Cheek Implants
Prominent and high cheekbones create a refined, polished look. When cheeks lie flat the mid-section of the face can appear plump, even when you are average weight. A cheek implant lifts the mid face and catches light. Also referred to as malar implants, cheek implants are everlasting. Removal by surgery is possible, but the implants themselves are designed to last a lifetime.
When Would Someone Consider A Cheek Implant?
- Cheeks are asymmetrical
- Cheek area of the face is not well developed
- One or both cheeks are malformed due to a health condition or congenital defect
- The face has lost volume as part of the normal aging process
- Weight loss which affects the face
- Accidents resulting in bone structure changes
There are two main indications for considering cheek implants. The initial is having relatively flat cheeks. This is usually a racial or genetic appearance that is often thought to be less attractive than having high cheekbones. The procedure is usually sort after by younger people in their twenties to forties. The sub malar implant is very similar to the cheek implant but it is slightly lower, below the actual height of the cheekbone into the hollow that develops as the face ages and loses volume.
Aging Factors:
Sunlight – which damages the quality of your skin
Folding of your skin – which then produces creases in the skin
Gravity – which makes things droop down such as jowls and
Volume loss – such as developing hollow cheeks.
What Are The Options For Improving This Area?
Injectable materials are one option. There is a choice of both temporary and long lasting injections that are suitable for use in this area. Both of these options tend to work out more expensive in the long term rather than having a everlasting implant placed.
In some people fat transfer may be an option, however fat transfer usually has a quite variable persistence
The Implant
There are a number of different shapes of implants depending on whether we are just augmenting the height of the cheeks, augmenting the hollowness below the cheek bone level or whether we are using a combined implant to do a little of both. The most commonly used implants today are made out of silicone. They have been around for thirty years and they are intended as everlasting implants. They have a very good acceptance and do not get rejected by the body, but care needs to be taken to avoid infection.
The Procedure
It is usually performed under general or local anesthesia. The procedure takes approximately one hour if done as a stand-alone procedure.
Twilight sedation is used to make you very relaxed, even sleepy. Local anaesthetic is injected, to numb the area that will be worked on. A small incision is then made on the inside of the lip quite high up, right over the area where the cheek implants will be inserted. The muscles and soft tissue of the cheeks are elevated and the implant is placed directly against the bone.. Dissolving sutures can be used inside the mouth, but often they are so high up that a patients tongue cannot even feel the stitches.
Post Operation Advice
The first one to two hours after surgery is spent in the recovery room.
Instructions are given on how to care for the incisions sites, which are in the mouth. The stitches used are usually dissolvable.
Pain medication is prescribed, although this is usually unnecessary after the first day. Sleeping with your head elevated can significantly reduce any discomfort.
There may be mild bruising and swelling which lasts for approximately one week. This can easily be covered with make up. Most patients return to work and social activities after 1-2 days. Heavy physical exercise is avoided for three weeks following the procedure.
The implants do give an immediate result, however it takes some time for the swelling to subside completely.
Is There Discomfort?
There is some mild discomfort and on the first night you may need to take some pain killing tablets that we will provide for you. Patients rarely report strong pain and anything they have is usually easily managed with the medications.
Side Effects
These are temporary side effects and include swelling ,bruises and discomfort which will go within 10 days