CHEEK AUGMENTATION

Full cheeks and prominent cheekbones allow you to look younger and more appealing.  When your cheeks are hollow, your face may look older than it is, especially around the under-eye area. Whether you have never really had full cheeks, or you’ve simply lost fullness with age, cheek implants can help give you the look you want.  Cheek implantation — also known as malar augmentation – can provide your face with contour, essentially changing it’s proportions to look more pleasing.

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR CHEEK IMPLANTS?

With age, you may lose fullness in your face, especially in the cheek area.  If this has happened to you, you may be an ideal candidate for cheek augmentation.  However, cheek implant candidacy is not reserved for those who have lost this fullness.  Perhaps you have always had “weak” cheeks, with little fullness (hypoplasia of the malar bones).  You too may be an ideal candidate for augmentation.

CHEEK IMPLANT PROCEDURE

Cheek implant surgery can be performed as a single treatment, or in combination with other surgical procedures such as a Facelift, Eyelid Surgery or Rhinoplasty.  Sometimes individuals seek out Cheek Augmentation in conjunction with a Chin Implant to fill out their facial profile.  Dr. Skarparis will choose the right shape and size to best fit your anatomy and help you achieve your aesthetic goals. The implants may be composed of solid silicone or other biocompatible materials.  The surgery itself can be performed through a small incision inside the mouth.  A pocket is made for the implant, over the cheekbone, and the implant will be secured within the pocket.  In all, the surgery requires 30 to 45 minutes and is performed usually under local anesthesia with sedation.

CHEEK IMPLANT SURGERY RISKS

As with any surgery, potential risks accompany the Cheek Implant procedure.  Among them: Implants could shift.  To help minimize this possibility, Dr. Skarparis will advise you to avoid contact sports for a period of time, until healing is complete.  Infection may occur even is rare.

RECOVERING FROM CHEEK IMPLANT SURGERY

Recovering from Cheek Implant Surgery alone shouldn’t take too long at all. In fact, you should feel fine the day of the surgery.  You may have mild soreness in the cheek area and some swelling. The cheek area may feel tight due to the increased volume from the implant.  If the incision for your surgery was made in the mouth, your upper lip may feel a bit numb, as it does after having anesthetic at the dentist’s office.  Usually there is no pain or the pain is mild.  When is needed, pain medications typically are only required for a few days.  Also antibiotics are prescribed to prevent infection.  In general, returning to work and other normal activity can commence within a week.