Is Cheek Implant Safe? When you want your cheekbones to stand out yet still look natural and youthful, cheek implants are a great option. Some choose to have their cheeks augmented because they have lost volume in their cheeks owing to weight loss or muscle atrophy. Congenital abnormalities like hemifacial microsomia, in which one side of the face is underdeveloped, can also be corrected by cheek implants.
Complications from cheek implants are uncommon, although they do occur. Anesthesia-related complications are a rare but possible complication of the cheek implant treatment. Tobacco, antidepressants, and other drug use are linked to anesthetic problems.
Cheek implants is a term used to refer to cheek augmentation or fat grafting or Slim sculpting or Face lift . These implants are soft shell like structure injected under the skin of both cheeks directly. Cheek implant is thought to give a slender, soft and round contour on your face. Read on to learn more on cheek implant material and cheek implant recovery.
Is Cheek Implant Safe
If you’re interested in having cheek augmentation done to enhance your appearance, know that the results can be quite effective under the right conditions, and with a professional, board-certified plastic surgeon performing the procedure. Keep reading to learn more about the options you may have for a cheek augmentation treatment, and how these innovative rejuvenation techniques can work to make you look younger and more attractive than ever.
As we age, our cheeks and the soft tissues and bones that lay underneath them can lose volume and start to sag downward. This “wilting” effect is widely considered to be one of the most dramatic signs of aging and can be more influential in how young or old we look than we previously thought. Scientists have discovered that when it comes to our cheeks, beauty isn’t skin deep. While gravity does tend to pull the skin downward, when it comes to early signs of aging, two factors are much more influential to the process than the skin itself.
The first factor is the loss of the soft tissue located in pockets underneath the skin. As these fatty compartments break down over time, the loss of the tissue in these areas contributes to the sunken-in, collapsed-look that we get as we age. The second factor is a result of naturally low cheekbones, which can make a young person look older than they are. Cheek augmentation surgeries are designed to address these issues in one of three ways: with a transfer of fat cells, fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane® restore soft tissue to the cheeks, or by adding volume with a cheek implant.
If you’re interested in a simple procedure that can dramatically reshape the lines of your face for a more youthful appearance, cheek augmentation surgeries are worth looking into. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the different techniques, benefits, and downsides of cheek augmentation, to help you decide whether the process is right for your beauty goals.
Who is a Good Candidate for Cheek Augmentation Surgery?
The ideal candidate for all types of cheek augmentation procedures has poorly defined, hollow or sagging cheeks, as a result of the loss of cheek tissue due to genetics. It is also an option for patients with loss of tissue in the cheekbone area due to trauma or congenital deformities. In general, cheek augmentation procedures can offer very favorable results for individuals that are unsatisfied with their facial contour and would benefit from fuller cheeks and cheekbones.
For all procedures, patients taking blood thinners or anti-inflammatory medications should be sure to speak with their doctor for advice. In many cases, these medications can cause complications during cheek augmentation procedures, and patients will be advised to cease taking them before and after the procedure is completed.
Beyond these points, good candidates for each procedure are as follows:
Fat Transfers: For fat transfers, the ideal candidate has a good supply of fat cells that can be easily and safely harvested for the transfer. Additionally, good candidates are not too thin and do not have coagulation or lipid metabolism disorders, severe chronic disease states, or acute infections.
Dermal Fillers: Good candidates for cheek augmentation with dermal fillers are those seeking the same goals as they might achieve with a fat transfer but prefer the idea of a less-invasive treatment. These candidates will also be aware of the possibility of shorter-lasting results than with other options. This procedure is not recommended for patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have sinus infections.
Implants: The best candidates for cheek implant procedures are those seeking a permanent solution to enhance their mid-facial area. They’ll also have healthy skin that’s not too thin, for the implants to look more natural.
Cheek Implant Material
Cheek implants can be made of a variety of materials. The most common material is solid silicone. In addition, two popular options are high-density porous polyethylene, marketed as Medpor, and ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene), better known as Gore-Tex.
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. Rarely, various cuts to the zygomatic bone (cheekbone) may be performed. Cheek augmentation is commonly combined with other procedures, such as a face lift or chin augmentation.[1]
Implants
Cheek implants can be made of a variety of materials. The most common material is solid silicone. In addition, two popular options are high-density porous polyethylene, marketed as Medpor, and ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene), better known as Gore-Tex. Both Medpor and ePTFE are inert substances, providing better integration with the underlying tissue and bone than solid silicone. However, in the case of Medpor, the implants’ integration and ingrowth with the underlying tissue causes difficulty removing the implant if revisions are needed.
Shapes
There are three general shapes to cheek implants: malar, submalar, or combined. Malar implants, the most common shape, are placed directly on the cheekbones. The result is more projection to the cheekbones, providing a “higher” contour to the side of the face. In contrast, submalar implants are not placed on the cheekbones. They are intended to augment the midface, especially if the person has a gaunt or “sunken” appearance to this area. Combined implants or malar/submalar combination, are an extended implant intended to augment both the midface and the cheekbones.
Incisions
A surgeon will usually make an incision in the upper mouth near the top of the gum line and slide the implants into place. Another method is to make an external incision near the eye, but most patients do not choose this method since it can create a visible scar. However, the intraoral (inside the mouth) approach carries a higher risk of infection since the mouth contains more bacteria. Cheek implant surgery is usually performed under sedation or general anesthesia and take about one to two hours. Recovery from this surgery usually takes about ten days
As different in technique as these procedures may be, each of them seeks to accomplish the same goal: to add volume and contour to cheeks that are poorly defined. Individuals with weak cheek structure, a narrow or flat face, or who have lost cheek contour due to the effects of age can benefit from the aesthetic enhancement that cheek augmentation can provide.
In soft tissue transfer for augmentation, the fat is grafted for cheek augmentation to remedy narrow cheeks or cheekbones. The process is sometimes performed as a secondary procedure after full liposuction, or as a primary procedure with small liposuction done before cheek injections. Because the injection is filled with the patient’s fatty tissue, the result is thought to look more natural and comes with less of a risk of an allergic reaction or complications. While the results are not permanent, they’re likely to last much longer than one might expect from dermal filler treatment.
While not permanent and the shortest lasting, dermal fillers are still a very effective treatment used to plump up wrinkles, deep lines around the eyes and mouth, and also the cheek areas in an augmentation treatment. In cheek augmentation, dermal fillers like Restylane® and Radiesse® are injected into the mid-facial area through very small injections just under the line of the cheekbones, to add volume to the skin and inflate sunken areas of the cheeks. This process is quick and easy, though the careful precision and expertise of your doctor are vital to the success of the outcome.
Cheek augmentation with implant surgery can expect to gain significant volume and definition to sunken or hollow cheeks. This surgery is ideal for patients that have lost soft tissue in their mid-facial area due to age, as well as those with naturally narrow cheek structures or congenital deformities. It can also help patients that have suffered injuries to their mid-facial area to regain a more natural look after trauma. One of the primary benefits of this type of treatment is that unlike the other two options, the implants are permanent and results will last a lifetime.
Cheek Implant Recovery
After about six weeks, most swelling goes down and people can start to see results. The doctor may recommend avoiding rigorous activity for the first few weeks after surgery, but most people can resume normal activities after about 10 days.
The process you’ll follow to prepare for a cheek augmentation procedure will depend on the type of procedure you’re having. Your doctor will let you know what steps you can take to be ready for the day of your procedure, which will probably include the following recommendations:
Following your cheek augmentation surgery, gauze dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions. An elastic bandage or compression garment may minimize swelling and support the cheeks as they heal following surgery. Alternatively, you may not have any dressings or bandages. If you have cheek implants placed through an incision inside your mouth, you may be placed on a liquid diet and/or given special mouth rinses.
You will be given specific instructions that may include:
- How to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery
- Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection
- Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
- When to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period:
- Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
- What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
- Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
- When can I bathe or shower?
- When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
- When do I return for follow-up care?
- Do I need to be on a specific diet after surgery.
Fat Transfer: To prepare for cheek augmentation via fat transfer, you should stop smoking at least four weeks before surgery, and continue with your smoking cessation plan for at least four weeks afterward. Patients will also be advised to avoid any anti-inflammatory drugs or those containing aspirin for two weeks beforehand, and to refrain from drinking alcohol or taking ephedrines or asthma medications at least two days before surgery. Do not take thyroid medications on the day of your surgery, and refrain from consuming caffeinated products starting the night before your procedure. To facilitate a successful procedure and recovery, your doctor may also prescribe daily supplements of Arnica and Vitamin C for as long as 14 days before and after surgery.
Fillers: Before cheek augmentation with fillers, patients are advised to avoid blood-thinning medications and anti-inflammatory drugs for two weeks pre-procedure. This includes avoiding popular over-the-counter pain relief medicines, vitamin supplements, and other products including Aspirin®, Vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, St. John’s Wort, omega 3/fish oil supplements, Ibuprofen, Motrin®, Advil®, Aleve®, and other NSAIDs. Alcohol is to be avoided for at least 24 hours before the procedure, and the appointment should be canceled if acne or cold sore breakouts or rashes develop on the area to be treated. Patients will also be advised to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before arriving at their appointment to avoid feeling nauseous or light-headed during the procedure.
Implants: To prepare for cheek augmentation with implants, stop smoking four weeks before surgery to decrease any facial scarring that can be worsened due to the effects of tobacco smoking. Also, for two weeks before the procedure, avoid all aspirin, anti-inflammatory, and herbal medications. In addition to avoiding medication that causes blood-thinning, alcohol should be avoided for two days, while eating and drinking should not take place for six hours before surgery.