Houston Chin Implant Surgeon

Etai Funk is dedicated to the aesthetics and contours of the face and neck exclusively.  He understands how to augment the bony aspect of the face with certain implants to provide an aesthetically pleasing result.  Facial implants such as a chin implant or cheek implants are ideal for augmenting the bony foundation of the face. This provides harmony, balance, and proportion between the cheeks, the chin, and the nose on profile. Chin augmentation (mentoplasty) and cheek augmentation are two procedures performed to enhance facial appearance and improve overall facial balance.

Mentoplasty (Chin Augmentation)

A weak chin, weak jaw, or recessed chin can make the nose look disproportionate and larger. This weak chin (microgenia) can also make the neck appear less defined. In addition, an underdeveloped chin can falsely convey to others a perception of weakness femininity in a male. A chin implant is one option that can enhance the chin providing balance and harmony to the face.

Chin implant was placed in this patient with an obviously recessed jawline and chin.  A larger chin implant is placed in a male patient to provide a more masculine and stronger jawline.  

Chin augmentation using silicone implant and revision rhinoplasty on this patient for a pollybeak deformity and weak chin.

A small chin implant can make a significant change in the proportion of the face with an improved profile and more facial harmony.

Chin implant and nose surgery or rhinoplasty on this patient for a nasal hump and slightly recessed chin.  Notice how much more balanced her face is after this facial plastic surgery.  Neck liposuction was also performed.  

Chin implant and nose surgery or rhinoplasty

Patient had blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty and a chin implant to obtain a stronger jawline, more youthful eyes, and a balanced appearance.  

This patient had rhinoplasty and a chin implant to obtain a softer, more feminine, and balanced appearance.  

Chin implantation can be performed alone, but is often performed with a facelift or a rhinoplasty (nose job). Performed with a facelift or rhinoplasty result by providing harmony and balance between the nose and the chin. Not every rhinoplasty requires a chin implant, but the chin is often overlooked in a nasal evaluation, and may be a very important part of achieving a natural appearing, balanced result. Dr Funk uses special implants that are designed to appear natural and undetectable. During your consultation he will carefully evaluate your facial bone structure to determine if chin augmentation is right for you.

This patient underwent rhinoplasty with chin implant to improve balance and harmony to her face.

Cheek Augmentation

Prominent cheek bones or high cheek bones are a recognized as an attractive feature. Cheek implants can improve facial balance and enhance your appearance. Improving a long face that is not in proportion to the width of the face, cheek implants provide balance and harmony. Malar augmentation can be peformed to correct flat cheek bones or underdeveloped cheek bones. Cheek augmentation is also performed to correct sunken cheeks, which develops with aging.

Patient who underwent lower blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery and submalar cheek implants.

Cheek augmentation with a facelift can be provide the volume necessary for deflated or sunken cheeks while the facelift treats loose skin or saggy skin and tightens the jaw neck line. Dr Funk will evaluate your bone structure and appearance do determine if cheek augmentation is right for you.

Dermal fillers or facial fat transfer (micrografts) can also be performed to achieve improvement of the cheeks. Radiesse injection for the cheeks can provide a long lasting cheek augmentation with little downtime. This injection is performed with local anesthesia only and patients recover and are sociable that same day. There is little to no bruising or pain with Radiesse injections.

Facial Implants Overview

Goals: To provide balance and harmony to the bony structure of the face.

The Procedure: Cheek implants are placed through small incisions under the upper lip. Their size and shape are chosen during your consultation.

Chin implants: are placed thorugh a small incision hidden underneath your chin. Its size and shape is chosen with you during the consultation.

Anesthesia: Facial implants are usually inserted under sedative anesthesia.

Recovery: Patients can return home the day of surgery. Most of the swelling goes away in one week, but may take longer to completely resolve. Minimal numbness in the region should resolve within the first 2 weeks.

Chin and Cheek Implants FAQs

What will a chin implant do for me?

A chin implant will enhance the appearance of your jaw giving you a stronger chin, especially on profile. Chin augmentation provides balance and harmony between the nose and the cheeks. A weak chin may lead the nose to appear disproportionately large. Chin augmentation can be performed alone, or in conjunction with a rhinoplasty (nasal surgery). Chin implantation may also be performed along with a neck lift or facelift in order to create a natural distinction between the face and neck.

What is a prejowl implant?

Female patients who have heavy jowls (the fatty sagging skin along the jawline) may notice a more square or masculine jawline. Women’s jawline should be heart shaped. The recess or depression in front of the jawline can be filled with a prejowl implant. Prejowl implants are modifications of chin implants performed to rejuvenate the jawline. They do not add any projection to the chin, instead they are designed to fill in the hollow region in front of the jowl. This region is called the prejowl sulcus.

Women may also receive injection to the prejowl area with a filler such as Radiesse, Perlane, or Juvederm. This provides a more heart-shaped appearance to the jawline with less downtime, bruising, or pain.

How will I know if I am a good candidate for a chin implant?

This will be determined during your detailed consultation.

What can cheek implants do for me?

Cheek implants provide balance and equal proportions to the face which are the features that define beauty. High cheek bones are a unique quality to an aesthetically beautiful face. Sunken cheeks, flat cheeks, or depressed cheeks can lead to disharmony in the face. Patients with very long faces may have a disproportionate length of their face when compared to its width. Cheek augmentation with the appropriate implant may help provide better facial balance

Cheek implantation may also restore volume that has been lost as we age. Deflation of the face occurs with loss of fat, elastin, and collagen as we age. Restoring this volume in addition to treating Dr Funk’s other two D’s of aging (Descent, and skin Deterioration) with a facelift, laser or chemical peel is essential to maintaining a youthful appearance.

What kind of implants are used? What are chin implants or cheek implants made of?

There are many kinds of facial implants. Silastic implants are most common as they are easily inserted, integrate well with the facial bones and tissues, do not have a tendency to migrate or move, and rarely if ever get infected.

Are facial implants permanent?

Facial implants provide a permanent solution to augment the bony structure of the face. They do not degrade, rarely shift, extrude, or get infected. Silastic implants can be easily removed if necessary.

Can facial fillers be used for cheek augmentation?

Facial fillers can be used for cheek augmentation. Fillers are injected under local anesthesia in the office. Filler injection has virtually little to no downtime and minimal to no bruising or pain. Deep injection of facial fillers for volume provides an excellent, long-lasting result for those patients considering facial implantation. Radiesse, Perlane, and Juvederm are often used to enhance the cheeks and the submalar region. Dr. Funk also performs facial fat grafting to enahnace and/or rejuvenate these regions.

Etai Funk is a Houston plastic surgeon specializing in the face. He is a board certified, fellowship trained, facial plastic surgeon. He practices in Houston, Texas treating patients from Katy, Memorial City, Memorial, The Woodlands, Spring Cypress, and Sugarland.  Dr Funk also sees many international patients for plastic surgery in Houston and from all over the US.