Do jaw implants or facelift procedures affect the action of facial muscles?

Question

I'm interested in augmenting my jaw and possibly getting a facelift if the future. I play the flute and I'm concerned that these procedures may cause problems with the muscles needed for playing.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

A properly executed facelift with or without auxiliary implants should have no long-term effect on facial function.

Manish H. Shah, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello flutedude,Thanks for your question.Placement of facial implants and performance of a facelift does temporarily affect facial musculature.  Most patients describe temporary limitations in facial motions due to inflammation, swelling, and postoperative pain.  Two major risks to facial plastic surgery are numbness and injury to the Facial nerve.  In your situation, injury to sensory nerves around the mouth can change how you feel pressure when playing the flute.  Injury to branches of the Facial nerve cause partial (sometimes permanent) dysfunction of facial muscles.  The most common nerve injured with facial implants is the Mental nerve to the lower lip during chin implant placement.  The result is a numb lower lip segment.  The most common Facial nerve branches injured during facelift (though rare) are a buccal branch or marginal mandibular branch injury depending on technique.  Injury to either branch affects the corner of the mouth function.I would recommend consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your particular case.  If playing the flute is of significant importance and these risk seem too great to you, it may be best seek alternatives to surgery.Good luck,Dr. Shah

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

I am assuming you are asking about a chin implant.  This will not affect your flute playing. However, if this is your occupation you may want discuss with your PS the risk of mental nerve injury which can be potentially injured.  This affects the feeing of the lower lip and would significantly affect playing the flute.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Neither jaw implants or a facelift will adversely affect the movement of the muscles of facial motion and expression. Jaw implants are done way beneath where the facial nerves run and facelift is done above them. Also neither the skin tightening effects or the addition of volume under the facial tissues will create a problem with facial movement.

Pouria Moradi, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

A  jaw implant won't affect your ability to play the flute long term. Yes, you will need around 4 weeks to recover but there is no risk to the nerves or muscles responsible for playing the flute.A facelift is a different story, there is a theoretical (and very real) possibility of damage to the facial nerve which is responsible for facial muscle movement. Although rare you must be aware of this as a risk factor after facelift surgery.

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear flutedude,

Generally facelift procedure involves elevating the skin and
soft tissue. At the time of the face the skin may be elevated and the
underlying muscles mobilized.  While the
muscles are mobilized under minor reposition, they can be slightly weak for
several days to several weeks after surgery eliminating your ability to play
instruments such as the flute.  Usually
these results are temporary and long-term complications after facelift surgery
such as facial nerve weakness are extremely uncommon.

I hope this information has been of some assistance and best
of luck.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

You can do a quick google search on complications from jaw implants.  In my mind, they are too problematic which is why I don't use or recommend them for mandibular augmentation.  I use Radiesse at the mandibular angle and chin implants anteriorly.  Properly placed facial implants may create a temporary disruption in the fell of muscle contraction as the implant settles and the overlying muscle accommodates the implant.  This should have a minimal impact on facial movements, including playing a wind instrument and last about 1-3 months.  Facelifts should have no impact on the underlying muscles but I do not use or recommend sub-periosteal facelifts that may have some of those affects due the depth of dissection and vector of tissue pull.  Hope this helps.

Do jaw implants or facelift procedures affect the action of facial muscles?

Answers (7)

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