Cheek Implants - Florida Plastic Surgery by ASI

Cheek implants (known to plastic surgeons as submalar and malar augmentation) is the surgical use of sterile synthetics or biological implants to bring the cheek into better balance with your other facial features. It is very common to have cheek implants when a nose job (rhinoplasty) is being done. The outcome should be a balanced relationship between the structures of the face and may bolster your self-esteem because you look better.

With the increasing popularity of plastic surgery procedures, including cheek implants, it is important prospective patients research and understand different issues like what the procedure can and cannot treat, inherited risks, costs and other factors. Keep in mind cosmetic surgery is just that – a surgical procedure whose results cannot simply be erased. While the information contained in this website will provide you with a good introduction to cheek implants, when considering this or other cosmetic procedure, we recommend that you consult a qualified provider with significant experience. Some important elements you should understand regarding cheek implants include the following:

Who would best represent an Ideal Candidate for Cheek Implants?

The first requirement is good physical and mental health, without any active diseases or any other pre-existing medical conditions. Many women want to reposition sagging skin upward and outward to fill hollows and depressions. People who most commonly have cheek implants have underdeveloped cheek bone structure or have lost soft tissue and the natural padding of healthy fat – due to normal aging – that normally occurs in the face. When the tissues and fat dissipate, the skin sags and appears flattened or sunk and may cause folds and wrinkles around the mouth. Many physicians liken the implant to scaffolding because it holds up the collapsed tissues. Your plastic surgeon needs to take your medical history and wants to know if you’ve had cosmetic procedures or dental problems in the past.

How are Cheek Implants Performed?

The plastic surgeon makes a small incision near where the implant will be placed. The incision is made either in the crease under your lower eyelashes or inside the mouth where your gums and lips meet. Then, the surgeon creates a pocket in the facial tissue. The implant is inserted and sometimes stitched to more solid internal facial features that lie deeper in the skull. Then, the incision is closed, often with one stitched. The procedure usually takes 45 minutes to an hour and a half. It is commonly performed alone or in combination with forehead, eyelid, facelift, nasal or chin surgery. Sometimes, cheek implants are designed for reconstructive or rejuvenation. When the most common implant, silicone rubber, is used, supportive tissue eventually forms around the implant after a few weeks. Once fully healed, the implant feels like your normal underlying bone structure.
 

How Much Pain is Associated with Cheek Implants?

As with any surgery, you can expect some swelling, mild bruising and minimal pain. Usually, your doctor gives you prescription medications to control any discomfort. Typical cheek implant procedures create some numb areas around the cheeks and mouth but they rarely last long. Most patients have mild to moderate discomfort for one to two days. Your surgeon will want you to avoid strenuous activity and rough contact in or near the area of the implant for at least four to weeks. Patients with gum or dental problems should consult with their dentist and ask if the incision through the mouth will cause any complications. It may be normal to experience temporary difficulty smiling and talking after the operation. You can usually return to work and other normal activities within a week. The operation is usually performed in the plastic surgeon’s office or in an outpatient surgical center. We have an office in Boca Raton, Florida - and also provide this procedure to patients in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach.

What are The Long-Term Effects of Cheek Implants?

You can expect to see the refined, contoured results of the implants gradually emerging after four to six weeks, post operatively. Cheek implants usually adds aesthetically pleasing contours to your face while the results are permanent.

What Are the Risks and Limitations of Cheek Implants?

Chewing is limited immediately following surgery while a soft food diet is required for several days. The recovering patient should avoid any rough contact, blows or pressure to the cheek or strenuous activity.

You should also have someone else drive you home on the day of the procedure. If you live alone, you should have somebody stay with you at least the first night once you’re home. Make sure to wear a loose blouse or shirt that does not have to be pulled over your face. If you are a smoker, your surgeon may ask you to quit smoking for a time before and after the surgery. Be sure to ask your surgeon if you may eat or drink the night before the plastic surgery.

As with any other surgical procedure, infection may occur. If an infection persists, the implant may have to be moved and replaced later on. Shifting of the implant is another possibility. Should the implant become slightly misaligned, a second procedure may be necessary to reposition it.

Conact our Florida plastic surgeons for more information or a personalized consulation today.