Woman tested before chin augmentation surgery.
The loss of facial volume is common during the aging process. Unfortunately, the facial fat that provides you with youthful contours starts to diminish or sag with time.
Volume can be restored through facial implants or dermal fillers. While they both address the same condition by adding volume on the cheeks, lips, and chin, they go about them in very different ways.
What Are Facial Implants?
Facial implants are solid silicone rubber additions that can be added to the face to enhance volume and fullness.
This implant is placed through an incision on the inside of the mouth and restores volume or definition to the cheeks, lips, or chin.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers like JUVÉDERM®, RADIESSE®, and BELOTERO BALANCE® are injectable treatments that temporarily restore volume to nearly any region of the face.
These treatments can smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or restore significant volume loss to the cheeks, lips, nasolabial folds, and tear troughs.
What Are the Benefits of Facial Implants?
Does Not Require Repeated Treatments
Dermal fillers do not offer permanent results since your body will eventually absorb the filler, leaving you back to square one.
Implants, though more invasive, offer a one-time treatment that will provide a lifetime of improvement.
Long-Term Cost Efficiency
While facial implants may seem like the more expensive option initially (compared to injectable, dermal fillers), they may become the more cost-effective option over time.
To maintain results, patients must receive dermal filler injections once or twice a year. If injections are desired for several years, the repeated cost of those injections may exceed the initial cost of the implants.
Chin Augmentation Patient 01
*Results May Vary*
Available in a Wide Variety
Facial implants are offered in a wide variety of shapes and sizes so that you can find the perfect fit. This customized approach means getting results that are tailored to your specific condition.
What Are the Benefits of Dermal Fillers?
Non-Surgical
Even though facial implants leave no visible scars, they still require incisions, and many patients are wary when it comes to undergoing surgery.
While the technology and methodology for surgical implants continue to get better every day, surgery will always carry a risk.
Patients concerned about bleeding, infection, blood clots, and anesthesia risks can feel comforted by the fact that dermal fillers do not require incisions and offer a more comfortable recovery period.
No Long-Term Commitment
While the lack of longevity can be seen as a negative for dermal fillers, it can also be positive.
Since these injections typically only last between six months and one year, patients have the opportunity to try them out and see if an increase in facial volume is what they want.
Fillers can be repeated safely as often as necessary.
Less Expensive to Start
In the short run, dermal fillers are far cheaper than implants.
It is only if you are expecting to inject fillers for several years that you need to think twice about its cost-effectiveness.
Stimulates Collagen
Hyaluronic acid fillers like JUVÉDERM® and BELOTERO BALANCE® provide temporary plumpness and fullness, but they also work with your tissues to stimulate the production of collagen, which is the cornerstone of healthy skin.
Collagen is an essential protein found in your tissue that contributes to the strength and structure of your skin.
Unfortunately, your body produces less and less collagen as you age.
For more information of facial implants or dermal fillers, contact Dr. O’Toole by calling (626) 671-2756 or by filling out our online contact form.