High, strong cheekbones have always been a sign of beauty. When an individual’s cheekbones are not as sculpted or defined, their face can appear dull and less dynamic. If you think about the harmonious appearance of someone’s face you realize the face is not a one-dimensional structure. When you think about lifting the face, it involves moving it in one direction. Then we talk about adding more volume, which is another dimension.
Chin and Cheek Implants – Dr. Louis DeJoseph, Atlanta Georgia
Often times we use cheek implants or chin/jaw implants, which are implantation to the skeletal frame of the face (cheek and chin bone), to add volume. This adds to the second dimension of the face, meaning the rounding of the cheeks, or the rounding of the face, and adding structure to the lower area of the face.
- About the Facial Implants procedure
- Benefits of a Cheek Enhancement
- The Cheek Enhancement Procedure
- The Ideal Candidates for Cheek Enhancements
- What to Expect from a Cheek Enhancement Consultation
- Preparing for a Cheek Enhancement
- Recovering from a Cheek Enhancement
- Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Implants
About the Facial Implants procedure
How do we get to these areas? How do you put cheek implants in without seeing them? We place them with tiny, small incisions underneath the upper lip. That gives access to the cheekbone area. With chin augmentation, we make small incisions underneath the chin, placing the implant afterward, giving beautiful facial contours to this area. The Chin augmentation + rhinoplasty combo is popular because the chin and the nose are like first cousins, one affects the other. The nose can have many sizes and shapes but if someone has a large nose, we have to make sure the chin is in the right proportion so that it looks correct from the profile view ensuring a good facial structure.
The same thing with the cheeks, if someone has shallow cheeks or very low cheekbones in this area, these areas act as the hangers for the face. We like to have a nice prominence of the cheek area when thinking about rejuvenating the lower part of the face because this is where the rest of the face hangs off of. We always take this into account when we’re looking at the two-dimensional structures of the face and how we can build the aesthetic appearance that you are looking for.
The surgeon may insert the implants in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures, such as a facelift, or as a separate procedure. Some bruising and swelling may occur after chin implant surgery and cheek enhancement, and patients may experience some difficulty with facial movements like talking and smiling. You may need to follow some restrictions on your diet. Discomfort can occur during the first few days, but we will prescribe you the medication that can help to control this. Most patients find that they are well enough to return to work about one week after their chin and/or cheek enhancement procedure.
Benefits of a Cheek Enhancement
There are several benefits of cheek enhancements including:
- High Cheekbones: A cheek enhancement can lead to high cheekbones, which can define a patient’s facial features and help them appear more expressive. High cheekbones can also bring out their eyes and smile.
- An Attractive Facial Balance: Cheekbones that lack definition can lead to facial features with poor balance. They may cause the jaw and nose to look more pronounced and unattractive. In addition, undefined cheekbones can make the eyes appear hollow or sunken. Cheek implants can help patients achieve a more attractive facial balance.
- Naturally Beautiful Cheeks: Dr. DeJoseph makes it a top priority to ensure cheek implants result in cheeks that look naturally beautiful.
The Cheek Enhancement Procedure
During the cheek enhancement procedure, Dr. DeJoseph will make a small incision in the mouth or behind the lower eyelid so that he can place the implant with the least amount of scarring possible.
The surgeon will then create a pocket in the cheek area prior to precisely placing the implant and attach it to the bone or soft tissue. Lastly, Dr. DeJoseph will close the incision with sutures. They will also apply bandages to keep the site of surgery clean and support the cheeks while they initially heal.
This is an outpatient procedure performed under a local anesthetic with a bit of oral sedation that can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete.
Facial Implants Before and After Photos
* All patients are unique and individual results may vary.
The Ideal Candidates for Cheek Enhancements
Cheek enhancements are a good option for patients who are hoping to enhance the volume of their cheek area in order to achieve a fuller, more youthful appearance. Patients should be physically healthy, non-smokers or willing to quit, and have a positive outlook and certain goals in mind for the improvement of their cheeks.
What to Expect from a Cheek Enhancement Consultation
Patients who are interested in cheek enhancement should schedule a consultation with Dr. DeJoseph. During a consultation, Dr. DeJoseph will evaluate your face and cheeks and determine what needs to be changed so that you can meet your particular cosmetic goals. He may also show you samples of the implants and inform you whether you could benefit from other procedures as well. It is important to keep realistic expectations about the procedure.
Preparing for a Cheek Enhancement
Before a cheek enhancement, patients will need to refrain from taking certain medications or adjust their current medications. Please avoid anti-inflammatory drugs, herbal supplements, and also aspirin as they can raise the risk of bleeding. Patients who smoke will need to quit well in advance of the procedure.
Recovering from a Cheek Enhancement
Following a cheek enhancement, patients typically experience some swelling and soreness at the site of the incision and in the cheeks. The good news is that you can easily manage this discomfort with over-the-counter and/or prescription medications.
Most patients decide to return to work after they have initially healed 5 to 10 days after the procedure and their sutures are removed. They can hide any bruising with makeup until it completely fades.
Facial Implants Patient Reviews
-
- Blondy
Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Implants
Patients at Premier Image Cosmetic and Laser Surgery choose cheek implants in order to:
• Resolve Asymmetrical Features: Facial symmetry is an important aspect of beauty. Cheek implants can be used to even out asymmetrical sides of the face and create a more balanced appearance.
• Achieve a More Striking Look: Undefined cheekbones are often correlated with shyness or even weakness. By adding volume to their cheekbones, patients can achieve a striking first impression that will bring out their confidence and allow them to stand out from the crowd.
• Reduce the Effects of Aging: When cheeks that used to be full and youthful begin to look hollow and sunken, a patient can appear older. Cheek implants can reduce the effects of aging by adding definition to the cheeks.
When they are in the hands of a board certified plastic surgeon, cheek implants are extremely safe. In fact, the rejection rate for cheek implants is less than 1%.
A cheek augmentation procedure does not require a hospital stay. After patients have comfortably recovered in our facility, a family member or friend can drive them home.
Following cheek implant surgery, the majority of patients go back to work within a week. However, they should take it easy and avoid heavy lifting or vigorous activities for several weeks. If they have any swelling or bruising, it may take several weeks to fade.
After a cheek enhancement procedure, a patient can begin to engage in light exercises such as stretching and yoga. They should wait at least 3 to 4 weeks before performing more strenuous exercises.
The results of cheek implants will be obvious immediately after the procedure and continue to improve as the swelling starts to fade. Unlike facial fillers, which require maintenance, cheek implants offer long-lasting results from one procedure.
Dr. DeJoseph uses cheek implants that are comprised of a soft, rubber-like material which conforms to the underlying bony structures in the face.
A week after a cheek implant procedure, food with sharp edges should be avoided. It’s also wise to refrain from eating dairy products for the first week after facial plastic surgery because of the natural bacteria and the slight risk for infection of the incision.
All procedures, including cheek enhancements, come with risks. Some of the most common risks of cheek enhancements include bleeding, infection, changes in skin sensation, poor wound healing, skin discoloration, and unfavorable scarring.
Fortunately, cheek implants do not cause visible scars since they are performed inside the mouth or inside the lower eyelids.
Both cheek implants and injectable fillers can help improve the appearance of a patient’s cheeks. However, injectable fillers lead to temporary results while cheek implants are solid, have no risk of leakage, and allows them to be a permanent solution.
Cheek implants are permanent and usually last a lifetime.
In order to achieve natural looking results from cheek implants, it’s essential to find a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with a specialization in cheek implants. Dr. DeJoseph is well-known for performing cheek enhancement procedures that lead to natural results.
Patients do not have to worry about their cheek implants looking unnatural as they age. Cheek implants are purposely placed underneath the soft tissues of the cheeks to reduce the risk of a change in appearance over time as a patient ages.
Smoking can hinder cheek enhancement recovery. It can lead to infection and even pneumonia. Therefore, patients must stop smoking before the surgery.
Dr. DeJoseph often encourages patients to combine their cheek enhancement with a face or neck lift, brow lift, facial laser resurfacing, or a chin augmentation.
If you live near Sandy Springs, GA, Premier Image Cosmetic and Laser Surgery offers chin & cheek enhancements among its services, and is also conveniently located at 6085 Barfield Rd #100 Sandy Springs, GA 30328
