Chin Implants, Cheek Implants, and Otoplasty – New York City
Chin, Cheek, & Ear
Your facial features work in harmony to create your overall facial aesthetic. If one feature is out of proportion with the others, it may detract from the balance, and the attractiveness of your face. However, the problem feature can often be easily altered with plastic surgery, giving your face a more symmetrical, proportional appearance. The following procedures are commonly performed to rebalance a facial feature and allow your exterior appearance to complement, and not detract from, your personality.
In addition to performing chin implants, cheek implants, and otoplasty, our New York City practice also offers rhinoplasty (nose surgery) to alter the shape of your nose and balance your face.
Chin and Cheek Implants
A small chin or flat cheekbones can seriously affect the way your facial features work together. An imbalance in these bony structures can cause a large nose to look even more prominent. Enhancing your bone structure can improve the balance and symmetry of your face dramatically. Whether you would be best suited with chin implants or cheek implants, our New York City practice can help you decide.
Both chin implants and cheek implants are made from special medical-grade materials that, when placed, look and feel like normal bone. Every year, the availability of synthetic materials used in cheek and chin implants increases, offering patients more options for their surgery. However, we insist that the chin and cheek implants materials we use be proven durable and safe before we introduce them into our practice. In a consultation for cheek or chin implants at our New York City practice, we will show you the various implants materials and explain how each one will work within your facial structure.
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Chin Implants Surgery
Chin implants surgery, performed by our New York City surgeon, will last about 30 minutes, and is generally performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. To insert the chin implants, your cosmetic surgeon will make a small incision just under your chin. Then, the implant is slipped into place and your surgeon closes the incision. After only a few hours of recovery time following your chin implants surgery in our New York City surgical center, you will be able to go home.
Oftentimes, the chin implants operation is combined with the removal of fat from the chin and neck area. Technically termed “submental lipectomy,” this procedure can eliminate a double chin or the appearance of a “turkey wattle.”
Cheek Implants Surgery
Cheek implants surgery requires no external incisions. Your New York City surgeon will make small incisions just above the gum lines of the upper teeth, inside your mouth, so that no scarring will be visible. Then, the implant is slipped into a small pocket over the cheekbone, and the incision is closed. Like chin surgery, cheek implants surgery will take about 30 minutes and be performed under general anesthesia.
Recovery from Chin and Cheek Surgery
Chin and cheek implants surgery generally results in some swelling or discomfort in the days following surgery. However, this will diminish and disappear in several days. Your facial plastic surgeon will give you instructions about activities and foods to avoid during your recovery. Because of the nature of cheek or chin implants, which fundamentally change your facial structure, it may take some time to become accustomed to your new look. However, after several months, you should be used to your appearance, and happy with the new balance and proportion of your features.
Other Options
An alternative way to enhance the balance of your features is through “mandibular” surgery or “maxillary advancement.” If your lower or upper jaw is too small or your teeth do not align properly when you bite down, we often recommend this more extensive surgery. During a consultation for facial surgery, we will let you know if you would be better served with one of these operations. After discussing their relative benefits and shortcomings, we can refer you to an excellent surgeon in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for surgical planning. However, in cases where imbalance can be corrected with an implant, most people prefer to undergo cheek or chin implants surgery as a safe, less invasive option.
The proper surgical procedure can provide a lasting improvement to the harmony and balance of your facial features, regardless of your specific problem. Contact the plastic surgery office of Dr. Minas Constantinides for more information on how facial refinement can help you.
Otoplasty (Ear Pinning)
You can probably recall the kid in grade school with the large ears – the one who was always teased by his or her classmates. Ears that stick out can be a horrible curse to a child. Even with age, large ears that pained us during childhood can cause feelings of self-consciousness regarding our appearance.
Prominent ears can be genetic. In fact, approximately 25% of children whose parents have prominent ears will also have them. Don’t let the same teasing you may have endured as a child affect your own child’s life, especially when it could be corrected so easily.
Surgery to correct prominent ears, called “otoplasty,” can be done by our New York City facial plastic surgeon at any age after five years. By five, the ear cartilage is strong enough to withstand surgery and has reached its adult size. Special suture techniques allow an otoplasty surgeon to reshape the ear cartilage into a natural, discreet shape.
The otoplasty techniques we use at our New York City practice have been proven effective through time and use. If you ever find yourself feeling self-conscious about your ears, otoplasty can effectively and quickly give you the gratifying, natural results you are looking for.
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Otoplasty Surgery
For adults, otoplasty surgery is performed under local or general anesthesia dependent upon preference. However, for children, general anesthesia is recommended, as otoplasty surgery can last between one to two hours, and children tend to be impatient to be finished.
During your otoplasty surgery, your New York City facial surgeon will create an incision in the skin crease behind the ear so that scarring is not visible. This incision exposes the cartilage, which the surgeon will sculpt and bend back toward the head, thereby minimizing the extent to which the ears stick out.
Recovery from Otoplasty Surgery
A protective bandage is applied to the head and ears following otoplasty surgery, and should be worn for three days. After the removal of the dressing, children should wear a headband both day and night for two weeks. Then, the headband should be worn at night for the next four weeks. During the early healing period, this headband protects the ears from abrupt position changes. Adults can choose to use the headband only at night from the beginning.
Following otoplasty, activity should be avoided during the early healing period, but after two weeks, normal activities may be resumed. Six weeks should be allowed before resuming participation in contact sports.
Immediately following otoplasty, the ears usually look flat against the side of the head and may feel numb. Moreover, some bruising is typical. These effects should subside as the ears heal, over two to six weeks. As is the case with most facial procedures, otoplasty patients will experience surprisingly little pain. For more information about otoplasty, please contact our New York City plastic surgery practice to schedule a consultation.
Facial Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Constantinides has extensive experience in various reconstructive techniques. Repairing facial fractures, closing defects produced by tumor surgery, and improving scars or blemishes are all well within his surgical armamentarium. Be assured that he will do his best to answer all of your questions and provide sound guidance utilizing all the latest knowledge he has acquired. To discuss your facial reconstruction concerns, please contact our cosmetic surgeon today.
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