How do I fix cheek implants gone wrong? Smile/face so warped. (photos)

Question

I had sliding genioplasty in November (first week) of 2016. My surgeon told me that I also needed cheek implants as my cheek bones were very small and my face was sunken. He showed me photos of models with chiseled cheekbones Meghan fox and we agreed this was good. He told me he didn't want to add any fullness to my midface just to define it more. Yet here I am - my face is HUGE my cheekbones are gone and I'm stuck with chubby HUGE cheeks for my face! Smile also ruined. What do I do?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Facial sculpting and symmetry of the face can be created with well-placed fillers (Voluma, Radiesse, Bellafill) and Sculptra, which would give improvement in facial balance. Fat is an alternative. the lip corners can be lifted with a combination of fillers and botox.  I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Michael H. Swann, MD · Answer

This is really hard to evaluate with photographs.  If the cheek volume is not moving downward, then there is either swelling or tethering of the implant.  I use Voluma or Radiesse for cheek augmentation on the periosteum for a volumized cheek effect and it is very safe and effective.  The face shape changes with time and sometimes permanent implants that look good at 30 years old look funny at 45 years old and you end up using soft tissue fillers to make the permanent implants look more natural.  First of all, you definitely need to follow-up with your surgeon and he or she would ideally be able to discuss the problems or if there were any complications during surgery.  If you are completely healed from the time of your surgery and the surgeon is happy, then I would seek another opinion of a board-certified expert.

Matthew Sniegowski, MD · Answer

Based on the photographs that you have supplied it appears you may have some disproportion across your face horizontally, many of the cheek implants/orbital onlay implants have a segment that provides projection laterally, depending on the material of the implant used, this can often times by adjusted intra-operatively by trimming the implant. I would recommend discussing this with your surgeon and see if they feel it would be possible to trim the implants you have. As a last resort the implants could be removed to allow your cheek to return to its presurgery appearance.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, i have performed many cheek augmentations with dermal fillers and silastic cheek implants over the past 30 years.  Answers to the following questions would help in the evaluation.  
*How long post op, from your cheek implant surgery, are you in these photos?
*What size, shape and material are your cheek implants?
*Was any fat placed into the cheek tissue at the same time as the implants?
 Currently, your face is an elongated, oval shape.  Following the facial beauty principles that I have developed over the past 30 years, women look the most feminine and attractive when they have heart shaped faces.  This occurs when the cheeks are "shapely", full and round in the front that tends to soften and feminize the entire face.  When correcting flat or even concave cheeks, in a woman's face, I have found great success using a very specific shaped silastic cheek implant, in a couple of sizes (projection of the implant) along with very specific placement.  In addition, any excess fat that might surround the cheek area should be reduced to further shape the face.  This will avoiding the "plump", "overfilled" look that makes the face appear round and the eyes appear smaller.
Hope this helps.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

It would be helpful to know the size and type of implants placed. These couldbe removed and replaced with other implants. However before doing that be patient for another 2-3 months. Although very rare, if you had significant swelling after the procedure this may still improve.

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How do I fix cheek implants gone wrong? Smile/face so warped. (photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: How do I fix cheek implants?

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Answer: Full Mid-face after Cheek Implants

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Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.