Cheek Augmentation

Cheek Augmentation Basics

Full, round cheeks are a sign of youth. However, as people age, it's common for them to lose this fullness and to end up with flat or saggy cheeks. Cheek augmentation (also known as malar augmentation) is one way to help regain vibrant and rejuvenated cheeks.

Although it's not as well-known as face lift and nose surgery, there are still a number of people who get cheek augmentation. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 8,158 Americans underwent cheek augmentation in 2010.

During this surgery, implants are inserted into the cheeks. These may be made of silicone, like breast implants, or they might be made of other materials. Polyethylene is also a common material to construct cheek implants out of. After discussing your goals with you, your surgeon will help you to know what the best size of cheek implants would be for you. You want to pick implants that are big enough to make a difference in your appearance, but not so large that they appear unnatural.

During the surgery, an incision will be made so that the implants can be inserted. In some surgeries, this incision is made in the lower eyelid, and then the implant is slid in from above. This method is especially common if cheek augmentation is being combined with a surgery which targets the eyelids.

The implants can also be inserted orally. If this is the case, the surgeon will make an incision toward the back of your mouth, where your cheeks and gums meet. Then, the implant will be maneuvered into place through this incision. In some cases, the incision can also be made at the hairline.

Once the incision is made, the surgeon will make a "pocket" of tissue to hold the implant above the cheekbone. The implant will be inserted into this pocket, and it will be secured there. Once the implant has been attached to the bone and surrounding soft tissue, the surgeon will suture the incisions closed.

All in all, cheek augmentation is a pretty short procedure. It typically only requires between thirty minutes and two hours to perform. This surgery can be performed under local anesthesia with twilight sedation, although it is sometimes performed under general anesthesia. The procedure is an outpatient procedure, so an overnight stay at a hospital will typically not be necessary. The entire procedure typically costs somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000.

Cheek augmentation patients typically need to take a week or two off work. Depending on which method of insertion was used, sutures may or may not need to be removed. If the incision was placed at the back of the mouth, the sutures will simply dissolve of their own accord. However, if the implant was inserted through the lower eyelid, the sutures will need to be removed about four or five days after the surgery. Sutures at the hairline are typically removed about a week and a half after the procedure.

Some amount of pain and swelling is natural after a cheek augmentation. It is also possible for there to be bruising, numbness, difficulty chewing, and excessive skin tightness. The skin tightness will go down over time as the skin stretches to accommodate the implants. The difficulty chewing should also disappear. Numbness may disappear, but in some cases it is permanent, depending on how seriously the facial nerves were damaged. Bruising typically goes away after a couple of weeks, and the swelling will gradually disappear over the first month or two after the surgery.

Cheek augmentation is typically permanent. However, if the implant is misplaced, or if it shifts after the surgery, you could end up with an asymmetrical or unappealing appearance which could necessitate further surgery.

Cheek implants do not typically qualify for coverage by insurance providers. However, your insurance provider may be willing to make an exception if you are getting the implants as a part of reconstructive surgery following illness or a traumatic injury.