Longing for Facial Harmony? Here’s How to Achieve It

While people often think that facial plastic surgery is only performed to reduce the signs of aging, that’s not the case. Some people seek out surgery or cosmetic treatments to increase facial harmony.

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought that your nose was too big or that your cheeks were too flat, you’ve been concerned about facial harmony. Several procedures can change the size and shape of individual features, from the cheeks and chin to the nose, to bring the face into better balance.

Fat Injection

Cheeks that are sunken or shallow can affect your appearance in two ways. First, not having full cheeks ages you. Second, it can throw off a sense of symmetry. If your cheeks are very flat, other features, such as the nose or chin, can appear more prominent.

There are a few ways to add volume to your cheek area. Fat transfer is a semi-permanent, minimally invasive option. It’s a two-part process that involves extracting fat from one area, then injecting it into the cheeks.

For you to be a good candidate for fat transfer to improve facial  harmony, you need to meet a few requirements first. For one thing, you need enough spare fat in one area to harvest and transfer. The fat is collected through a thin cannula and then injected where it is needed.

Second, you should have realistic expectations about the results and about the recovery period. Roughly 50 percent of the transferred fat may remain, and a touch-up is sometimes needed.

You’ll have some swelling, and your cheeks may look fuller than expected during the first few weeks of recovery. As you heal, the swelling and puffiness go down.

Cheek Implants

If you are too skinny to have fat transfer or want something more reliable and permanent, it might be worth considering cheek implants to better balance your facial features. Instead of using fat to lift and add volume to your cheeks, a plastic surgeon inserts implants into the area. The incisions for the implants are usually  made inside of the mouth, so they aren’t visible.

Implants are made from a variety of materials, from silicone to Gore-Tex, and they vary in size based on the patient. Although the implants can be removed at a later date if you find that you no longer like them, they are usually considered permanent.

The procedure to place the implants in the cheeks is surgery and does require a bit of downtime. Usually, it’s recommended that you take about a week off from work afterwards. During that week, it might be difficult to open your mouth or speak, so it’s best to really take it easy.

Mid-Face Lift

Depending on your facial structure and needs, a mid-face lift might be a better option if you want to restore lost volume to the cheek area and to improve the appearance of certain signs of aging. Instead of adding fat or implants, a mid-face lift repositions the tissue beneath the cheeks and the overlying skin, so the cheeks sit higher and the face looks younger and more balanced.

Chin Augmentation

The cheeks aren’t the only area of the face that affects balance and facial harmony. In some cases, a person’s chin might be weak or small. One way to see if a chin is weak is to place the index finger of one of your hands against your lips, as if you were telling someone to be quiet. If your chin doesn’t touch your finger, that is a sign it is too small in relation to the rest of your facial features.

Similar to a cheek implant, a chin implant increases the size of the chin and can increase its projection. If you currently believe that your nose is too large for your face, a chin implant can help it look smaller and more proportional.

During chin augmentation surgery, the facial plastic surgeon makes an incision inside the mouth or beneath the chin, then slides the implant into place through the incision. Because the incision is either inside the mouth or tucked under the chin, the scar is hard to see. Recovery after the surgery takes about a week.

Rhinoplasty

Sometimes, the cause of your facial disharmony is as plain as the nose on your face. While there are instances when a person’s nose will look too big because of a too small chin, there are also instances when a person’s nose is large in proportion to the rest of the features or too small in proportion to those features. Some people might have a nose that is slightly crooked or uneven, which creates an  unbalanced look. Rhinoplasty can correct a variety of problems with the nose, from being too small or large to being crooked.

If you feel your facial features are out of balance, talk to us at The Naderi Center. Dr. Shervin Naderi is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience and a strong surgical focus on rhinoplasty and deep plane facelifts. His goal is a natural result that keeps your features in proportion.

The Naderi Center has two locations, one in Virginia and one in Maryland. To schedule an appointment in Virginia, call 703-481-0002. For an appointment in Maryland, call 301-222-2020 today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is facial harmony?

Facial harmony means your features are in proportion to one another. A weak chin, flat cheeks or a nose that is large for the face can throw off that balance, even when each feature looks fine on its own.

Can a chin implant make my nose look smaller?

It can. When the chin is small, the nose often looks larger than it is, and bringing the chin forward with an implant can make the nose look more proportional without changing it. Some patients have chin augmentation together with rhinoplasty.

How long does fat transfer to the cheeks last?

Roughly 50 percent of the transferred fat may remain, and the fat that remains can last a long time. A touch-up is sometimes needed.

Are cheek implants permanent?

Cheek implants are considered permanent, although they can be removed later if you no longer like them. The incisions are usually made inside the mouth, and most patients take about a week off work.

Is fat transfer done under anesthesia?

Yes. At The Naderi Center, fat grafting is done under general anesthesia. A small amount of your own fat is taken with a thin cannula and placed in the cheeks or wherever volume is needed.