Facial Contouring - Procedure, Risks, and Complications

Introduction:

Chasing the trend is challenging nowadays. Facial contouring is a popular procedure used by actresses and fashion models. Actresses and fashion models commonly utilize these procedures. Nowadays, anyone who can afford massive amounts opts for this procedure to have perfect facial features.

Who Should Undergo Facial Contouring?

Facial contouring is a cosmetic procedure that creates the desired contour of various areas of the face. Each gender wishes for a different outline. For example, a male individual would like a chiseled and masculine contour, whereas a female individual would desire a softer and feminine design. The procedure can also help individuals who lose their facial contour due to aging. To be specific, some features require cosmetic corrections.

They are:

• Square jaw.

• Protruding cheeks.

• Protruding mouth.

• Protruding chin.

• Receding chin.

• Asymmetrical mouth.

Why Is Facial Contouring Important?

Face shape determines the overall image of the person. The number of surgeries required depends on the face ratio of the individual. If the facial features are more delineated, multiple facial contouring procedures are necessary, whereas a single contouring procedure can correct the mild deviation in face shape.

What Are the Various Facial Contouring Procedures?

Various cosmetic facial contouring procedures are customized to fit the needs of the individual. Sometimes, a combination of the procedures is also performed. They include:

• Facial Implants: These procedures are employed to improve the appearance of the chin, jaw, and cheeks, thereby providing a balanced appearance of the face.

• Fat Removal: Liposuction is the fat removal procedure that helps remove excess fat deposited by breaking down those fat cells through suction. Lipoplasty is a type of liposuction procedure where the fat cells are liquified using sound waves and then eliminated through suction.

• Graft and Tissue Transfers: In this procedure, to meet the good cosmetic appeal, a part of tissue which includes the skin, muscle, fat, nerves, and bone, is taken from one part and replaced in the other. The graft can be autograft, allograft, or xenograft.

• Bone Trimming: This procedure is also called alveoloplasty, where the areas of sharp and irregular bones are reshaped to establish a definite contour.

• Reduction Malarplasty: This is a cosmetic procedure performed to improve the facial contours by altering the prominent portion accessing through an incision placed over the cheeks and pre-auricular regions.

• Chin Advancing Surgery: This type of surgery is opted for by individuals with receding chin.

• Mandibular Angioplasty: This is a procedure to improve the blood flow to the mandibular region by removing the plaques accumulated in the arteries of that region through a tiny balloon system.

• Otoplasty: This procedure is also called cosmetic ear surgery, done to enhance the shape, size, and position of the ears. Individuals with dissatisfied large ears or ears away from the head.

• Rhinoplasty: It is a procedure to alter the shape of an individual’s nose. The cause may be for the aesthetic look or proper breathing. The procedure can alter the nose's skin, bone, and cartilage. Before starting the procedure, facial appearance post-surgically should also be considered.

• Mentoplasty: It is a procedure performed to enhance the appearance of the chin by reducing the bone or placing an implant.

• Rhytidectomy: It is also called face-lift, utilized by individuals with aging skin. This procedure involves pulling back a flap of skin on both sides, altering the tissues under the skin, and removing the excess skin. The procedure can also be performed with a neck lift.

• Blepharoplasty: As a process of aging, the eyelids may stretch, leading to the weakening of the muscles supporting them. Eventually, there is excess fat and skin accumulation above and below the eyelids, causing drooping of the upper eyelids and bags under the eyes. In such instances, a blepharoplasty procedure can remove excess skin from the upper and lower eyelids.

• Neck Lift: This procedure removes excess fat and skin around the jawline, which eventually gives a youthful appearance.

• Brow Lift: It is also called eyebrow lift, where the eyebrows are raised to minimize the appearance of frown lines and wrinkles.

• Double Jaw Surgery: As the name says, the surgery is performed on the two jaws to correct deformities, varying size, or malalignment.

• V-Line Surgery: This procedure produces a definite contour to the chin and jawline.

• Scalp Advancement: This procedure minimizes the distance between the eyes and the hairline. It is also called hairline advancement surgery and forehead reduction surgery.

What Is Non-invasive Facial Contouring?

Non-invasive facial contouring procedure helps reshape the face without surgery and may involve a combination of methods such as dermal fillers, ultrasound to reduce fat, and anti-wrinkle injections.

How to Prepare for a Facial Contouring Procedure?

Facial contouring is a complex procedure that requires the identification of blood vessels, nerves, and soft tissues in the face for safe removal without damage to those significant structures. The physician must have a three-dimensional computed tomography scan to decide on the facial contouring procedure. Therefore, selecting the best surgeon in a hospital with well-equipped facilities is crucial.

What Are the Risks and Complications of Facial Contouring?

• The common complications resulting from facial contouring procedures are scarring, infection, and bleeding. For example, infection is common in individuals who undergo implant surgery and fat removal procedures. And individuals who undergo facial implants are at a high risk of scarring.

• The experience of numbness, swelling, and bruising is normal during any surgical procedure, and it can take some time to resolve.

• Some individuals may be allergic to the anesthetic solution used, which can lead to suppressed breathing, low blood pressure, heart failure, blood clot in the legs and lungs, and postoperative nausea and vomiting.

• To avoid anesthetics-related complications, pre-operative screening should be carried out to assess if the individual has any health issues that can be aggravated by using anesthetics.

How Long Do the Procedures Last?

The procedures can last up to six months to a year. The wearing away of the effects may also depend on the aging process of the individual. If the individual wishes to have long-lasting effects, they undergo injections at regular intervals for maintenance.