reflect how you actually feel. As a result, many people have opted for a procedure known as the forehead lift. Based on variations in how men and women age and on new advances in medical technology, different methods are used to perform this procedure.

If you are wondering how a forehead lift could improve your appearance, you need to know how these procedures are performed and what you can expect. This pamphlet can address many of your concerns and provide you the information you need to begin considering forehead surgery.

Is A Forehead Lift For You?

As with all elective surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. When a surgeon tightens loose skin and removes the excess, forehead wrinkling and drooping brows are modified. The procedure is called a forehead lift or brow lift. If necessary, the surgeon removes part of the muscle that causes vertical frown lines between the brows. The result can be a smoother brow and a more youthful expression. To see what a forehead lift can do for your face, put your hands above your brows and outside the edges of your eyes and gently raise the skin upwards. Forehead lifts are an option if you have a sagging brow or deep furrows between the eyes. This procedure is usually done between age forty and sixty-five, although it may be necessary at an earlier age.

Incisions can be placed at the hairline, behind the hairline, or in some cases, above the brow or in the mid-forehead. Your surgeon can help you select the best technique suited to your particular situation.

Making The Decision For A Forehead Lift
Whether you are having surgery for functional or cosmetic reasons, your choice of a qualified facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance. During the consultation, the surgeon will examine your facial structure, the condition of your skin, and your hairline in order to decide where incisions should be made. A thorough medical history will be obtained so that your surgeon can consider any medical conditions that may heighten surgical risks. A detailed description of the procedure will also include a discussion of risk involved.

After the decision to proceed with surgery is made, the surgeon will describe the technique indicated, the type of anesthesia, the surgical facility, any additional surgery, and the risks and costs.

Understanding The Surgery

The main difference among the various options for forehead lifting consists of the placement of the incision.

The original technique is the coronal incision, which is made slightly behind the natural hairline. An alternative is the pre-trichial incision. This is similar to the coronal incision except that the mid-portion of the incision is made directly at the hairline. This incision generally heals favorably and has the advantage of lowering the hairline. The disadvantage could be noticeable scarring. An option is to place the incision within the midforehead creases. This is primarily used in men with deep pre-existing forehead lines.

The newest apporach is endoscopic surgery. Several small one-half-inch to one-inch incisions are placed just behind the hairline. Althought this technique may require more surgery time, it is less invasive and results in a smaller chance of temporary scalp numbness.

This procedure takes between one to two hours to perform. It is most commonly performed under IV sedation or twilight anesthesia.

What To Expect After The Surgery
You will experience a certain amount of swelling and bruising in the 10-day period following surgery. In some patients, this condition may include the cheek and eye area as well as the forehead. You will be advised to keep your head elevated in order to reduce swelling. Cold compresses may further reduce swelling. As the incisions heal, you may experience some numbness as well as itching, both of which will diminish with time. The sutures are usually removed within seven to 10 days following surgery. If bandages have been used, they are removed in one to three days. It is important to follow the advice of your surgeon on resuming normal activities. For most patients, the recovery time will not exceed two weeks, but patients may still be advised to avoid strenuous activities for longer periods. Any prolonged bruising can be camouflaged with standard make-up techniques.

Not infrequently, a brow lift is combined with Blepharoplasty (an eyelid tuck) or face lift to provide a harmonious rejuvenation.

Facial plastic surgery makes it possible to correct many facial flaws and signs of premature aging that can undermine self-confidence. By changing how you look, cosmetic surgery can help change how you feel about yourself.

Insurance does not generally cover surgery that is purely for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve sagging foreheads and brows which interfere with vision may be reimbursable in whole or in part. It is the patient’s responsibility to check with the insurance carrier for information on the degree of coverage.

Facelift Surgery

Aging of the face is inevitable. As the years go by, the skin begins to loosen on the face and neck. Crow’s feet appear at the corners of the eyes. Fine forehead lines become creases and then, gradually, deeper folds. The jawline softens into jowls, and beneath the chin, another chin or vertical folds appear at the front of the neck. Heredity, personal habits, the pull of gravity, and sun exposure contribute to the aging of the face. As the aging population grows, it is obvious why rhytidectomy has become the third most desired facial plastic surgical procedure.

If you ever wondered how a rhytidectomy, or facelift, as it is commonly called, could improve your looks or self-confidence, you need to know how a facelift is performed and what you can expect from this procedure. This pamphlet can address many of your concerns and provide you the information you need to begin considering facelift surgery.

Successful facial plastic surgery is a result of good rapport between patient and surgeon. Trust, based on realistic expectations and exacting medical expertise, develops in the consulting stages before surgery is performed. Your surgeon can answer specific questions about your specific needs.

Is A Facelift For You?
As with all facial plastic surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. Understanding the limitations of rhytidectomy is crucial and psychological stability is vital. There is no ideal in a facelift. Rather, the goal is to improve the overall facial appearance. Skin type, ethnic background, degree of skin elasticity, individual healing, basic bone structure, as well as a realistic attitude are factors that should be discussed prior to surgery. This procedure is sometimes performed on patients in their thirties, and successful surgery has been performed on patients in their eighties. A facelift cannot stop aging, nor can it turn back the clock. What it can do is help your face look its best and give you a look of health and a more youthful appearance. A side benefit is that many patients experience increased self-confidence.

Before deciding on a facelift, you should discuss with your facial plastic surgeon whether the overall effect will be more successful if additional changes are made in the chin and neck areas through other facial surgery. Many patients decide to have facial liposuction to remove excess fatty deposits in conjunction with a facelift. If several flaws need correction, more than one procedure may be necessary for the best overall result.

Making The Decision For A Facelift
Your choice of a qualified facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance. During the preliminary consultation, the surgeon will examine the structure of your face, skin texture, color, and elasticity. Photographs will be taken so the surgeon can study your face. Individual risks will also be examined, especially those related to medical situations such as high blood pressure, a tendency to scar, smoking, and any deficiency in blood clotting. The surgeon will take a thorough medical history, as well as assess the patient’s mental and emotional attitudes toward the surgery. Because a realistic attitude is crucial to the success of the surgery, the surgical procedure and realistic expectations will be discussed.

After the decision to proceed with a rhytidectomy is made jointly by you and your surgeon, the surgeon will describe the technique indicated, the type of anesthesia, the surgical facility, any additional surgery, the pros and cons to include possible complications, and costs of the procedure.

Understanding The Surgery

The surgeon begins the incision in the area of the temple hair, just above and in front of the ear, and then continues around the lobe, circling the ear before returning to the point of origin in the scalp. The skin is raised outward before the surgeon repositions and tightens the underlying muscle and connective tissue. Some fat may be removed, as well as excess skin. For men, the incision is aligned to accommodate the natural beard lines. In all cases, the incision is placed where it will fall in a natural crease of the skin for camouflage.

After trimming the excess skin, the surgeon closes the incisions with fine sutures and/or metal clips, which permit surgery without shaving hair from the incision site. Depending on the extent of the surgery, the process can take from two to four hours. When the procedure is performed with a combination of mild sedatives, local anesthesia, and a mild intravenous anesthesia, the patient will experience little discomfort. Some surgeons prefer to use general anesthesia for facelifts. Following the surgery, the surgeon will apply a dressing to protect the entire area where the incisions have been made.

What To Expect After The Surgery
Even though most patients experience very little pain after surgery, the surgeon will still prescribe medication. Some degree of swelling and bruising is unavoidable, and your surgeon may instruct you to use cold compresses to keep swelling to a minimum. If a dressing has been applied, it will be removed within one to two days. The surgeon will also instruct you to keep your head elevated when lying down, to avoid as much activity as possible, and to report any undue discomfort. Though there are few risks in facelift surgery and thousands are performed every year, some risk exists in any surgery.

In some cases, a drainage tube may have been inserted during surgery. This will be removed on the first or second day after surgery. All sutures and staples are usually removed within five to 10 days following surgery. Surgeons generally recommend that patients avoid vigorous activity. Patients should prearrange for post-surgery support from family and friends.

Recovery usually takes two to three weeks, though many patients go back to work in two weeks. Scars are usually not noticeable after enough time has passed for them to mature. In any case, they are easily disguised in natural skin creases, by the hair, or, in persistent cases, by makeup until total healing has occurred. Bear in mind that the aging process continues after surgery and that some relaxation of tissues will occur over the first few weeks.

Insurance does not generally cover surgery that is done purely for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve genetic deformity or traumatic injury may be reimbursable in whole or in part. It is the patient’s responsibility to check with the insurance carrier for information on the degree of coverage.

Chin Implants Procedure Description:

Aesthetic chin surgery is performed to improve the balance of your facial profile and correct a “weak” chin. Chin augmentation with implants is the procedure of choice for most patients with normally functioning teeth and jaw development. A biocompatible implant is placed over the bone structure of the lower jaw, augmenting the dimensions of your jaw. Depending on the region augmented, you can create a stronger and/or wider chin, and even lengthen your face.

Am I a good candidate for aesthetic chin surgery?

In one approach, the lower section of bone is moved forward and wired into position.

If you have a mildly weak chin and normal function of your jaw, chin augmentation with implants may be the procedure of choice for you. Perhaps you have used temporary soft tissue fillers in the past to achieve a stronger chin, and are seeking a permanent solution. As with any implant surgery, you should be of good health with a normally functioning immune system.

Chin Implants Standard Procedure Techniques

There are several options available for aesthetic chin surgery. Aesthetic chin surgery augments the bony structure of your jaw, and can create a stronger chin, make the chin wider, or even slightly lengthen your face. Implants of multiple shapes, sizes, and materials are available, and are chosen depending on the changes desired and the technique utilized. To perform aesthetic chin surgery, the incision is made and a pocket designed to accommodate the implant directly over the bone along the lower jaw. Solid silicon implants can be placed through a small incision under the chin. When other rigid biocompatible materials (such as Medpor) are used for chin augmentation, an incision inside the mouth is utilized. The chin implant is secured in place either by designing a well-fitting pocket, or affixing it to soft tissue or bone. The incision is closed, completing the chin augmentation. Usually the entire operation takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete, unless other procedures are being performed in addition to the aesthetic chin surgery. Tape is often applied to the skin to assist in holding the implant in place during the normal swelling after surgery.

An alternative approach involves inserting an implant between the bone and chin tissue through a short external incision under your chin or through an incision made inside your mouth between the lower lip and gum. Similarly, your cheekbones may be built up by placing an implant over them.

Chin Implants Benefits / Advantages / Options

Permanent way to achieve a strong chin (as opposed to temporary fillers)
May easily be preformed with other procedures (eg: nose surgery/rhinoplasty)
Multiple chin implant choices are available to achieve your desired look
Intra-oral or direct surgical approaches available
Other Considerations for Chin Implants

When considering aesthetic chin surgery with a chin implant, you should be aware that certain patients are better served with other surgical approaches. If you have a severely weak chin, or abnormally functioning jaw, a genioplasty or mandibular advancement surgery maybe appropriate. Although these procedures involve cutting the bone of your jaw, and have a longer recovery than chin surgery with chin implants, they can achieve results not attainable with implants alone. To decide which procedure is right for you, it is best to seek consultation with a knowledgeable plastic surgeon.

Chin Implants Risks / Complications / Patient Safety

Sensation to the chin may be temporarily or permanently changed by the implant
The chin implant can be shifted, especially in the early stages after surgery
Avoid contact sports until you are fully healed
If the chin implant becomes infected, removal may be necessary to clear the infection

Chin Surgery Recovery Process

After surgery, you will have a more balanced profile and pleasing facial contour.

The usual recovery after aesthetic chin surgery depends on the surgical approach utilized and if other procedures are performed at the same time. In general, from a chin augmentation alone, you will be active around the house the evening of surgery, but your lower lip will be “asleep” similar to after a visit to the dentist. This sensation returns overnight, and your chin will feel mildly sore and swollen. Prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medicines may be provided, and you should maintain light activities. You may be given a garment or your chin may be taped to help maintain the chin implant position during the swelling phase after surgery. Keeping your head elevated helps swelling resolve sooner. If your chin augmentation was performed through the mouth, you will be restricted to a liquid or soft diet for a few days until the gums have healed. You will rinse your mouth after eating to keep the sutures clean, and these will dissolve on their own after several weeks. If your cosmetic chin surgery was performed with a small incision under your chin, sutures are normally removed after 4 to 7 days.

Will chin surgery be painful?

The majority of patients do not consider cosmetic chin surgery to be painful surgery. There is a period of “tightness” associated with the increased volume from the chin implant, which is worse right after surgery due to the body’s normal swelling response. Discomfort responds rapidly to oral pain medications, which are usually only needed for a few days.

Will there be scarring undergoing chin surgery?

If the intra-oral approach for chin augmentation is used, no visible external scars will be present. If your surgeon places the implant through an incision under your chin, a very small scar will be present in a well-concealed region. With usual social encounters, this scar is not visible.

What are some typical short-term side-effects of undergoing chin surgery?

It is normal to have a change in chin sensation after aesthetic chin surgery. Right after surgery, your chin will be “asleep” due to the local anesthetics utilized. After your chin “wakes up”, sensations maybe heightened until sensory nerves near the implant get used to their new, tighter surroundings.

Why type of anesthesia, if any, will be used for chin surgery?

Chin augmentation surgery can be performed under light sedation anesthesia or under general anesthesia. The choice of anesthetic is up to yourself and your surgeon to decide.

Cheek Implants Procedure Description:

Many people consider full cheeks very attractive. Weak cheeks can make your face appear gaunt, and create an aged appearance to the under-eye area. Cheek augmentation can restore the fullness to your cheeks if it has been lost with aging, or can create the appearance of strong cheek bones if you never had them. There are many options for aesthetic cheek surgery, depending on your particular appearance, and the look you wish to attain. The operation adds volume to the cheek by effectively augmenting the bone structure of the cheek region, enhancing the foundation of your mid-face.

Am I a good candidate for cheek implants?

If you have lost volume in the malar region associated with aging, or if you were born with weak cheeks and desire a fuller, more youthful appearance, you may be a candidate for aesthetic cheek surgery. Some patients have used temporary soft tissue fillers in the past to achieve full cheeks, and are seeking a permanent solution. Patients undergoing cheek augmentation should be of good health, with a normally functioning immune system.

Cheek Implants Standard Procedure Techniques

Aesthetic cheek surgery can be performed alone, or in combination with other surgical procedures. Multiple shapes and sizes of implants are available to fit your particular anatomy and desired change. Depending on the areas that are being addressed, the implants can be placed through the mouth with a small incision at the gum line, or through a lower eyelid incision if eyelid rejuvenation is being performed at the same time. Depending on the approach and your surgeon’s preference, the cheek implants can be made of solid silicone or other non-reactive materials such as Medpor. Surgically, a pocket is made for the implant directly over the cheek bone, and the implant placed. The implant is secured either by designing a well fitting pocket, or affixing it to soft tissue or bone. The incision is closed, completing the cheek augmentation. Usually the whole operation takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete, unless other procedures are being performed in addition to the cheek augmentation.

Cheek Implants Benefits / Advantages / Options

Permanent way to achieve full cheeks (as opposed to temporary fillers)
May easily be preformed at the time of other facial surgery
Intra-oral or eyelid approach
Multiple implant choices to achieve desired look

Other Considerations regarding Cheek Implants

If you are bothered by weak cheeks and are not sure if implants are right for you, it is best to seek consultation with a knowledgeable plastic surgeon. Implants add volume to the cheek, and in doing so provide a lift. A similar effect can be achieved with soft tissue fillers, and these can be used as a temporary way to see if you would be happy with cheek implants. A midface-lift may be the procedure of choice for middle aged patients who previously were happy with their midface appearance, but have noted a drop of the cheek rather than loss of volume. With more advanced facial aging, there can be a combination of factors yielding the aging appearance, including bone resorption, loss of skin elasticity, and loss of volume with fat atrophy. The cheek region may appear deflated and jowling can be present along the jawline. In these cases, aesthetic cheek surgery combined with a facelift procedure may yield the ideal result in such cases.

Cheek Implants Risks / Complications / Patient Safety

Sensation to the cheek may be temporarily or permanently changed by the implants.
Implants can become shifted, especially in the early stages after surgery. Avoid contact sports until you are fully healed.
With the eyelid approach for surgery, retraction of the lower eyelid is possible, which may create dry eye sensation.
If cheek implants become infected, removal may be necessary to clear the infection.

Cheek Surgery Recovery Process

The usual recovery after aesthetic cheek surgery depends on the type of surgical approach utilized and if other procedures are performed at the same time. In general, from a cheek augmentation alone, you should be active the day of surgery, but your upper lip will be “asleep” similar to a visit to the dentist. This sensation returns overnight, and the cheeks will feel mildly sore and swollen. Prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medicines may be provided, and you should maintain light activities. Keeping your head elevated helps the swelling resolve sooner. If your cheek augmentation was performed through the mouth, you will be restricted to a soft diet for a few days until the gums have healed. You will rinse your mouth after eating to keep the sutures clean, and these will dissolve on their own after several weeks. If the eyelid approach was utilized, your surgeon will instruct you on how to rest your eyes, and utilize lubricants to prevent dryness during the post-surgery swelling phase. During follow-up visits, skin sutures will be removed.

Will cheek surgery be painful?

Most patients do not consider aesthetic cheek surgery to be a painful surgery. There is a period of “tightness” associated with the increased volume from the cheek implant, which is worse right after surgery due to the body’s normal swelling response. Pain medications are usually only needed for a few days, and then only at night to help with sleep.

Will there be scarring from cheek surgery?

With the intra-oral approach for cheek augmentation, no visible external scars should be present. If an eyelid approach is utilized for your aesthetic cheek surgery, scars will be present under the eyelash margin. Scars in this location are usually very hard to identify, even when you are searching for them.

What are some typical short-term side-effects of cheek surgery?

It is normal to have a change in cheek sensation after aesthetic cheek surgery. Right after surgery, your cheek will be “asleep” due to the local anesthetics utilized. After your cheek “wakes up”, sensations maybe heightened until sensory nerves near the implant get used to their new, tighter surroundings.

Why type of anesthesia, if any, will be used for cheek surgery?

Cheek augmentation surgery can be performed under sedation anesthesia, or general anesthesia, depending on the technique utilized and the preferences of the patient and surgeon. Contact and consult your plastic surgeon to see what they suggest for your individual case.
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