Cheek Implants

What Are Cheek Implants?

Cheek implants (aka malar implants) are permanent additions to the underlying facial structure. Typically made of a solid, pliable silicone, cheek implants can be surgically placed into different areas of the cheek to restore volume or lift, changing the contours and appearance of the face.

Why Have Cheek Implant Surgery?

The ideal facial structure is all about balance and proportion and cheek implants can produce a dramatic improvement in your look by helping to balance your facial features.

Flat and sagging cheeks throw off the harmony of your face and can make you look older or more masculine. Higher, fuller cheeks can give your face a more youthful appearance, better proportion, and a more sculpted appearance.

People choose this type of cheek augmentation for a variety of reasons. Due to genetics, you may have never developed the desired volume in your cheeks, so your cheeks seem too flat. This can make your face appear thin, drawn, and long. For others, hollow cheeks can be one of the signs of aging, as soft tissue is lost and skin loosens.

Feminization And Cheek Augmentation Surgery?

Cheek augmentation is done to combat the effects of aging, as cheeks can lose volume and sag with age. It is also done as part of facial feminization surgery. Genetic females tend to have more soft tissue over their cheeks than genetic males. This gives them fuller, rounder cheeks and more of a heart-shaped face. When a woman smiles, the soft tissue over the cheek elevates to create the beautiful “apple of the cheek” and gives a very pleasing contour that adds sensuality to the eyes. Cheek augmentation can help achieve this effect.

What Are The Cons Of Having Cheek Implants?

Cheek implants are usually placed under general anesthesia, which—while very safe, when administered by a qualified anesthesiologist—does come with risks.  Visible bruising and swelling after surgery lasts about two weeks.

Cheek implants can be a challenge to place correctly, and if they’re malpositioned, asymmetry can be noticeable enough to require revision surgery.

Who’s A Good Candidate For Cheek Implants?

You may be a good candidate for cheek augmentation surgery if you feel that your cheeks are too flat, thin, or saggy, or if you are a genetic male seeking to feminize your face. As with any surgical procedure, patients who are physically healthy and don’t smoke make the best candidates.

Candidates for cheek implants typically have a naturally narrow or flat face, or have lost their natural cheek contour due to aging

How Long Do Cheek Implants Last?

Medpor implants are the most permanent type of cheek implant. Medpor is a stable material that does not degrade. It fuses to the bone to the point where it becomes almost like a part of your skeleton.

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.