Individuals in their late teens and 20’s usually desire specific structural change in the nose, chin, or cheeks. The goals for facial contouring may differ for each age group. One may want to broaden his or her jaw in front and another may wish to broaden the back angle of the jaw. For example, one patient may select a higher arched type of cheekbone look, while another may desire a rounder, apple cheek appearance. They may extend over smaller or larger areas with different thicknesses to create varying projections, thus enhancing either a portion or the entire cheek or jawline. Contemporary facial implants are contoured to imitate the natural bone structure and youthful form of the overlying soft tissues. These newer facial implants not only aesthetically improve bone structure, but can also be used to help reverse the signs of aging. Facial contouring, a major step in the evolution of facial aesthetic surgery, is the art and science of merging plastic surgical techniques with these newer implant designs to improve the relative balance of facial features. Three-dimensional computer technology currently produces a new generation of more accurate anatomic facial implants that permit more effective, long-lasting and pleasing results in facial augmentation. Binder edited the book, Facial Contouring and Alloplastic Implants, which is hailed as the first surgical text of its kind. In addition to an extensive list of published peer-reviewed articles on this subject, Dr. Binder has provided and restored healthy, natural-appearing facial contours to celebrities whose careers depend on their looks, to accident victims whose faces have been badly injured. The use of these newly-designed implants in the late 1980’s launched a new field in plastic surgery called facial contouring. Binder developed the method and the design for facial implants that appropriately and anatomically enhance specific areas of the face. Gaining insight by extensively studying sculpture and the art of facial proportion, Dr. Small cheekbones make the nose appear larger, and a square jawline diminishes the significance of the upper part of the face. For example, a stronger nose will accentuate a weak chin. It is important to correctly analyze the magnitude of nasal profile, the size and shape of the cheek bones, or angularity of the jawline on the overall impact they exert on facial beauty. This may occur in the form of a weak chin, flat cheek bones, round face, a narrow jawline or pointed chin. In general, people are aware of areas of their face that are either excessive or deficient. Facial implants are one of the few procedures in plastic surgery that can best achieve these goals. Well-defined, balanced facial features are considered a sign of beauty. We use our aesthetic sense to correctly perceive the three-dimensional interaction of all of one’s features. When they are out of proportion, we tend to consider them unattractive. When the balance is pleasing, the eye and the mind are attracted to the faces of others. Whether a conscious or subconscious act, we are all sensitive to the shape and dimension of our own face and the faces of others. The combination of facial features, proportion, and balance determines facial beauty.

Wraparound jaw implant