Cheek Implants for Facial Enhancement
In the pursuit of a more balanced and shapely facial appearance, the cheek is an often overlooked facial feature. Even though strong or ‘high cheekbones’ is frequently commented on as desireable, the cheek is not as visible as that of its more protruding cousins, the nose and the chin. The cheek area is more subtle but an integral facial element that must be in balance with the nose, chin, and overall facial shape. With the cheek bones are diminished, the face will have a flatter appearance which may make the nose look bigger than what it is. In the aging face, the cheek tissues are more probe to sag off of smaller cheek bones, creating bags below the cheeks and deepening of the lip-cheek groove. It is extremely rare to have cheekbones that are too big in Caucasians. I have done cheek bone reductions only in Asians, where this is more of a cosmetic problem.
In my practice here in Indianapolis, I discuss cheek bone enhancement through the use of implants. There are no practical bone-moving procedures for cosmetic purposes for the cheek area, so implants are always used. While cheek implants are available in different materials, I prefer the use of solid silicone (rubber) cheek implants, which are by far the most commonly used. They are soft, flexible, and slide easily into place along the upper jaw and cheek bones. A cheek implant is inserted through a small incision hidden underneath the upper lip. This leaves no visible scar. Usually the cheek implant is sutured into place, however, I sometimes use a metal screw to secure the implant to the bone. This screw fixation method can eliminate one of the very few complications of cheek implants, that of shifting position after surgery causing cheek asymmetry and loss of the desired cheek projection.While any implant (foreign-body) has some risk of infection, cheek implant infections are quite uncommon.
Enhancing the cheek with an implant is not as commonly performed as that of a chin implant. The goal of a cheek implant is to provide a subtle fullness to the cheekbone area. The key to cheek augmentation is not to overdo it. It is not a facial feature in which a dramatic enhancement usually results in a better aesthetic change. There are several different styles of cheek implants today. The most basic differences in cheek implants styles are whether they are malar or submalar-type designs. Submalar (below the cheek or on its lower edge) cheek implants add fullness to the buccal area which lies below the cheekbone. This style of cheek implant is good in the aging face (where it can pick up sagging cheek soft tissues) or in the face with too much hollowing in the buccal area. The different sizes and styles of cheek implants makes it possible to make a subtle or a dramatic facial change, dependent upon the patient’s cosmetic needs.
Cheek implants are commonly in conjunction with other facial procedures including rhinoplasty, facelifts, and chin augmentation.
Dr Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indianapolis