Cheek Implants for Young Patients

If you have flat cheeks at age 18, it is unlikely that they will get fuller with age UNLESS you gain significant weight. Most of the time, we loose facial fat volume over the decades further accentuating flat cheeks. Cheek implants are a good option but I do think it is smart to wait and consider this for a while as you plan. These implants come in different shapes and sizes and you want to plan for implants that will continue to benefit you for decades after surgery.

Cheek implants in the young patient are need if the cheeks are not fully developed and therefore you need implants to correct the problem. Though there are surgeons who use fillers, this will not give you the result you want and will cost a great deal more.

If you have a thin face at 18, chances are it will continue to fill out a bit over the next ten years or so. That said, if you have deficient bone structure in your face then implants would be a good choice at your age. Go to a plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon that does both fat grafting and implants and they should be able to tell you what will be best for you.

Cheek implants can be performed on patients in their 20s.  It is important to make sure that there are realistic goals and expectations upon why the cheek implants are being performed to augment a flat cheek area.  The cheek implants are placed through an intraoral incision above the upper tooth roots and placed over the maxilla on the cheek area.  

To do photo imaging with your own photo, download our iPhone app free of charge.  Just enter "Seattle Plastic Surgery with Dr. Portuese" as search terms.  Once downloaded, you can simulate cheek augmentation by changing the shape of your cheeks. 

At your age I would prefer that you not do anything permanent as your wishes might change over time as will your face. Sculptra fills in a reasonable amount of volume, lasts longet than many of the other filler and is not forever. 

Cheek implants can offer long term improvements in your facial contour.  Fat injections are also an option for a truly long and narrow face, but will likely need to be repeated in the future.

As long as one is skeletally mature, age has no consideration as to whether one should get or needs cheek implants. What is important is the shape of the existing cheeks/midface and whether cheek implants can achieve the look you desire. If one truly does have flatter cheek bones, then an implant will do well. If the concern is actually below the cheeks and not on the bone itself, then one will need to consider fat injections as this is a non-bone supported area that an implant may not be able augment very well. The anatomy of your cheek area is the issue, not your age.

Without pictures, it is difficult to evaluate the need for cheek implants. If there is lack of volume due to under development of cheek bones, then you may be a candidate for this procedure. People who have flat cheeks and lower eyelid puffiness or bulges usually have under developed cheek bones and do well with cheek implants. See some of the before and after pictures in the following site.

20 is young for cheek implants, but it is possible. A
good starting point to know when you are ready for such a permanent option like cheek implants would be to
try an injectable filler to give you volume in your cheek area to see if you
like the results. There are many excellent products available, and some last
longer than others. Take your time to research before making any decisions. The
most important factor is to choose an experienced, reputable facial plastic
surgeon. Ask to see before and after pictures of patients who had similar
desires.

Fat augmentation of cheeks is superior to permanent implants in a young person. Not only is fat augmentation natural, it is free of most complications as one ages.