Facial Implantsin Boston


Named Among the Best Plastic Surgeons in Boston

Helena O. Taylor MD, PHD, FACS & Stephen R. Sullivan MD, MPH, FACS

Facial implants have evolved for use in both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

Facial implants can be used to restore absent or damaged anatomy, or enhance an area of deficiency or underprojection. The cheeks, chin, and jaw are the most common areas for facial implants for aesthetic cases, while, the cranium and temples may require implants in reconstruction. Over the years implants have been made of a number of materials including silicone, titanium, porous polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, amongst others. Placed through well concealed incisions, implants can dramatically improve facial projection and balance.

Why Do People Get a Facial Implant Surgery?

The indications for facial implants are broad. Some patients may have developmental or acquired asymmetries or deficiencies.

Boston Facial Implants

For example children who have had radiation exposure during thier childhood may have underdeveloped facial bones. Patients with Morphea, Romberg disease or Linear Scleroderma have significant and asymmetric facial deficiencies of both bone and soft tissues.

Patients who have had surgery or traumatic injuries may benefit from a facial implant to restore orbital anatomy, or correct temporal hollowing. What we learned from the reconstructive world can similarly be applied to the aesthetic realm. The most common areas for aesthetic facial implant surgery are the cheek bones, the chin, and the mandibular angles. Facial implants can dramatically improve facial proportions and balance. The use of a facial implant can, in some situations, be faster and easier and more reliable than moving the bones themselves.

Facial Implants At A Glance

IDEAL FACELIFT/NECK LIFT CANDIDATE

  • Teens at least 15 or 16 years of age
  • Adults

WHAT FACIAL IMPLANTS DO

  • Restores facial harmony
  • Improves facial projection and shape

DURATION OF RESULT

Years

LENGTH OF PROCEDURE

1-2 hours

TYPES OF ANESTHESIA

General Anesthesia (asleep)

RECOVERY

  • Comfortably at home
  • Most swelling resolves 1 – 2 weeks

TIME OFF SCHOOL OR WORK

5-7 days

TIME OFF ACTIVITIES

  • AActivities of daily living – 1 day
  • Light exercise – 3-5 days
  • Full exercise – 2-3 weeks

Benefits of a Facial Implant Surgery

Facial implants are a powerful tool to correct or improve facial asymmetries or imbalance. They can be highly customized and are made with precision. An infinite range of prefabricated and custom implants can be selected, and the volume changes can be very predictable.

Here are some examples of how facial implants can be helpful:

  • Increase chin projection and width to better align it with the mid and upper face.
  • Add projection to the cheeks to increase definition, and elevate the midface.
  • Add definition to the jaw line
  • Add volume beneath the eyes to counteract some of the effects of facial aging
  • Correct developmental or acquired asymmetries in the temple, cheeks, nasal base, chin or mandible.
  • Restore skull defects after trauma or neurosurgery

Types of Facial Implants

Some of the most common types of facial implants are listed below. For patients with typical anatomy, “off the shelf” implants that come in a range of shapes and sizes are usually used. For patients with particularly unusual anatomy patients specific implants (PSI) can be fabricated from a patient ‘s CT scan data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a candidate for Facial Implant Surgery?

Patients with developmental or acquired asymmetries, or those seeking to add volume for aesthetic reasons may be appropriate candidates for facial implants. Many patients in this category could consider an implant or the use of their own tissues (bone, cartilage, or fat) to accomplish the same goal. There are pros and cons to the use of facial implants versus use of your own tissues.

One nice thing is that there is no donor site, and the shape changes can be precise and customized. On the flip side, it does mean implantation of a foreign material, and those attendant risks. As with all elective procedures, we believe you should be nicotine and smoke free to minimize the risks of complications. During your consultation with Dr. Taylor and Dr. Sullivan, we will discuss what you hope to achieve and the best course of action to safely achieve your desired results.

What are the results of Facial Implant Surgery?

Facial implants can have a profoundly beneficial effect on facial harmony or symmetry. Effects can be seen immediately after surgery, though the swelling takes weeks to resolve, and the soft tissues may take some time to settle and adapt. Facial implants are designed to last a lifetime, but rarely implants may need to be removed, if there has been migration, infection, or other problems. We often use porous polyethylene implants which are nonreactive, and allow for blood vessels to grow into them. This reduces the risk of infection, which is always of concern when implanting a foreign body.

What is the recovery like after Facial Implant Surgery?

The use of facial implants circumvents the need for making large bony movements, and is therefore less painful than operations that move the bone itself. Facial implants are typically placed through incisions within the mouth or beneath the chin, or within the hairline. Most of our Boston facial implant patients do not experience significant pain. Patients typically go home the same day. Swelling however is common, and if incisions within the mouth are used we will likely restrict your diet to liquid-only for a couple of days. We recommend avoiding contact sports for 4-6 weeks.

Consultation for Facial Implant Surgery in Boston

If you would like to learn more about facial implant surgery, please contact us to set up your consultation with Dr. Taylor or Dr. Sullivan. While one doctor will be your primary surgeon, they usually operate together as a team to optimize your care and safety. When we meet in person we can analyze your particular situation to help determine whether a facial implant or use of your own tissues might be preferable. As plastic surgeons with additional craniofacial fellowship training, we feel comfortable with a wide array of approaches.

We are open to hearing your particular preference and concerns, and hope to guide you openly and honestly. Dr. Taylor and Dr. Sullivan have been named among the best board-certified plastic surgeons in Boston by Boston Magazine each year since they began practicing in the area.

Dr. Taylor and Dr. Sullivan trained at some of the finest medical institutions in the world, including Harvard Medical School, where they now teach medical students and residents. Striving to deliver the best facial implants Boston has to offer, their goal is to provide honest and informative consultations and to perform surgery with precision, compassion and an emphasis on safety. Excellence with compassion is the motto of Mount Auburn Hospital, which we aspire to achieve each and every day.

Call Today 617.492.0620

To schedule a private consultation with Dr. Taylor or Dr. Sullivan, please call the office or request an appointment using our form. We welcome your visit and your questions.

300 Mount Auburn St. Ste 304, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Taylor & Sullivan Plastic Surgery Boston
American Society of Plastic Surgeons American Board of Plastic Surgery Fellow American College of Surgeons America Association of Plastic Surgeons Sigill Massachusetts

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300 Mount Auburn St. Ste 304, Cambridge