Knife Styles

Chin Augmentation

What is it?

Chin augmentation involves an implant being placed below the surface of the skin and fastened into place with permanent stitches.

Then there's a genioplasty - a more complex op involving the jaw being repositioned or reshaped so that the chin projects forward. Chin augmentation is more common and is often done at the same time as a nose job to improve the profile.

What can it do for you?

People with receding chins are the most likely candidates. A well­ defined jaw line is seen as being very attractive, whereas a receding chin can make the nose seem bigger and the cheeks look chubbier.

The procedure

Chin implants come in all shapes and sizes and are usually made of silicone or saline (salt water, as is often used for breast implants).

The operation takes around two hours and is usually performed under general anaesthetic. The surgeon will make an incision underneath your chin, slip in the implant and secure it with permanent stitches. Or the incision is made inside the mouth and the implant inserted that way.

Cost

Prices start from around £2,150.

Recovery time

After surgery, he chin is taped up to minimise swelling and bruising. Your head must be kept elevated for around 12 hours and your chin will probably feel tight and sore, which could make talking or eating difficult.

Surgeons may recommend a liquid-only diet and antibiotics for a couple of days. Bruises may appear around your mouth and neck, but these should fade after a week or so.

Patients usually return to work after a week, but strenuous activity is to be avoided for up to a month. In particular, any contact sports should be avoided for as long as possible afterwards.

What can go wrong?

There's a small risk of infection. In the short term, some numbness may occur, but this shouldn't last long. If it does, it may be that the implant is pressing against a facial nerve, so it's advisable to see your surgeon if the numbness persists.

As with all implants, there's a small risk of the scar tissue around the implant hardening, which can cause it to ripple or dimple. Hard scar tissue can also cause the implant to move around, in which case a second operation would probably be needed in order to reposition the chin.

How long does it last?

The results should last indefinitely unless the implant becomes infected, in which case it may need to be removed or replaced.

Minimal Access Cranial Suspension - Mini-Facelift

What is it?

Minimal access cranial suspension is a mini-facelift that lifts the lower part of the face and neck.

Skin loses its elasticity with age and, as the skin on the neck is very thin, the facial and neck tissues tend to sag first. It's also one of the main areas of the body constantly exposed to the elements (along with the hands and face).

Excessive drooping and wrinkles can add years, so a neck lift may help to create a smoother, younger ­looking appearance.

What can it do for you?

The vast majority of people who have a neck lift have jowls - saggy, flapping skin that hangs down from the jaw line. Jowls are often dubbed 'a turkey neck' and they're one of the first parts of the body to give away a person's age.

Jowls, or a heavily wrinkled neck, are usually caused by skin damage due to smoking, sunbathing or excessive weight loss.

Cutting back on smoking (or, better still, giving up altogether), staying out of the sun and using a high SPF sunscreen can stop further damage and slow the ageing process.

That said, no amount of exercise or firming creams can tone up your neck completely if the damage to the delicate skin has already been done.

The procedure

The operation can take up to three hours and is usually performed under a general anaesthetic - involving an overnight stay. A small incision is made about 2in below each ear. The surgeon then pulls the skin up to tighten it.

During the procedure, excess skin may also be trimmed away, along with extra fat and tissue, before the face is sutured along the intial cut and dressed.

How much does it cost?

Prices for a neck lift start from £3,000.

Recovery time

After the wound is stitched, it's dressed with a pressure bandage that's wrapped around the head and chin. You're advised to keep the head elevated for 72 hours and you may experience some bruising and swelling for several days afterwards.

It takes a few weeks for the bruising to disappear completely. The dressing and stitches are then removed after about five days.

Until then, it's not advisable to shower or wash your hair. Alcohol should also be avoided for several weeks. Most patients return to work - and their normal lives - after about 10 days, but strenuous activity should be avoided for three or four weeks. Tiny scars may be left, but long hair will cover them.

What can go wrong?

Like all operations, there's a small risk of postoperative infection or allergic reaction. There's also a small chance of nerve damage, numbness or asymmetric results. Scars can sometimes get thicker instead of fading - especially if you've picked up an infection.

If severe pain is experienced around the scars, your surgeon or GP should be contacted immediately.

How long does it last?

It depends on your age, as well as how well your skin is looked after following the operation and the lifestyle you lead.

If the same weight is maintained and smoking and heavy sunbathing are reduced, the results can last for up to 10 years. However, patients aged 60 and over usually only see the results for about five years.

 


Categories

Articles


Sponsors