The first is via a chin implant. In this procedure, a slit is made either on the underside of the chin or on the inside of the lower lip. The soft tissue is lifted off the bone, creating a space between the bone and muscles. An implant made of silicone is then inserted into this space and held in place with some stitches. The silicone is similar to what is used for nasal augmentation and can remain in position for decades, if not life.
There are a wide variety of implants of different shapes and sizes, and your surgeon will use his artistic judgement to select the most appropriate one for you.
The second is called a Sliding Genioplasty, where a horizontal cut is made with a saw across the bone of the chin. After elevating the muscles and skin, the lower half of this bone is pushed (or slid) forward to create a new chin prominence. The bones are held together with a metal plate and screw.
Some surgeons prefer this technique because it uses the patients’ own bone, but in many cases, the bone may not be sufficient. It also costs more to do this.
The third technique, a very simple one, simply involves injecting filler materials directly onto the chine bone, thus enhancing it. I prefer to use semi-permanent fillers as they last longer and come in a wide variety of safe, filler materials to choose from.
The technique takes barely five minutes to perform, with virtually no swelling or bruising, and patients can go back to work immediately. The drawback – it cannot easily correct large problem areas and patients may need repeated injections.
Chin Implant
*30-minute surgery under local anaesthetic. Bruising and swelling for 1-2 weeks. Implant may shift, tilt, become infected or erode bone if improperly placed. Easy to reverse
Sliding Genioplasty
*45-minute surgery under general anaesthetic. Bruising and swelling for 1-2 weeks. Sometimes can feel a “notch” at the junction of the bony cut. Less variety of shape. Difficult to reverse
Injections
*Depending on volume and type of filler used. Easy to perform, no anesthetic required. Not suitable where large volume are required
I have always said that cheekbones are the corner stone of the face, giving it vitality and youthfulness just like in Fann’s case.
The other method is to cut some of your own bone from your skull or rib, shape it accordingly and then fix this directly to the cheekbone area. It is much more difficult surgery but the result is long lasting and some patients are more comfortable with the idea of using their own bone rather than a foreign material.
Another technique for achieving more prominent cheeks is to use your own fat or liposculpture. Fat is harvested either from your tummy or thighs, processed in a special machine and then re-injected into the cheekbone area. If done well, it looks as if the bone itself has been enhanced when in actual fact, it was only the soft tissue. I like this technique but it can be a little unpredictable as the fat may dissolve with time or it could grow larger if the patient puts on weight.
The last technique is a non-surgical one in which a synthetic filler material is injected into the cheekbone area, again creating the illusion that the bone has been enhanced. There are two categories of fillers: resorbable and semi-permanent. Both types of fillers give the same result but in the case of the resorbable fillers, they will disappear after six to eight months and you will need to keep topping it up to maintain the result. This is an excellent choice with a degree of reversibility if you want to see how you look with fuller cheekbones but are not sure if it will suit you.
Semi-permanent fillers are a combination of resorbable filler material with long lasting micro particles. They last much longer and after several injections, the result can last for years. With any foreign material, there is a small potential for infection or an inflammation. I like this technique as it is very good for achieving exactly the size and shape the patient desires. Being non-surgical, there is no recovery time and patients walk straight out of the office and back to work.
Think of plastic surgery in Asia and one name immediately springs to mind – Dr Woffles Wu!
This innovative and exciting plastic surgeon from Singapore has for years been the name on the lips of men and women seeking aesthetic perfection. Armed with an impeccable eye for beauty, balance and harmony Dr Wu, dubbed Asia’s Beauty Guru by the Hongkong press has reinvented and promoted the concept of Non Surgical Facial Rejuvenation (NSFR). He is today one of the most sought after speakers around the world on this topic demonstrating his combination of Injectables, Fillers, IPL Photorejuvenation and his invention, the WOFFLES LIFT to achieve facial rejuvenation without downtime.
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