Kare Plastic Surgery · Los Angeles & Santa Monica
Facial Implant Removal
Los Angeles
804 7th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403 · (310) 998-5533
Safe, precise removal of chin, cheek, and nasal implants complicated by infection, shifting, bone resorption, or asymmetry by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery
Call (310) 998-5533 Schedule a Consultation
Chin Implant · Cheek Implant · Nasal Implant · Fat Grafting Replacement
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeonraffy karamanoukian md facs
Facial Implant Removalminimal scar
Facial Implant Removal Los Angeles
Facial Implants That Shift, Infect, or Erode Bone Require Expert Removal.
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD FACS Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Facial Implant Removal · Chin Implant Removal · Cheek Implant Removal · Fat Grafting · Kare Plastic Surgery, Los Angeles
Facial implants are placed with the intention of producing permanent aesthetic results. Chin implants, cheek implants, and nasal implants are among the most commonly performed facial augmentation procedures in Los Angeles and across the country. For the majority of patients these devices remain in place for decades without concern. However, a meaningful number of patients develop complications — infection, implant shifting, bone erosion beneath the device, nerve compression, or simple dissatisfaction with the result — that make surgical removal the safest and most appropriate course of action.
At Kare Plastic Surgery, Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD FACS brings a plastic surgeon's depth of anatomical knowledge to every facial implant removal. The approach begins with a thorough clinical evaluation to identify the specific cause of the implant problem, followed by a surgical plan that accounts for the type and position of the implant, the degree of capsule formation, the presence of infection or bone changes, and whether simultaneous volume restoration with fat grafting is appropriate. Patients who have had implants placed by other surgeons throughout Los Angeles and Southern California are welcome at Kare Plastic Surgery for removal and revision consultation.
Kare Plastic Surgery · Los Angeles · (310) 998-5533
Problematic facial implant? Infection, shifting, or bone loss? Schedule a removal consultation with Dr. Karamanoukian today.
Patient Care — Kare Plastic Surgery · Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian
Facial Implant Complication Management — Evaluation and Surgical Planning Before Every Removal Procedure
Patient at Kare Plastic Surgery · Facial implant evaluation and removal planning by Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian · Santa Monica, Los Angeles
Facial Implant Removal Evaluation · Dr. Karamanoukian · Kare Plastic Surgery, Santa Monica Pre-operative assessment of a problematic silicone facial implant · Evaluation of implant position, capsule formation, bone changes, and soft tissue integrity prior to surgical removal · Dr. Karamanoukian's individualized planning approach
Why Evaluation Precedes Every Removal
Each facial implant removal at Kare Plastic Surgery begins with a thorough clinical evaluation — assessing implant position on imaging, identifying the degree of capsule formation, documenting any bone resorption beneath the implant, and determining whether nerve compression or infection is present. This evaluation directly shapes the surgical plan: access approach, capsule management strategy, infection control measures, and whether fat grafting is appropriate to restore volume at the time of removal.
Preserving Tissue During Removal
Dr. Karamanoukian accesses facial implants through the same incision approach used during original placement whenever possible — a small incision beneath the chin or inside the lower lip for chin implants, and an intraoral incision along the upper gum line for cheek implants. This strategy minimizes additional scarring while allowing full visualization of the implant pocket. Meticulous dissection through scar tissue protects surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissue structures throughout the procedure.
Capsule Management and Contour
When significant scar tissue has formed around the implant, Dr. Karamanoukian removes the capsule as well to prevent contour irregularities after healing. In cases involving infection, thorough irrigation of the pocket with antibiotic solution eliminates contaminated material and reduces the risk of persistent infection. Where bone resorption has altered the underlying anatomy, fat grafting at the time of removal can restore natural facial contours and volume without reintroducing a synthetic device.
Reasons for Facial Implant Removal
When a Facial Implant Must Come Out
Infection
Bacterial infection of the implant pocket is a serious complication that typically cannot be resolved with antibiotics alone. The implant must be removed to allow the infection to clear completely. Dr. Karamanoukian performs urgent removal with thorough pocket irrigation and prescribes a full antibiotic course. Replacement implants or fat grafting are considered only after several months of complete healing.
Implant Shifting
A chin or cheek implant that has migrated from its original position creates visible asymmetry — sitting too high, too low, or off to one side. Shifting can result from inadequate pocket formation during the original procedure, trauma, or gradual tissue changes over time. Removal with or without repositioning or replacement restores natural facial balance.
Bone Resorption
Solid silicone implants resting directly on bone can cause gradual erosion of the underlying jawbone or cheekbone from chronic mechanical pressure. Bone resorption discovered on imaging requires prompt implant removal to halt further bone loss. In advanced cases this can lead to tooth instability or contour deformity. Dr. Karamanoukian carefully addresses any residual defect at the time of removal.
Facial Asymmetry
Asymmetry can result from uneven implant placement during the original surgery, differences in soft tissue healing on either side of the face, or pre-existing asymmetry that was worsened by the implant. Removal and in some cases simultaneous replacement with a more appropriately sized or positioned device — or fat grafting — restores a natural and balanced appearance.
Nerve Compression
Pressure from a misplaced chin implant on the mental nerve can produce numbness, tingling, or persistent pain in the chin and lower lip. Pressure from a cheek implant on the infraorbital nerve causes facial numbness and hypersensitivity. Both conditions require prompt implant removal to prevent permanent nerve injury. Improvement in sensation typically begins within weeks of removal.
Implant Extrusion
In rare cases a facial implant begins to protrude through the overlying skin — a complication seen most often with nasal implants but possible with chin and cheek implants as well. Extrusion requires urgent removal to prevent serious infection and additional soft tissue damage. The area is allowed to heal fully before any reconstruction or volume restoration is considered.
Facial Implant Removal Procedures at Kare Plastic Surgery
Chin Implant Removal
Chin implants are the most commonly placed solid silicone facial implants and account for the majority of facial implant removal procedures performed by Dr. Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery. Access is through an incision beneath the chin in the natural skin crease or through an incision inside the lower lip, whichever approach matches the original placement.
Cheek Implant Removal
Cheek implants are accessed through an incision inside the upper mouth along the gum line. Dr. Karamanoukian dissects carefully through scar tissue to reach the implant pocket, removes the device and capsule, and inspects the malar bone for any evidence of resorption or erosion.
Nasal Implant Removal
Nasal implants carry the highest complication rate of any facial implant type because the nose has thin skin coverage, limited soft tissue padding, and a higher inherent infection risk. Extrusion, infection, shape distortion from shifting or degradation, and visible implant edges are all more common in the nose than in the chin or cheek. Dr. Karamanoukian removes nasal implants through intranasal incisions for simpler cases or through an open rhinoplasty approach — a small incision on the columella — when complex reconstruction of nasal support structures is required simultaneously. Where cartilage grafting is needed to restore structural support after implant removal, Dr. Karamanoukian uses autologous cartilage from the ear or rib.
Fat Grafting as Natural Replacement
Many patients who choose facial implant removal wish to maintain some degree of the volume or projection that the implant provided — but without reintroducing a synthetic device. Fat grafting is the natural alternative: fat is harvested by liposuction from the abdomen, flanks, or inner thighs, carefully purified, and injected with precise placement into the chin, cheeks, or other facial areas requiring volume. The result is a completely natural feel, no risk of future implant-related complications, and lasting results once the transferred fat establishes its own blood supply. Dr. Karamanoukian routinely combines implant removal with same-session fat grafting when infection is not the indication for removal.
Revision After Prior Surgeon
Patients who had facial implants placed by other plastic surgeons throughout Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, or elsewhere in California frequently seek removal and revision at Kare Plastic Surgery when complications develop. Dr. Karamanoukian reviews prior operative reports, imaging studies, and patient photographs to establish the original surgical plan, the implant type and dimensions, and the likely access approach used. This review allows Dr. Karamanoukian to anticipate the anatomy that will be encountered during removal and plan accordingly — including whether revision rhinoplasty, fat grafting, or replacement implant placement is appropriate at the time of removal.
Urgent Removal for Infection
Facial implant infection is a medical urgency that requires prompt evaluation and, when antibiotics fail to produce rapid improvement, surgical removal. Signs of implant infection include increasing redness, warmth, swelling, and pain at the implant site — sometimes accompanied by drainage or fever. Dr. Karamanoukian performs urgent facial implant removal with thorough pocket debridement and irrigation at Kare Plastic Surgery. Same-week consultation appointments are available for patients presenting with signs of facial implant infection in Los Angeles. Call (310) 998-5533 without delay.
Patients from across Los Angeles are seen at Kare Plastic Surgery: Dr. Karamanoukian evaluates and removes facial implants originally placed at clinics throughout Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Malibu, and the San Fernando Valley. Bring any prior operative records or implant manufacturer information to your consultation — this information helps plan the safest and most complete removal. Call (310) 998-5533 for a same-week consultation appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes a facial implant to need removal?
The most common reasons for facial implant removal include infection of the implant pocket that does not respond to antibiotics, implant shifting or malposition creating visible asymmetry, bone resorption from chronic pressure beneath the implant, nerve compression causing numbness or pain, implant extrusion through the skin, and patient dissatisfaction with the size or shape of the result. Dr. Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles evaluates each patient individually to determine the cause and plan the safest removal approach. Call (310) 998-5533.
Will removing my chin or cheek implant leave a depression?
In most cases tissues return to their pre-augmentation appearance without a significant deformity after implant removal. If bone resorption occurred beneath the implant a subtle contour change may be visible. Fat grafting performed at the same time as removal can correct any volume loss and produce smooth natural contours. Patients who wish to maintain some of the projection the implant provided are excellent candidates for simultaneous fat grafting. Call (310) 998-5533 to discuss your options with Dr. Karamanoukian.
Can a new implant be placed at the same time as removal?
When removal is performed for reasons other than infection — such as malposition, size dissatisfaction, or asymmetry — a replacement implant can often be placed during the same surgery. If infection is the reason for removal, complete healing must occur before any replacement device or fat grafting is introduced, which typically requires a waiting period of several months. Dr. Karamanoukian discusses all replacement options during your consultation at Kare Plastic Surgery. Call (310) 998-5533.
How long does recovery take after facial implant removal?
Most patients return to desk work and normal daily activities within 5 to 7 days of facial implant removal. Swelling and mild bruising resolve over one to two weeks. Patients who had intraoral incisions are placed on a soft diet for the first several days. Strenuous exercise is restricted for three weeks. Final contours become visible within six to eight weeks as all swelling resolves. Call (310) 998-5533 for more information.
Schedule Your Facial Implant Removal Consultation
Kare Plastic Surgery · Los Angeles & Santa Monica · 804 7th Street
Repair Facial Implant Complications with Dr. Raffy
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, board-certified plastic surgeon at Kare Plastic Surgery, performs expert facial implant removal throughout Los Angeles, safe extraction of chin, cheek, and nasal implants complicated by infection, shifting, bone resorption, or asymmetry, with natural fat grafting replacement available in the same session. Same-week consultation appointments available.