Redefining Facial Features

Irregularities of the nose, ears, cheeks or chin may upset the balance of the face and affect the overall appearance, since these features are often viewed in relation to one another. Aesthetic surgery can reshape the nose, diminish prominence of the ears, and reshape the chin or cheeks to improve excesses or deficiencies in these areas. In many cases, changing a single facial feature can enhance the entire appearance and affect the way a person feels about himself or herself.

When talking of reshaping the face, there are five prevalent procedures. They are: Rhinoplasty (nose job), Otoplasty (ear pinback), Genioplasty (chin implantation or reshaping), Malarplasty (cheek implantation) and Liposuction (fat suctioning).

•  Rhinoplasty is done to reshape the nose. The operation can refine the appearance and reduce the size. In some patients who have difficulty breathing, this operation may help them breath more normally. The operation can be done in all age groups, including teens and the elderly. It is not unusual to combine rhinoplasty with chin augmentation to improve the profile.

•  Octoplasty . Many children are born with ears that protrude too far from the head. This causes the "dumbo ear" appearance and is often very embarrassing. The problem is corrected by a combination of stitching and reshaping the ear cartilage, to bring it closer to the head. Also known as "ear pinning," it is a common cosmetic surgery for adults and children with protruding ears.
Ear surgery is usually done under local anesthetic with a sedative; general anesthesia is preferred for children.

•  Genioplasty. If the chin does not develop fully, it may appear receding or weak. To correct this problem, the chin is brought forward by adding an implant over the prominence of the jaw or reshaping the underlying bone.

•  Malarplasty . In some people, the prominence of the cheek is underdeveloped and this leads to flat cheekbones. For some people, this can accentuate the effects of aging. It is corrected by placing an implant over the prominence of the cheek.

•  Liposuction. As with many areas of the body, the fat can be suctioned to reshape the face. The most common areas are in the neck under the chin, the fold between the nose and the corner of the mouth and the jowl area.