At Paul Wilson Aesthetics we provide a comprehensive range of facial aesthetic procedures for facial enhancement and augmentation.
Facial implants
Reconstructive surgery and face implants can transform your facial aesthetics with the simple insertion of a solid silicone facial prosthesis.
State-of-the-art digital planning software with Vectra is used to demonstrate changes achievable with anatomical implants used in face implant surgery.
Our aim is to always produce natural enhancements to facial balance and our team offer a full range of expertly provided surgery and treatment.
Face implants can be very effective in treating conditions where the contour of facial bones adversely affects facial appearance.
Suitable treatments are available for chin and jaw as well as other areas of the face.
Facial implants can either be pre-formed(off the shelf) or can be custom made.
Pre-formed implants are made in a number of shapes and sizes by the manufacturer(Implantech). The surgeon selects the most suitable size and shape at the time of the facial implant surgery.
Custom-made face or cheek implants are individually made for each patient. They are usually generated using information from a CT scan and 3-D modelling technology.
3D models of the face or jaws can also be 3D-printed to assess the size and contour of pre-formed implants.
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Implants can be used to augment many areas of the face including:
Chin
Mandibular angles
Mid-facial Implants including cheeks
Nose (Asian augmentation)
Temporal
Example Cases of facial implants
Chin
Angle/Jawline
Malar/sub-malar
Nasal
Temporal
THE RESULTS
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several materials commonly used in facial implants. They include Medpore, PEEK, titanium, polymethylmethacrylate, hydroxyapatite bone cements and silicone. Each of these materials has its own advantages and disadvantages. The best material to use depends on the specific problem.
Silicone
My preferred material for preformed implants is Silicone. Silicone implants are useful in the cheeks, chin and at the mandibular angles. They are easy to insert via small incisions and can be fixed to the facial bones with titanium screws to prevent displacement and migration.
The brand of silicone implants we use is Implantech
Medpore
Medpore is a biocompatible, porous polyethylene implant that can be readily shaved and adjusted during surgery. It is generally securely fixed to the facial bones with small retaining screws and so there is no risk implant movement after insertion. It is particularly good material for augmenting cheeks and the forehead. I occasionally also use it as a small chin implant.
Titanium
Titanium is a very good material for skull reconstruction or cranioplasty that has limited use in the face.
PEEK
PEEK (Polyether ether ketone) is a biocompatible plastic which is most commonly used in the construction of custom-made implants. The fact that the material can be shaped exactly into complex shapes makes it very effective in both reconstruction and aesthetic surgery
Surgery can be performed either under general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with sedation. Most people can go home on the day of surgery although occasionally an overnight stay is required.
A small incision is made close to where the implant is to be placed and the implant is attached to the bone. Usually the implant is secured with several small titanium screws so that there is no chance of movement of the implant after the operation. Implants to the cheeks and lower jaw are often placed through incisions in the mouth. Incisions beneath the chin, at the angle of the jaw and in the lower eyelid are also occasionally used. Forehead and skull implants are usually placed through incisions within the hairline.
Antibiotics are usually given at the time of surgery and for 3 to 4 days afterwards to reduce the risk of infection. There is usually small amount of post-operative swelling, which persists for 1 to 2 weeks.
The placement of facial implants is usually very straightforward operation. There’s a small risk of infection and if this occurs the implant may have to be removed and replaced later after the infection has subsided.
There is a small risk of implant malposition, migration or extrusion.
Implants are often placed close to major sensory nerves in the face, around the lower jaw and cheeks. Sensory disturbance maybe transient and is rarely permanent.
Fat grafting with your own fat (autologous fat) can be used to augment your cheeks and temporal hollows. Fat is harvested from your trunk or thighs and is prepared for implantation.
To increase the chances of the fat graft ‘taking’ the fat can be filtered, centrifuged, extracted and mixed with harvested fat using a device called the Lipocube.
Implants can be placed at the same time as facelift surgery, eyelid surgery, forehead reduction or rhinoplasty.
Chin implants are often placed at the same time as rhinoplasty to reduce the size of the nose and increase the size of a small or receded chin.
