Silicone Cheek Implant Fixation

asked 1 year ago by radicalcad in Los Angeles
Latest answer by Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Question viewed 389 times
Tags: exercise, sutures

What method is preferred? I am an extremely active individual with a job that forces me to exercise a lot and jump around a lot. However, I don't plan on getting punched in the face or anyhting. My augmentation will be more towards the medial cheek area, orbital rims, and some augmentation slightly on the lateral cheek. I have thick skin. Should I absolutely get screws? Will suture to the bone be enough? What are the pros and cons of each fixation method?

11 answers to Silicone Cheek Implant Fixation

Cheek Implants, Cheek Augmentaion, Cheek Enhancement, Cheek Fillers, Perlane, Radiesse

I have performed Cheek Implant surgery for over 20 years and do not use any form of fixation. I have placed Cheek Implants in Boxers, MMA fighters, Military, Law Enforcement and many others that are in careers with high levels of exertion and physical contact. I only place Cheek Implants through an incision in the mouth The tissues are closed from the inside out in multiple layers which doesn't leave room for the implant to move inside the surgical... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

drfrancispalmer.com

Let your surgeon guide you

Some surgeons do not use any fixation, and others use screws, etc.... This is a personal preference. I would suggest you let a surgeon experienced in cheek augmentation guide you and do what works best in his/her hands. Whether you use fixation or not, there should be no limitation on your active lifestyle once you have healed.

Anurag Agarwal, MD
Naples Facial Plastic Surgeon

Cheek implants do not need fixation

There is no need to fix cheek implants into place with screws or sutures. Most of the time they stay in their intended location in a precise pocket underneath the periosteum over the maxillary bone. There is no reason to screw these in or sew them in place. Once the initial healing has taken place, they don’t tend to migrate or shift.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Cheek implant fixation

Dear Radicalcad - I have been doing implants of solid silicone for the last 15 years - I have never secured the implant with anything other than a skin bolster which is required to stay on the outside cheek skin for 4-5days. I have had no misplaced implants or troubles thereafter regardless of my patients physical activities. The small cotton ball holds the implant in the small pocketed position while the bodies own natural structure surrounds the material within a few days... more

Paul E. Kelly, MD
Hamptons Facial Plastic Surgeon

Silicone Cheek Implant Fixation

Many surgeons, like myself, rarely use any method of permanent cheek impant fixation. I place the implant through a small intra-oral incision and temporarily fix it with a suture brought through the skin for 48 hours. Screw fixation requires more exposure with a bigger incision.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Cheek implants

In most cases, I place cheek implants through the mouth and fixate the implants with stay sutures which are removed in less than one week. Fixation otherwise with screws will require visible cuts.

Edward J. Domanskis, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Medial cheek implants require finesse for lower lid circles

The position of cheek augmentation you describe may best be done through the lower eyelid approach and with caution to protect the infraorbital nerve that appears in this area. Implants can be carved to accomodate the nerve as it runs from the tunnel under the orbit to the soft tissue of the cheek and lateral nose. Fixation can be done with screws or sutures, but not absolutely needed if the pocket is properly sized for the implant. You may want to consider the... more

Randy Wong, MD
Honolulu Plastic Surgeon

Secure Cheek Implant Fixation Can be Done With Screws

Cheek implants are the most unique of all the facial implants because they are positioned against the side of the bone. Given the pathway of insertion that is commonly done (inside the mouth), it is possible for them to be displaced downward or to shift from side to side. This is much less likely when done from the eyelid approach although that has its own drawbacks. While every plastic surgeon has a method for cheek implant positioning (pocket creation), not all do some form of... more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

We don't use cheek implants anymore.

Hi. Excellent long lasting result can be achieved safely without surgery -- with skilfully injected Radiesse against the bone.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Cheek Implant Fixation

There a several important issues related to cheek implant surgery. 1. Select the right cheek implant. This requires good communication between the patient and the Plastic Surgeon. Cheek implants can be used to correct volume loss from aging in the midface or to enhance developmental hypoplasia (weakness) of the cheek bones and infra-orbital area. 2. Cheek implant pocket, approach and fixation. As with all facial implants, the Goldilocks principle applies... more

Daniel Reichner, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Fixation for Cheek Implants

Silastic implants heal by formation of a tight capsule around them. Once this happened, the implants will not move. Some surgeons always use rigid fixation with screws to the cheek bones, others never. And then there are some plastic surgeons who use them sometimes. Another fixation method is the use of temporary sutures to the cheek - usually in place for only a couple of days. Suturing to the bone is difficult and would require drilling multiple holes into the cheek bone which is... more