Cheek Augmentation
What Is Cheek Augmentation?
Cheek augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure that is intended to emphasize the cheeks on a person’s face. To augment the cheeks, a plastic surgeon may place a solid implant over the cheekbone. Injections with the patients’ own fat or a soft tissue filler, like Restylane, are also popular. Cheek augmentation is commonly combined with other procedures, such as a face lift or chin augmentation.[1]
The goal of cheek augmentation is to add volume or lift to the cheeks. Some people are bothered by their cheeks losing volume, or even sagging, with age. Others never develop the desired volume in their cheeks and are bothered by cheeks that may be considered flat or thin.
What Are The Cheek Augmentation Options?
Valid surgical options for augmenting and enhancing the cheeks are fat grafting/transfer (where a patient’s own fat is used) or the use of solid cheek implants. A nonsurgical option is the use of injectable fillers to enhance the cheeks, which is covered on the dermal fillers page.
Who Are Good Candidates For Cheek Augmentation?
The facial changes that occur with aging can be described as volume loss, downward migration and shrinkage, or atrophy, of the fat pads in our cheeks that create the plump “apples” of our cheeks. The loss of cheek volume is usually also accompanied with the development of thin and dry skin due to loss of elasticity and the highly organizational pattern of collagen and elastic fibers. This creates dark discolorations and unsightly folds under the eyes, often referred to as “eye bags”.
The aforementioned changes create saggy and deflated skin. The side profile of the face also flattens due to decreased projection of the cheeks. If you are experiencing these changes and would like to intervene, a cheek augmentation procedure may be right for you.
Young individuals may also benefit from a cheek augmentation procedure. This can be performed to improve symmetry, correct congenital or acquired deformities, or enhance facial beauty.
Increased anterior cheek projection is associated with beauty and youth. Interestingly, the fat pads in this region, the anterior malar fat pads, are estrogen responsive and increase in volume in the presence of increased estrogen concentrations.
What Are the Different Cheek Augmentation Procedures?
- Injection Fillers: Temporary fillers such as hyaluronic acid-based fillers can be used. Permanent fillers such as autologous fat may also be used as filler material.
- Cheek Implants: Implants are typically composed of synthetic materials such as silicone or gore-tex. Your plastic surgeon will customize a treatment plan depending on your aesthetic goals and existing facial anatomy.
What Are The Possible Risks With A Cheek Augmentation?
Possible complications associated with cheek augmentation may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- As with any operation, an infection can occur. If this happens, the patient is given antibiotics to clear up the infection. If the infection does not resolve, then the implant may have to be temporarily removed and replaced at a later time.
- A facial implant could move slightly out of alignment, with a second operation becoming necessary to reposition it in its proper place.
How Is Cheek Implant Surgery Performed?
Cheek implants are usually placed through an incision inside the mouth, so there’s no visible scar. Usually cheek implants are placed directly over the maxillary bone and are located completely under all of the soft tissues in the face, so the face just continues to age naturally. Properly sized and placed cheek implants look natural and imperceptible—even as you age.
An incision (cut) is made either inside your upper lip or through your lower eyelid. A pocket is formed and the implant is inserted. The implant is held in place by the cheek muscles, stitches or metal screws.
When cheek implants are being placed as part of another cosmetic procedure (such as a facelift, forehead lift or eyelid surgery), the implants may be inserted through the incisions made for those procedures.
The procedure can be combined with other types of cosmetic procedures, including a facelift, rhinoplasty (nose job), brow lift, chin implant, or eyelid surgery, for complete facial rejuvenation.
Stitches are used to close the incisions inside your mouth – these usually dissolve within about 10 days.
Cheek implant surgery is a quick outpatient procedure usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
What Is The Recovery Period For Cheek Implant Surgery?
Swelling is expected and worst 72 hours after the surgery. Cold compress for the first 72 hours followed by warm compresses for the next 1.5 weeks. Degree of swelling becomes socially acceptable 1.5-2 weeks later.
The swelling may take a few weeks to reduce. You may not be able to see your new look for some months after the surgery. The effects should be subtle, but noticeable.
Implant results will be semi-permanent if human tissue is used because the tissue will age. The result will be permanent if synthetic implants such as silicone or polythene are used.