Facial Implants in Newport Beach, California

Facial implants can improve your appearance by refining facial contours and promoting symmetry. At Pacifica Cosmetic Surgery Center in Newport Beach, CA, we understand that every individual’s facial structure is unique, and sometimes, subtle changes can make a big difference.

Our jaw and chin implants are a way to enhance your facial profile for a more defined look. Dr. Hendricks specializes in creating natural-looking results that complement your existing features. These types of implants can help in achieving a more pronounced jawline and a balanced chin, contributing to facial proportion and balance.

What Are Facial Implants? 

This type of facial plastic surgery includes the use of facial implants to enhance and define the structure of the face. These implants are specifically designed to improve the proportion and balance of facial features, contributing to a more symmetrical and harmonious appearance. They can be placed in various areas, such as the chin or jaw to address individual concerns or to enhance overall facial aesthetics. Unlike temporary solutions, facial implants offer lasting changes and can be an integral part of reconstructive or cosmetic enhancement strategies.

What Types of Facial Implants Do We Offer? 

Jaw Implants

Jaw implants are a facial plastic surgery method that enhances the lower facial structure. These implants are customized to fit along the jawline. They are particularly beneficial for individuals looking to balance their facial proportions or to strengthen a receding or weak jawline. By integrating jaw implants, patients can achieve a more pronounced and aesthetically pleasing jaw, which still aligns seamlessly with their natural facial contours. Best of all, your results are potentially permanent with proper aftercare. 

Chin Implants

Chin implants are a type of facial enhancement that offers a solution for those seeking to alter the profile of their lower face. These implants create a more proportionate and balanced appearance, especially in cases where the chin may appear underdeveloped or recessed. By carefully selecting and placing the right size and shape of implant, the chin can become a harmonious element of the facial structure, complementing other features and improving overall facial symmetry. Hence, this procedure is appropriate both for those looking to optimize symmetry and/or anyone looking for a volume boost to create a more prominent appearance.

What Are the Benefits of Facial Implants? 

• Enhanced Facial Contours: The structure of your face gains definition and refinement with the strategic placement of facial implants. This enhancement not only brings out the best in your features but also contributes to a more youthful and dynamic appearance.
• Improved Facial Symmetry: Facial symmetry surgery can address and correct imbalances, leading to a more aligned and harmonious face.
• Low Maintenance Results: Once healed, the enhancements made through facial plastic surgery are designed to last without the need for frequent touch-ups. This benefit allows individuals to enjoy their new look with minimal upkeep. That said, it’s important to maintain general health practices (rest, hydration, nutrition, etc.,) including staying at an optimal weight, to safeguard results even further
• Restoration of Facial Contours After Injury: Facial implants can be critical in restoring the original contours of your face following an injury. This process not only aids in physical reconstruction but also assists in the psychological recovery journey. If your particular case requires surgery to restore the normal appearance and/or functionality of the face (e.g., to facilitate healthy chewing and/or breathing), you may have a greater chance of receiving insurance coverage—check with your provider to confirm.
• Support for Overlying Skin: As we age, changes like chin dimples or a sagging jawline can become more pronounced. Facial implants offer support to the overlying skin, smoothing out imperfections and contributing to a firmer, more youthful appearance.
• Improvement in Jaw Function: Adjustments made during facial symmetry surgery can sometimes improve the functionality of the jaw, aiding in better alignment, which may enhance chewing and speaking capabilities.
• Minimal Scarring: Techniques used in implant placement are designed to minimize visible scarring, allowing the enhancements to appear as natural as possible. This benefit ensures that the focus remains on the improved aesthetic and not on the procedure itself.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate for Facial Implants?

Anybody in reasonably good health (more details on this below) and with healthy expectations of treatment who is looking to enhance their facial contours and/or symmetry is a good candidate for facial implants. As for the optimal age range, it’s ideal for men and women to wait until at least the age of 18 and 16, respectively, to allow for the facial structure to fully mature before deciding on facial implant surgery. Otherwise, the only hard-and-fast restrictions when it comes to eligibility relate to medical factors.

For example, the following issues may affect your ability to safely undergo facial implant surgery:

• Allergies (to implant materials, anesthesia, etc.)
• Infections in or near the treatment area
• Various chronic illnesses, including diabetes, cardiovascular illness, cancers, and more.
• Poor bone density or circulation
• Bleeding disorders
• Keloid scarring tendency
• Impaired immunity

All of the above will be carefully considered during the initial consultation step of the process with Dr. Hendricks to ensure whether or not you are an ideal candidate for facial implant surgery. 

How Does This Procedure Work?

Though facial implant surgery is highly individualized, and can vary by the type of implant used, the area of the face targeted, and several other factors, most approaches still follow a consistent pattern. The process begins with consultation and evaluation, followed by scheduling your procedure, undergoing treatment, and monitoring and maintaining your results in the short-term and long-term scenario.

Consultation and Evaluation

First, it’s important to establish several key criteria before undergoing facial implant surgery. These include determining whether or not you are eligible to safely receive the procedure, ensuring you have healthy and reasonable expectations of treatment, and considering any other factors that may affect your results or your perception thereof. During this phase of the process, Dr. Hendricks will carefully examine your facial structure, taking various measurements and planning his approach. This is your primary opportunity to express which changes you would like to see made and where. When both you and he are ready to move on to the next step, it’s time to plan and undergo the procedure itself.

The Treatment Process

Because facial implant surgery can follow several approaches, the following breakdown represents a more generalized process featuring the elements that all approaches have in common. These include the following:

• Preparation: You are comfortably positioned and draped to prepare for surgery. The intended treatment area is anesthetized, whether with local or general anesthesia.

• Incision: The surgeon will make one or more incisions around the cheeks, chin, or eyelids (and possibly inside of the mouth).

• Insertion: After the surgeon creates an opening in the treatment area by separating and moving around tissues through the incision, it’s time to insert the implant itself.

• Suture: Once the implant is inserted and optimally positioned, the surgeon will close the area with sutures, and if necessary, apply bandages or tape to protect the area.

What Happens After the Procedure?

Immediately after the treatment has concluded, you will typically be monitored for a short while as the anesthesia begins to wear off (especially if you received general anesthesia), and are then cleared to be escorted home. 

Moderate swelling, bruising, and some discomfort are expected in the days following your procedure. Make sure to use cold compresses, medication, and any other post-treatment guidelines as directed for optimal aftercare. This often includes adhering to guidelines on sunblock use, makeup, shaving, and other activities that can affect the treatment area as it is healing.

Depending on individual factors as well as the particular treatment approach used in your case, your down time could be as little as 5 days or as much as two weeks. As the incisions heal, scar tissue may appear more pronounced, red, and raised. It will resolve in the months following the procedure. Smiling and other facial expressions may feel unusual, but this also resolves over time. 

With proper aftercare, including getting plenty of rest, caring for the incisions, and keeping your fluid intake high, you can ensure a safe recovery and long-lasting results.

Are There Risks Involved?

According to a 2023 review comparing the rate of complications between fixated and nonfixated silicone facial implant procedures, some of the most common complications across these approaches include implant displacement, infection, hematoma, and dissatisfaction, ranging in frequency from 0.39% (dissatisfaction) to 2.5% of cases (displacement). Overall, complications are both infrequent and typically mild. Additional complications include edema (swelling) and mucosal irritation.

While these figures may seem immovable, both the provider and the patient can take a number of steps to decrease most or all of these risks. Our commitment at Pacifica Cosmetic Surgery Center is to always adhere to the highest standards of safety and quality in everything we do, from the materials we use to how we instruct our patients to manage the aftercare process. On that note, patients who are consistent in following both pre-op and post-op guidelines have a much better chance of avoiding complications.