Facial Implants

Are Dermal Fillers Or Implants Better for Facial Augmentation?

Beauty woman in a white shirt with long and shiny wavy hair The effects of aging vary greatly on how they change the appearance on individuals. Although there is a general decrease in the production of elastin and collagen in everybody that comes with age, how that changes the elasticity of skin and aesthetics of the face creates the need for specialized treatment.

Luckily, there is a wide variety of treatment options available that range from non-invasive and external procedures to full surgeries that can significantly change and enhance the appearance of the face. Along with how well the individual treatment reverses the targeted sign of aging, each has advantages and disadvantages.

In general, treatments that enhance or augment the shape and overall appearance of the face fall into two categories, dermal fillers, and implants. Each of these types of procedures can provide significant aesthetic improvements. Which works best depends on the issue you are trying to treat and your overall aesthetic goals.

Easier and more convenient of the two, treatments that use dermal fillers can be performed in the office setting and rarely take longer than an hour. With no recovery or downtime, they fit easily into your schedule with minimal disruption.

However, these results are temporary, and repeat treatments are needed to keep the same appearance. Despite this, dermal fillers offer the flexibility to allow the treatments to adapt as your face continues to age.

Although generally more invasive and complex procedures, dermal implants offer permanent results to enhance the appearance of your face. Although some recovery time may be needed after the treatment, depending on the specific procedure, this is relatively short compared to surgical procedures and comes with minimal risks.

Whatever your aesthetic goals may be, call Fante Eye and Face Centre in Denver, CO, at 303-839-1616 or visit www.drfante.com. Dr. Fante and his staff can work with you and help decide whether dermal fillers or implants are the right choice for you while fitting in with your schedule.

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Cheek Augmentation: Which Approach is Right for You?

As we age, most of us experience some degree of deflation in the mid face area. Because strong, high, and rounded cheekbones are the hallmark of a youthful face, we frequently consult with people about how to correct volume loss. The easy answer is that dermal filler product can be injected into the cheeks to bring more contour into the area. The more in-depth answer is not quite so simple.

There is no denying that cheek augmentation can have a profoundly rejuvenating effect on the face. The question is, how should you go about it? In our Denver office, patients may consider the pros and cons of cheek implants, fat injections, and dermal fillers.

What are Cheek Implants?

Cheek implants are small prosthetics that are made out of biocompatible materials such as solid silicone, expanded polytetrafluoroethy (Gore-Tex), or high-density polyethylene (Medpor). The most commonly used implants are the solid silicone type. These prosthetics differ from breast implants in density. While breast implants are more fluid (even the form-stable types), facial implants are firmer and more robust, which means they will not leak.

There are two types of cheek implant, malar, and submalar.

  • Malar implants are inserted over the cheekbone to increase volume and projection toward the side of the face.
  • Submalar cheek implants are inserted in a proper position in the mid-face to increase the roundness of the cheek.
  • The combination cheek implant augments both the higher, outer cheekbone and the mid-face.

The number of cheek implant procedures performed has decreased over the years as injectable solutions have become available. Perhaps the strongest contender as an alternative to the silicone implant is fat grafting.

Injections for Contoured Cheeks

Dermal fillers and fat transfer injections work similarly to augment the cheek area. Each introduces a biological agent to increase the roundness and projection of the cheeks. However, dermal fillers are a temporary solution whereas fat transfer can last indefinitely. The detail to remember about fat transfer is that the effects of treatment eventually succumb to the natural aging process. Repeat treatment or rejuvenation with dermal fillers can be safely performed after initial fat transfer.

Fat transfer harvests a small amount of fat from an area such as the thighs or abdomen. Fat cells are then injected into the cheeks in just the right position to enhance contours without altering the natural appearance of the face. Some fat will get absorbed after injections, but the majority of injected cells integrates into existing tissue for long-lasting results.

Fante Eye & Face Center has solutions to help you look and feel your best. Contact our Denver office at (303) 839-1616 to schedule your consultation.

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Facial Implants: What They Do and Whom They Help

With the popularity of cosmetic fillers, it has become easy to assume that ideal facial symmetry is just a syringe away. We can’t argue the fact that synthetic fillers, and even fat grafting, are exceptional forms of facial rejuvenation. The thing is, not everyone who seeks such treatment does so to correct the normal signs of aging on their face. In our Denver office, we also perform facial contouring with solid silicone or porous polyethylene plastic implants for various parts of the face.

Who is a good candidate for facial implants?

Facial implants are suitable for the patient who is generally healthy and interested in the long-term correction of facial asymmetries in the cheeks, lips, jawline, or temple area. In addition to being a longer-lasting solution than even the best dermal filler, one of the notable advantages of facial implants is that each enhances the actual physical structure of the face. By adding solid yet supple structure, a facial implant can add dimension to the face that has been lost, or that never existed. For this reason, implants are well-suited to individuals whose anatomical structure never reached a state at which contours developed.

What Various Facial Implants Do

  • Chin implants add projection and angles to the jawline.
  • Jaw implants add symmetry by widening the lowest bony structure of the face. Thus, the jawline becomes more defined and angular.
  • Cheek implants are an excellent long-term solution for recessed, hollow, and flattened cheeks.

Facial implants are a safe and efficient treatment for enhancing the face in a more dramatic and long-lasting way. Because there are risks associated with cosmetic surgery, it is best to obtain information and treatment regarding facial implants from a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who has extensive familiarity not only with facial anatomy but with the nuances of various facial implants.

As a facial and oculoplastic surgeon, Dr. Fante has a comprehensive educational background and decades of experience in the use of facial implants. Learn more about how we can help you enjoy better facial symmetry and, as a result, feel more confident in your appearance. Call (303) 839-1616 to schedule your visit.

Interested in Rhinoplasty? We Need to Talk about Your Chin!

Facial Implants Denver, CO Thousands of people each year spend time looking into – or getting – a nose job. Rhinoplasty is still one of the leading facial cosmetic surgery procedures, and it is also one of the most intricate. If you have begun your research into a nose job to correct a cosmetic or functional concern, you may already know this detail. Chances are, though, that your nose job, in your mind, revolves around your nose. Ultimately, though, to change the nose means to alter the entire balance of the face. This is the goal, but to achieve it may mean that we look South, to the chin.

According to research, as much as 20% of the rhinoplasty patient population could also benefit from chin augmentation. Modifying both structures can lead to a significantly more proportionate and attractive profile. Facial beauty is all about ratios and balance. On the observance of the profile, what the eye naturally wants to see is a chin that protrudes forward enough so that it lands at a vertical drop from the tip of the nose.

There are two ways in which the chin may be addressed alongside or after rhinoplasty. The best approach is determined by the current balance of the face and the reshaping that is planned for the nose. It is important to note that neither method of chin augmentation has much of an impact on front-view appearance. The impact is primarily seen when the profile is observed.

Options for Chin Augmentation Include . . .

Facial Implant

A chin implant may be a U-shaped, pre-formed piece of silicone that enhances the forward projection of this facial feature. In some instances of wrap-around implant forms, they can also enhance the fullness of the jaw line. As this can create stronger angles, the discreet widening may be advantageous. Chin implants are available in an array of sizes, so it is possible to create the exact look that you need for beautiful symmetry. In addition to maximum augmentation, chin implants are also beneficial because they last for many years.

Dermal Fillers

In recent years, some physicians have taken to the use of dermal fillers for chin augmentation. The clear benefit to this approach is the non-surgical nature of filler treatment. Patients also appreciate that they can see immediate results. The downside to fillers is that they can only augment the chin so much. Additionally, more than one treatment may be necessary over time.

Fante Eye & Face Center in Denver provides care focused on excellent results. To learn more about chin augmentation, call (303) 839-1616.

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