Cheek

Having full cheeks is considered as a youthful, attractive look. The appearance of weak cheeks can make the face look gaunt and aged. In order to help reduce the gaunt and aged look, people look to cheek augmentation in order to help restore the fullness of their cheeks.

Those who are good candidates for cheek augmentation surgery are those who have lost volume in the malar region of their face or they were born with weak cheeks and desire a fuller, more youthful appearance. Patients who wish to have cheek augmentation should be good in health and have a strong immune system

What can I expect with Cheek Augmentation Surgery?

Cheek augmentation surgery can be performed by itself or in conjunction with other surgical procedures such as a rhinoplasty or face-lift. Prior to your surgery, the plastic surgeon and patient will go over multiple shapes and sizes of implants that are available to fit your particular facial anatomy and desired change. The implants can be placed through the mouth with a small incision located at the gum line, or through a lower eyelid incision if eyelid rejuvenation is being performed at the same time. This is dependent on what shape and size the implant is. The implants used for cheek augmentation can be made out of solid silicone or other non-reactive materials.
Once in surgery, a pocket is made for the implant directly over the cheekbone, and the implant is placed inside of the pocket or incision made. The implant is then secured by the well fitting pocket itself or it can be affixed with soft tissue or bone. Once that is complete, the incision is closed, completing the cheek augmentation. The entire procedure takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete.

What are the benefits of Cheek Augmentation?

There are many benefits to having cheek augmentation surgery. It is a permanent way to achieve fuller looking cheeks as opposed to using temporary fillers. This will make your facial features appear tighter, fuller, and more youthful. It can also be performed easily in conjunction with other cosmetic facial surgeries such as rhinoplasty, face-lift, eyelid surgery, etc. Another benefit of having cheek augmentation is that there are different ways in which the plastic surgeon can place the implant, using the intra-oral or eyelid approach.

What are some risks or side effects with Cheek Augmentation surgery?

Below are some risks that are associated with having cheek augmentation surgery.

• There is the possibility that the implants can shift, especially in the early stages after surgery. Patients must allow themselves to fully heal before doing any sort of contact sports of activity that may involve possible trauma to the face.
• Sensation to the cheek may be temporarily or permanently changed by the implants.
• If the patient does the eyelid approach for surgery, retraction of the lower eyelid is possible. This can cause a dry eye sensation.
• Cheek implants can also become infected. If this does happen, removal may be necessary in order to clear the infection.
• The patient may also experience pain. Patients may feel a little “tightness” in the facial area that is associated with the increased volume from the cheek implant.
• Slight scarring may occur if the eyelid approach is done. The scar is very minimal and would be located under the eyelash margin.

How is the Recovery Process?

The recovery process varies from patient to patient and it also depends on the type of surgical approach utilized and if other procedures are performed at the same time. With that said, majority of patients go back to being active the day of surgery. Patients may experience that their upper lip may be a bit numb or feel as if it is “asleep” due to the anesthesia used. This sensation is similar to that of when you go to the dentist. Your cheeks may also feel mildly sore and swollen from the surgical procedure.

In order to help with the pain, the plastic surgeon will usually prescribe antibiotics and pain medication. It is important for patients to keep their head elevated as much as possible during the recovery process. This will help reduce the amount of swelling. If the intra-oral approach was used, patients may be asked to restrict themselves to a soft food diet for a few days after the surgery until the gums in the mouth have healed.

If the eyelid approach was done, the plastic surgeon will instruct you on how to rest your eyes, and utilize lubricants to prevent dryness during the post-surgery swelling phase. During follow-up visits, skin sutures will be removed.