Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Skin Restoration and Laser Institute

Part #2 -A patient’s story –  Mentoplasty (chin Implant),  Malar Augmetation (Cheek Implants) and Rhinoplasty (nose surgery)

I would like to share a “typical” story of one of our patients.  In the spring of 1984, a 35 year old legal secretary arrived at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Clinic for a consultation.  She said “Dr. Castillo, I don’t know what is wrong with my face, but I am not happy with it.”

In looking at her I could view the details of someone who would benefit immensely from cheek implants.  During the consultation, she went on to explain that she felt as though life was passing her by.  She came to the realization that she should be having more fun and should be more involved in life than she had been up to that point. She decided that she needed to present herself to the world in a different light.  She didn’t feel comfortable with her face and it was prohibiting her from showing the world who she really was inside.  She explained that she had been so busy with life that she had not been giving the proper value to things that had been bothering her for years, the things that were affecting the way she felt about herself day after day. She didn’t like the way life was going for her and so she decided to take charge.

The truth is that this patient was right on.  Often times when an individual feels self-conscious, they find it impossible to be who they really are around other people.  Instead of coming across as an enthusiastic, outgoing individual, they are often perceived as being closed off, shy, aloof or distant.

This young woman simply had a lack of cheekbone prominence.  The widest dimension of her face was that of her cheeks themselves, but not the cheekbones.  She desired the angular features that we are used to seeing in chisel-faces that have their widest dimension at the cheekbones. As with most individuals who have deficient cheekbone prominence, she also had a deficient or weak chin.

She underwent a relatively simple procedure where incisions are made inside of the mouth in the cul-de-sac of the upper gum area, and cheek implants were inserted in both cheeks (Malar Augmentation).  A chin implant was added to her jaw by a very small ½ inch incision right underneath her chin (Augmentation Mentoplasty)  https://www.cosmeticplasticsurgery.com/photo-gallery/results.cfm?Category=16.  In addition, this patient had a rhinoplasty to create a true balance of her facial features. https://www.cosmeticplasticsurgery.com/photo-gallery/results.cfm?Category=18 After the swelling disappeared, her flat face became a striking, welcoming face with angularity and spirit.

Gradually her personality and social involvement literally exploded.  This needed change gave her courage to go after the life she always wanted. I see this patient in the office from time to time.  She is now married with a wonderful family and remains a bubbly, exuberant, warm personality.  This hour and 15 minute surgery changed her life.