Whether or not we notice it consciously, full cheeks are often a part of how we judge a person’s face. Cheek implants can have a major impact on the appearance and self-confidence of patients whose cheeks have thinned or sunken due to age, illness or other causes.
There are many options for aesthetic cheek surgery, depending on your particular appearance, and the look you wish to attain. Cheek implants add volume to areas which may be recessed or enhancing the foundation of your mid-face. The precise type and size of implants best suited for you requires an evaluation of your goals and the features you wish to correct. The specific area to be augmented in the cheek determines where an implant will be positioned on the cheekbone. Cheek implants are most often placed through incisions in the mouth. When performed with other procedures, alternate incisions may be recommended including placement through an incision inside the lower eyelid or one within the hairline. The cheek implants can be made of solid silicone or ePTFE coated implants. The implant is secured either by designing a well-fitting pocket, or affixing it to soft tissue or bone. Most patients will feel comfortable to return to work after one week, but can still experience swelling, discomfort and bruising for several weeks after the surgery.
A similar effect can be achieved with soft tissue fillers, and these can be used as a temporary way to see if you would be happy with cheek implants. A midface-lift may be the procedure of choice for middle-aged patients who previously were happy with their midface appearance, but have noted a drop of the cheek rather than loss of volume. With more advanced facial aging, there can be a combination of factors yielding the aging appearance, including bone resorption, loss of skin elasticity, and loss of volume with fat atrophy. The cheek region may appear deflated and jowling can be present along the jawline. In these cases, aesthetic cheek surgery combined with a facelift procedure may yield the ideal result in such cases.
