“Moma Bunkis” 99th Christmas - Reflections on Christmas Through the Decades
By Drs. Deborah Ekstrom and Juris Bunkis
This weekend was a heartwarming one here in Massachusetts. Snow on Thursday set the perfect stage for the holiday season. Friday brought laughter and camaraderie at the Salisbury Plastic Surgery staff dinner party and gift exchange. But the highlight was spending time with family, taking our grandchildren to see The Nutcracker Ballet in Boston, and welcoming Dr. Bunkis’ sister, brother-in-law, and 98-year-old mother, affectionately known as “Mama Bunkis,” to our home in Massachussets.
When we asked Mama Bunkis which Christmas had been her favorite, she smiled and said, “This one.” Her answer sparked a moment of reflection. Born in Latvia in 1926, Mama Bunkis has witnessed nearly a century of Christmases and the monumental changes that have shaped our world.
We thought about the memorable Christmases she’s lived through:
1939: Christmas on the brink of World War II, a time of uncertainty in Europe.
1945: The first post-war Christmas, a glimmer of hope after unimaginable hardship.
1969: The year humans walked on the moon—a world transformed by innovation.
1989: The Berlin Wall fell, marking a Christmas of new freedom and unity in Europe.
2020: A quieter Christmas amid the global pandemic, yet one filled with gratitude for health and connection
2024: This one because she is well, healthy and still with us.
Through it all, the essence of Christmas—family, love, and togetherness—remains unchanged. This year, as we cherish the present and reflect on the past, we’re reminded of what truly matters: the gift of time spent with loved ones.
From our family to yours, may your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and lasting memories.
Drs. Bunkis and Ekstrom with Mama Bunkis, celebrating her 99th Christmas.
Salisbury Plastic Surgery Christmas Dinner
(Dr. Ekstrom with her staff minus aesthetician, Sonia who could not join us.)
The Timeless Appeal of Chin Augmentation
By Drs. Juris Bunkis and Deborah Ekstrom
Chin augmentation has become a cornerstone of our facial aesthetic practice, offering transformative results with precision and simplicity. At Orange County Plastic Surgery, this procedure is among the most commonly performed, owing to its versatility and profound impact on facial balance. While modern silicone chin implants are the go-to choice today, the procedure has a storied past and has evolved significantly over time.
A Brief History of Chin Augmentation
Chin enhancement has roots in antiquity, but the modern era began in the mid-20th century with the introduction of synthetic implants. Early materials, such as Teflon and Dacron, had limitations in biocompatibility and ease of use. Silicone implants, introduced in the 1960s, revolutionized the field. These implants are now favored for their safety, malleability, and natural feel. Compared to the more invasive sliding genioplasty, silicone implants are simpler, less risky, and provide reliably excellent outcomes for the right candidates.
Four Categories of Chin Augmentation
Chin augmentation is rarely a one-size-fits-all procedure. Here are the four primary scenarios in which we perform this enhancement, along with the benefits each offers:
1. Isolated Chin Augmentation for Microgenia
Scenario: Patients with microgenia (an underdeveloped chin) often seek chin augmentation to correct this aesthetic concern.
Benefits:
- Restores facial harmony by bringing the chin into proportion with other features.
- Enhances confidence by addressing a prominent aesthetic concern.
- The procedure is quick (outpatient procedure, less than an hour of surgery time), minimally invasive, and offers immediate results.
Female in her 40’s, shown here before and after a chin augmentation procedure by Dr. Juris Bunkis.
2. Chin Augmentation with Neck Liposuction
Scenario: Patients with excess submental fat and a recessed chin can benefit from combining chin augmentation with neck liposuction.
Benefits:
- Defines the jawline, creating a sharp and attractive contour.
- Improves the neck-to-chin transition, reducing the appearance of a “double chin.”
- Balances the lower face, enhancing overall facial harmony.
48 year old female with a fatty neck and a weak chin, certainly a better candidate for a facelift – but knowing she would not get as much tightness as she would have with a facelift, she chose the simpler procedure of neck liposuction and insertion of a small chin implant to improve her profile. Shown here before and after a neck liposuction and chin augmentation by Dr. Bunkis.
3. Chin Augmentation with Rhinoplasty
Scenario: Patients seeking rhinoplasty often find that a recessed chin contributes to an imbalanced profile. Adding chin augmentation ensures proportionality.
Benefits:
- Creates a harmonious profile by balancing the chin and nose.
- Enhances the results of rhinoplasty, allowing for a more dramatic yet natural transformation.
- Prevents an overemphasis on the nose in patients with microgenia.
35 year old anesthesiologist with a small nasal dorsal hump, a wide nose and a weak chin. His only complaint was his nose but after Dr. Bunkis explained the advantage of adding a chin implant to balance his profile, he is shown here before and after a closed rhinoplasty and a chin augmentation by Dr. Juris Bunkis.
4. Chin Augmentation During Facelift Surgery
Scenario: In facelift patients with a weak chin, adding an implant can redefine the jawline and improve the overall aesthetic outcome.
Benefits:
- Enhances jawline definition, a key feature in a youthful and rejuvenated appearance.
- Complements the facelift by addressing structural deficiencies.
- Elevates the final profile, achieving a more complete and satisfying result.
Female in her 50’s with typical signs of aging and a weak chin, shown here before and six years after a facelift, blepharoplasty and insertion of a chin implant by Dr. Juris Bunkis.
Why Silicone Implants?
Silicone chin implants remain our preferred choice due to their proven track record of safety, durability, and ease of placement. They come in various shapes and sizes, allowing us to tailor the enhancement to each patient’s unique anatomy and goals. Unlike sliding genioplasty, which involves cutting and repositioning the jawbone, chin augmentation with implants is a straightforward procedure with minimal downtime and predictable outcomes.
At Orange County Plastic Surgery, we are committed to using our decades of experience to deliver personalized and transformative results. Chin augmentation, whether performed alone or in combination with other procedures, continues to be a game-changer for our patients.
If you’re considering chin augmentation or have questions about your options, we’re here to guide you through the process.
We want you to feel as good as you look. We are currently offering free bioidentical hormone pelleting at the time of each facial rejuvenation patient – to allow patients to feel as good as they look after surgery!
If you want to see if you can have any part of your body improved, contact us for a consultation:
For CA, please call 949-888-9700 or visit www.orangecountyplasticsurgery.com
Or for MA location, call 508-755-4825 or visit www.salisburyps.com
