Can Cheek Implants Create Masculine Cheekbones? (photo)

Question

I'm interested in cheek augmentation, but I've noticed that cheek implants in men tend to feminize the face too much. They seem to create a more round/full appearance in the cheek area. I'm looking for a more sharp/hollow look. It seems that male models have very prominent cheekbones which are high on their faces, vertically short, and flare out near the ears. Is it possible to create this look with cheek implants? I have yet to see a before and after where this was achieved. Thanks

Cameron Chesnut, MD, FAAD, FACMS · Answer

It’s no secret in the cosmetic industry that men are one of the fastest growing demographics. This comes on the heels of a menaissance, or a bit of a reverse sexual revolution where it is more acceptable for men to maintain their strength, power and youth. 
With what had been a rather small demographic growing rapidly, problems began to arise when old habits and knowledge of female aesthetics were applied to men, especially with less experienced practitioners. There’s a very specific sexual dimorphism that exists between male and female faces that keep a man looking masculine and powerful and woman looking feminine and beautiful. The process of aging is also different and man, with a more linear aging timeline that follows a steady testosterone decline. 
Male skin is thicker than female skin with less subcutaneous fat. The slope of the forehead, hairline and browline are much more important factors in men, and the nose tends to follow a similar slope to the forehead with little to no upturn at the tip, as opposed to a female faces. The characteristic flat, strong browline of a man square up with full temples to create the full facial shape of the upper face that is often described as squared.
The jawline and chin are often the most focused on areas for men, as they are traditionally the source of power and masculinity, but this needs to be balanced with the entire lower face, midface and temples to create that squared and balanced look.
One of the most common areas that I have to fix on man is the midface and eyelid-cheek junction, where men tend to have their volume more towards the middle of their face as opposed to the outside, which is a feminizing characteristic, but often during cheek augmentation volume is placed in a more feminine manner. In these cases I am able to adjust the volume to create a more masculine lid-cheek junction and balance with the rest of the face.
Some of my most common procedures performed on men include simple wrinkle relaxing injections with a neuromodulator, using volume to masculinize the face, improving the skin with laser resurfacing, hair restoration with platelet rich plasma, and eyelid surgery, which is a very stealth but very high yield surgical procedure to perform.
Some of the most progressive areas with respect to Maile cosmetics include improving post procedural results/recovery and hair restoration utilizing regenerative medicine such as platelet rich plasma and stem cells - check out my other articles for more information on those.
To ensure you are receiving the highest level of care, seek out a modernly trained, new-school dermatologic surgeon, oculoplastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who is board certified and fellowship trained in one of these “core four” cosmetic specialties. Membership in organizations like the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery help to identify a highly trained surgeon.
Cameron Chesnut
#realself100 Physician

Evan Ransom, MD, FACS · Answer

The short answer is "yes," though the models shown are models because there facial structure is fairly extreme.  There are a lot of important factors in choosing to undergo cheek augmentation, including temporary vs. permanent options, your specific facial bone structure, and the relative thickness of the overlying soft tissues.  In the midface or cheek region, there are multiple ways of adding volume. Fillers can be used as a first step, to "try out" a new look before committing to a surgical solution. Radiesse, in particular, is a great option for malar augmentation, while other fillers can be used in the "tear trough" region.  Once you have decided that you like this change, there are multiple implant types and sizes -- so a careful, deliberate, and detailed discussion with your qualified surgeon as to exactly what you want is very important. Good luck!

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Both of the model pictures you have supplied do show men with prominent cheek bones.  The middle picture you submitted states that the person had cheek implants.  From the picture, that person has very flat cheekbones and I doubt had malar cheek implants.  It is possible he had submalar implants, which are placed lower on the cheek and would make the face appear fuller.  If you are looking to create an appearance more like the two models you have shown, then malar implants could potentially be used for that purpose.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

The key element in male cheekbone augmentation is to have a highly placed cheek implant that creates more of an angular look rather than one that rounds out the entire cheekbone. Whether that will produce the desired look in any man has as much to do with their overlying soft tissue thickness and facial shape as much as it does with the imlpant itself. Even the best shaped cheek implant may not create this look if the face is naturally rounder and fuller. Men with a naturally more skeletonized face are more likely to end up with a high angular cheek look.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The photo results shown  are not obtainable with modern style cheek implants.  Trying to attempt to get this type of result will only leave someone with an unnatural, over-operated result.

Can Cheek Implants Create Masculine Cheekbones? (photo)

Answers (8)

Answer: Results From Male Cheek Augmentation

Answer: Results From Male Cheek Augmentation

Answer: Unrealistic cheeks

Answer: Unrealistic cheeks

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Everything you need to know about Cheek Implants

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

Can Cheek Implants Create Masculine Cheekbones? (photo)

Answers (8)

Answer: Results From Male Cheek Augmentation

Answer: Results From Male Cheek Augmentation

Answer: Unrealistic cheeks

Answer: Unrealistic cheeks

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Cheek Implants

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