The recovery process for cheek enhancement is relatively short. As mentioned, we typically use what is known as a bolster dressing, which is a small cotton pad that attaches through the skin to hold the implant in place for about 3 to 5 days. This small dressing is removed in the office. During that time, it is obvious that you will not be ready for social interaction with your friends and peers. Thereafter, there is still some degree of cheek swelling but the deforming look of that swelling generally subsides after the first week. Although a mild degree of swelling may persist for several weeks, any noticeable swelling usually has mostly dissipated by the end of the first week or toward the middle of the second week. Sutures that are used to close inside the mouth are entirely dissolvable and therefore do not require removal.

Yes, there are two principal alternative methods for cheek augmentation that were introduced in a previous question. For the aging cheek, as explained, we much prefer facial fat contouring to achieve the most natural, permanent, and balanced look (see Facial Rejuvenation FAQs for more information) . For those individuals who would like to try on how a cheek implant would look like or who simply are adverse to have surgery performed, office-based cheek enhancement with an injectable filler can be undertaken both in the younger and more mature individual. The recovery time for such augmentation is very short with typically very little to no bruising and swelling. This method is also ideal for someone who has very little downtime or must look good in a relatively short time, e.g., for an upcoming wedding or social/professional event.

we use exclusively an intraoral method for cheek augmentation, i.e., all incisions are undertaken from inside the mouth. This technique minimizes the recovery process and also eliminates any external skin incisions. The process is undertaken usually under general anesthesia for patient comfort. The procedure itself is relatively short, taking usually less than one hour to complete. we use a small bolster dressing in which the implant is secured through the skin to minimize the chance that the implant will rotate or shift during the healing process. The bolster is removed 3 to 5 days following the procedure. Typically, no other external dressing is required.

Cheek augmentation can enhance overall facial balance and harmony. In younger patients, cheek augmentation can help create a more beautiful shape to the face and also make the nose appear more attractive in certain circumstances by establishing improved facial harmony. During the consultation process, we will discuss with you options for cheek enhancement with the use of plastic sizers to help determine what degree of cheek enhancement you are seeking. In young individuals who simply lack good bone structure to the cheek, we believe that cheek enhancement with cheek implants is an ideal way to achieve an improved facial contour. However, with aging, there is a loss of volume throughout the entire face including around the eyes, the cheeks, below the cheeks, and the chin. This facial volume loss that occurs with aging can even occur at the same time as weight gain that is also part of the aging process. Accordingly, we believe that fat grafting is the most important way to achieve global facial balance in the aging face. In fact, a cheek implant in an older individual without fat grafting poses three problems. First, it simply does not provide the level of rejuvenation that fat grafting (see Facial Rejuvenation FAQs) can afford for the aging individual. Also, remember that aging can even begin as early as the mid to late 30′s. The second problem with an isolated cheek implant is that the hollowing around the eyes that occurs can actually be worsened with a cheek implant. Finally, in a very thin person, the cheek implant can actually be visible through the skin. Accordingly, in the very gaunt, or athletic person who lacks sufficient fat for grafting, we prefer to use the implant as a foundation and then to tailor fat grafting over and around the implant. In the very thin person, a cheek implant and/or fat grafting may not be possible and dermal fillers may be the best option instead (see the answer below and the Dermal Fillers FAQ section).

There are many types of implants that are available for cheek augmentation . we use a specialized type of silicone implant style that is very soft and pliable and molds gently to the facial bones so that it is virtually undetectable to touch and to sight.