The appearance of one’s face is determined by three basic features: skin, soft tissues and underlying facial bones. A person’s self image may be severely affected if one of these features is disproportionate or recessed. OHSU surgeons provide a number of services to enhance the cheek and chin, including chin augmentation, cheek implants and general chin surgery to create facial balance. These procedures provide harmony to your facial features to help you feel better about the way you look.

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Chin augmentation

If you are unhappy with the shape and balance of your chin in relation to your face, you may want to consider chin surgery or mentoplasty. This is one of the most commonly performed procedures to sculpt and contour the face and creates a harmonious balance among the facial features. Mentoplasty positions a receding or weak chin and sometimes may be performed in conjunction with rhinoplasty or a facelift.

After numbing with a local anesthetic, an incision is placed underneath the chin in a preexisting skin crease. An implant is placed underneath the soft tissue at the point of the chin to enhance the chin’s projection. Improvements are noticeable immediately after surgery, although some swelling is to be expected.

Cheek implants

Malar augmentation, known also as cheek implants, is a surgical procedure that highlights the cheekbones.

Cheek augmentation is an option for contouring the facial framework to enhance one’s beauty. Traditionally, strong cheekbones are considered a defining feature that improves facial harmony. Malar implants may give a more youthful appearance to the face and can enhance the results of a facelift.

Cheek implants are placed through an incision hidden in the mouth. Dissolvable stitches are used and there is no external visible scar. There is minimal discomfort associated with this surgery and swelling resolves rapidly.