Cheek Implants 20 Years Post Are Shifting Upwards Slightly?

I have had cheek implants for 20 years and love them but they are shifting very slightly upwards (especially right)into orbital area. The right one also hurts when I first wake up if I sleep on that side. I would like to have them removed and replaced with new ones. Is this a difficult procedure? My plastic surgeon does not want to do it. I would prefer to go a plastic surgeon that specializes in faces anyway (he does not).

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by Jnice1

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Cheek Implants 20 Years Post Are Shifting Upwards Slightly?

I have and continue to perform many Cheek Augmentations using both fillers and Cheek Implants for over 20 years. Cheek Implants become stable, if placed directly on top of the bone, after just 1 month. It's very unusual for an implant to move or shift after that time unless there is some significant force applied directly to the implant causing the pocket to rupture. The soreness, that you describe, is most likely the implant sitting near to the infra-orbital nerve on... more

The Implants are not moving up rather your fat is descending

As the fat descends beneath a cheek implant it makes the implant look quite peculiar.As I began to see this more and more both the patients as well as I were disturbed by the void that developed beneath cheek implants. I first employed bovine collagen with marginal results. I now employe Juvederm to correct these voids beneath the cheek implants with excellent results.

Migrating Cheek Implants

It is extremely unusual for cheek implant to migrate 20 years after placement but I accept your observation. Having said that, the implants can be removed and then replaced or repositioned so you can achieve good cheek projection and proportion.