Cheek augmentation is an umbrella term for any procedure that fills out cheeks to improve facial contours and restore lost volume. It can also restore facial symmetry after reconstructive surgery for cancer or a cheekbone fracture.Â
Itâs usually done with cheek implants, but other options include facial fat transfer (also a type of cosmetic surgery) and injectable fillers.
Pros
Cons
Related: Can Cheek Fillers Really Lift the Face? Experts Weigh In on What to Actually Expect
Your cheek augmentation cost will depend on your provider's credentials and level of experience, as well as their practice location.
Other major factors include which type of procedure you choose, and whether it requires general anesthesia (which can add thousands to your bill) or can be performed under local anesthesia, or even simply with lidocaine.
For example, cheek implants cost about $6,000 more than injectable cheek fillers, on average. And while the results of cheek fillers typically last less than two years, this treatment option has a much higher Worth It Rating from reviewers on RealSelf.
An experienced plastic surgeon who offers a range of cheek augmentation options can recommend the best option for your goals and budget.
The cheek augmentation photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
Cheek implants are the most permanent augmentation solution.
Dr. William Portuese, a facial plastic surgeon in Seattle, says that implants are âmanufactured in a large array of thicknesses, sizes, and shapes.â Made of silicone, Medpor (porous polyethylene), Gortex, or hydroxyapatite (a substance much like tooth enamel and bone), implants can be inserted into different areas of the cheek.
Malar implants are placed on the cheekbones, whereas submalar implants are secured in the midcheek, to make your face look less gaunt. A combination of the two creates full facial volume.Â
âIn our practice, we place cheek implants under general anesthesia, as an outpatient procedure,â Dr. Portuese continues. âThe implants themselves are inserted through an intraoral incision [aka through the mouth].â
A small incision is made just above the top of the gumline inside the mouth, and a pocket is created to slide the implant just over the bony surface of the cheekbone, under the skin. The incision is hidden, so you won't have visible scars.
Once the implant is positioned, it may be secured with a permanent screw. The whole procedure takes about one hour.Â
You'll need up to a week of recovery time, though the recovery itself is relatively easy. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medication to help keep you more comfortable during the first few days of recovery.
You may have temporary facial numbness or lack of sensitivity, which can last up to three months as nerve endings heal. Most of the swelling and bruising will subside within two weeks.
Because youâll have stitches in your mouth, you have to brush very carefully in order to not disrupt the gumline until the stitches dissolve. Youâll also be on a liquid diet for the first 24 hours, and youâll have to avoid foods with hard or sharp edges for six to eight weeks after surgery.Â
With your doctorâs permission, you should be able to return to work within a week. When the swelling fully subsides (which can take as long as six weeks), youâll be able to see your full results.
Facial fat transfer, also known as fat grafting, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Your surgeon takes some of your own body fat from your hips, thighs, or stomach via liposuction and injects it into your midface to add or restore volume.Â
âItâs great for someone who has facial deflation,â New York Cityâbased plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Wallach explains in a RealSelf Q&A. âThe procedure can be done usually in an hour or so. Because fat does not âtakeâ 100% of the time, some patients will need additional procedures to reach the full desired effect.â Not all transferred fat survives, but the fat cells that do survive should be permanent.
A cheek lift (or midface lift) isnât as intense as a full facelift, but itâs still a surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia. Your surgeon lifts and repositions the skin, muscles, and fat pads of the cheeks during a two-hour surgery. Youâll have up to 10 days of downtime.Â
Injectable fillers arenât permanent, but they can add volume to the cheek area quickly, at less expense than cosmetic surgery, with natural-looking results. They do require maintenance appointments, if you want to keep your results. Popular dermal fillers that can give you fuller cheeks and define your cheekbones include:
RealSelf Tip: Cheek enhancement procedures can be safely combined with other plastic surgery procedures like chin augmentation or a rhinoplasty, to help balance your facial features.
Updated August 16, 2023