Explore Plastic Surgery

People with a narrow-appearing face have often a deficiency in the width of where the upper jaw and cheek meet, known as the cheek or malar complex. The most common and simple method to improve the amount of cheek that one has is to place a cheek implant. There are some patients who do not want a synthetic implant in their face and may ask if there are any other ways to have ‘more cheek’.

There is one bone-moving alternative. Like the reverse of the bone cut used to make the cheek area more narrower, the cheek can similarly be made wider. Rather than removing a wedge of bone when the cheek cut is made, a single cut is made and the cheek complex pushed out. Because moving the cheek bone out creates a bone gap, the separated edges of bone need to be held apart with a small plate and screws. It is thought best to fill this bone gap with some material but a bone graft is unappealing for a cosmetic procedure. Filling this gap with synthetic bone particles or blocks is one option. I actually prefer not to fill this bone gap at all with the exception of the very top area which can be felt on the outside of the face by the eye. A small piece of ceramic bone substitute can be wedged up high near the top of the bone gap. The rest of the bone gap will fill in and heal over time on its own.

The use of this cheek expansion technique is for a very small number of patients. Cheek expansion builds out the side of the cheek but will not bring it forward or add forward projection, which many patients need more than they do width. Having adequate cheek projection but with a narrow face is a very rare cosmetic problem. Furthermore, there are fewer still that want to go through an operation to correct it. For this reason, cheek bone expansion is an operation of more theoretical than practical significance.

Dr. Barry Eppley

http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

http://www.ologyspa.com

Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana

Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana

Indianapolis

When one thinks of facial aging, they inevitably look to the jowl and neck area.While this lower facial area is of big concern to many and is the foundation of facial rejuvenation surgery (usually through a facelift-type procedure), the underlooked area is the midface or cheek. As one ages, the cheek area sinks in and sags for many as it loses volume through fat atrophy. This is partly why a heavy person with a full face may still look somewhat youthful as they age. (known as the Santa Claus effect) A gaunter, thinner face, while interesting when one is young, can really show age when one is older.

Adding volume to the cheek has been recently shown to to help make a more youthful face. Based on cadaver work by Dr. Joel Pessa at the University of Texas at Southwestern, a deep fat compartment was identified in the cheek. When this fat compartment was enhanced through implants or fillers, there was an immediate improvement in the hollowing of the face. Not only does restoring volume to this cheek compartment make the cheek/midface area more youthful, it also helps improves the look under the eyes as well as around the nose and upper lip area.

The jury is still out, however, on the best method to do this cheek volume addition. Fat injections would be the simplest and the most versatile, but fat survival remains unpredictable particularly in the older patient. I currently add PRP (platelet-rich plasma extract from the patient) to the injections and isolate the fat through a unique centrifguation method. Early results are encouraging but only one year results count when it comes to fat grafting. Cheek implants are simple to do, remain stable in volume over time, and come in a few styles to add volume to some different areas around the cheek. Unfortunately, the more lateral cheek area, which is not over bone is not affected by the introduction of an implant. And there is always the risk of infection or malpositioning. Injectable fillers are as versatile as fat injections and don’t involve an operating room experience. But their effects are only temporary and, when adding up the cost per volume injected, can potentially rival surgery fees if a large cheek area needs to be treated.
Not every aging face patient needs cheek enhancement nor is it the mainstay treatment of most aging faces. But it can be a good complement to more conventional facelifting procedures and is a ‘missing component’ of some patient’s treatment plans whether they are young or old.
Dr. Barry Eppley
http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com
http://www.ologyspa.com
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis