Full cheeks and defined cheekbones are attractive physical features desired by men and women alike to produce a balanced and aesthetically-pleasing face. Patients who have lost facial volume with aging or who were born with weak cheeks can benefit from cheek implants, made of solid silicone or other biocompatible materials that are customized for each individual patient’s facial contour and their desired results.
Many patients choose to have cheek implants placed in conjunction with a facelift, blepharoplasty or rhinoplasty for optimum results. Your surgeon will develop a customized treatment plan for you based on a thorough evaluation of your facial structure, overall health and personal goals.
Candidates For Cheek Implants
Cheek implants are ideal for any patient seeking to enhance volume within the cheek area for a fuller, younger-looking appearance. This may include patients who have lost facial fullness over time or those who are simply unhappy with the natural appearance of their cheeks. It is important for patients to be in good overall health and to maintain realistic expectations for treatment in order to achieve effective results.
What Are The Benefits Of Having Cheek Implants?
One area that really changes with age is the cheek area. Plump, full cheeks are the tenets of youth. With age and the continuing decline in collagen production, our cheeks lose volume and flatten. Their mass tends to descend. This creates sagging and ages the face.
Having Dr. Turk place cheek implants can reverse this loss of volume. This restores a more youthful look to the cheeks. To correct this condition with the cheeks, Dr. Turk is likely to place your implants in the submalar area directly above the cheekbones.
Other people have never been happy with the structure of their cheekbones; they are looking for a more angular look. This can also be accomplished with cheek implants. Here, Dr. Turk places the implants just below the submalar area.
In contrast to augmenting your cheeks with dermal fillers such as Juvéderm Voluma, when Dr. Turk places implants, these are permanent changes in your cheek structure. You won’t need to have more filler injected every 18 months or so.
Risks Of Cheek Implants
As with any type of surgical procedure, there are certain risks associated with cheek implants, including infection, loss of sensation, rejection of implant or shifting of implant. These risks are considered rare, especially when treatment is performed by an experienced surgeon.
Are Facial Implants Safe?
The cheek implants Dr. Turk places are made from either medical-grade silicone or hydroxyapatite. Silicone implants can be removed at a later date, should the patient wish to do so. Hydroxyapatite implants bind onto the cheekbones, so they cannot be removed.
All of these materials are completely compatible with the human body. All are FDA approved for use in augmentation. Rejection is not an issue with facial implants.
How Should I Prepare For My Cheek Augmentation Surgery?
These are minor surgeries, but they are still surgery. As such, you’ll need to prepare as you would for any surgery. You’ll stop taking any anti-inflammatory medications, aspirin, blood thinners, and most supplements for one week prior to your surgery with Dr. Turk. If you smoke, you’ll need to stop for at least two weeks prior to and after your surgery, as smoking can inhibit healing because it constricts blood vessels. This is particularly true in the cheek area.
Otherwise, these are not difficult recoveries. If Dr. Turk places your implants through incisions made in your mouth, you’ll need to eat a soft diet for a couple days to allow your incisions to heal.
Cheek Implant Procedure
During the cheek implant procedure, a small incision will be made in the mouth or in the eyelid to place the implant with minimal scarring. A pocket is created in the cheek area before the implant is precisely placed and then secured by attaching it to a bone or soft tissue. The incision is then closed with sutures.
This procedure can be performed in the surgeon’s office or in an outpatient surgery center under IV or twilight sedation. The entire procedure usually takes 30 to 45 minutes to perform, depending on the surgical technique used.
Are Cheek Implants Permanent?
An interesting aspect of cheek augmentation with implants is that they can be removed or adjusted, should the patient want to do so. That, of course, would require another surgery. Generally, most patients view these procedures as permanent. This contrasts with augmentation with dermal fillers, where results only last up to two years and then require additional injections.
Are Cheek Implants Covered By Insurance?
Cheek augmentation is considered to be an elective procedure. As such it is not covered by health insurance. At Naples Cosmetic Surgery, we offer Care Credit to finance your procedure if you would like.
Will I Have Scarring After Cheek Augmentation Surgery?
There isn’t any visible scarring with cheek augmentation surgery because the incisions are made within the mouth or in the lower eyelid.
Results And Recovery
Cheek Implants NaplesAfter the cheek implant procedure, patients usually feel fine shortly after surgery, but are encouraged to take it easy for the remainder of the day before returning to work and other regular activities. You may experience some soreness, swelling and numbness at the incision site and in the cheeks, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications if needed.
Patients will be asked to keep their head elevated to minimize swelling, and will be given specific instructions to allow the incision to heal.
The results of the cheek implants will be visible right away and will continue to improve as swelling subsides. Implants produce long-lasting results from a single procedure, unlike facial fillers which require routine maintenance. There is no scarring for incisions placed in the mouth and only minimal scarring for eyelid incisions, although this is not usually noticeable to others.
Schedule A Client Consultation
If you are interested in Cheek Implants with Dr. Turk, please call our office at 239-316-1689 or fill out a form to contact us!
