Whereas traditional concepts of facial aging focus on the descent of soft tissue secondary to gravitational effects, it is now well established that volumetric changes involving different levels of soft tissue loss reveal craniofacial skeletal deficiencies that, together, contribute to the changes evident in the aging face. Thus, effective facial rejuvenation requires a comprehensive paradigm that identifies and addresses all anatomic elements involved in the aging process. Contemporary practices in facial rejuvenation have expanded far beyond the rhytidectomy procedure to involve deeper and more fundamental levels of dissection for the purpose of elevating and replacing volume. Alloplastic implants offer a long-term, multidimensional solution to facial rejuvenation by concomitantly augmenting skeletal deficiency, restoring lost soft tissue volume, and smoothing irregularities in the facial contour. Facial augmentation using implants represents a straightforward, simple procedure with minimal risks and long-lasting benefits. By applying accurate and judicious techniques for preoperative analysis, selecting the appropriate implant, and with correct surgical placement of the implants, the facial plastic surgeon can achieve successful facial volumization and restore the youthful appearance of the aging patient.
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