Is there an alternative to cheek implants?

Question

I'm in my late teens and have a very dull face, I don't have much of a structure and the fat just chills there. I've been wanting the high cheekbone look for a long time. Implants seem like the only permanent way to get the look I want but I'm worried about the dangers of it. I don't want to deal with implant removal later in the future because of infection or bone loss. Will fat grafting give me a look similar to the pictures above? I love Lynda Carter's face structure and want to look like her.

Corey S. Maas, MD · Answer

Fillers such as Juvederm Voluma, Radiesse and
RestylaneLyft are great alternatives to cheek implants. Previous studies have
shown that nearly half of patients with cheek/midface volume deficit treated
with Juvederm Voluma continued to see a clinical benefit for 2 years. Similar
but not quite as long with Resylane Lyft and Radiesse. Another excellent and
long term option would be fat injections which is a very simple and short
surgical procedure with minimal downtime. In order to determine if any of these
procedures are best for you, a proper physical exam is necessary.

Jon E. Mendelsohn, MD, FACS · Answer

Please feel free and send me a photo and I will be able to have a better understanding on what is going on with your anatomy.In general, most patients are finding fillers such as Voluma seem to feel more natural than implants etc...There are positives and negatives to everything you do.Find a talented surgeon to see you in person and explain the differences etc...

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question and sharing your concerns.  You can consider
 the use of dermal fillers such as Voluma or Restylane Lyft to help you 
achieve the desired look and is a great alternative to cheek implants.  They can be placed in the cheeks to lift the 
cheeks and to help soften nasolabial folds.I would recommend visiting with an experience injector that is board certified in plastic surgery or dermatology.

Afshin Farzadmehr, MD · Answer

There are many fillers that are perfect alternative to implants and would give better results.  Furthermore fat injections would also have permanent results that I have gotten excellent results as well in my hands.

Tanuj Nakra, MD, FACS · Answer

Volume addition to the cheeks can be performed by two basic measures: a hard implant that is designed to act like bone and change the underlying structure of the face, or soft tissue volume in the flavor of fillers/fat transfer. Ultimately if additional cheek projection is something you desire to change permanently about your face, a cheek implant maybe a better long-term solution because by its nature it changes the underlying structure  of the face. However, if you are not psychologically ready for that type of surgery, then the  soft tissue solutions can be a reasonable alternative. Fillers in particular are a very nice first step because they are reversible and will allow you to try on the additional volume to make sure that you are satisfied with changing that aspect of your face. Fat transfer performed focally in that region can sometimes be an alternative in cases where only mild amounts of volume are needed. This is where consultation with a specialist who is comfortable with these various techniques would be most useful for you.  I hope this is helpful to you – good luck!

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Alternatives to a cheek implant involve placement of  temporary fillers to augment the cheek. This is the most conservative treatment available. The fat injections can also work, but give variable results. Cheek implants are composed of Silastic, and are inserted through an intraoral approach under brief general anesthesia to give a more permanent effect. A full set of photographs are  required before making any determination of making the cheeks bigger

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

Hi, I have performed many cheek augmentations over the past 30 years.  Teens and into the early twenties, faces can have some excess facial fat that I call "baby fat".  This typically goes away by the early to mid twenties.  Adding fat transfer into a face that already has excess fat doesn't make sense to me.  There's also an issue, IMHO, about the validity and reliabilty of fat transfer versus off the shelf fillers or cheek implants.  The latter offer far more reliabilty and predictability than fat transfer, despite the rise of popularity in fat injections.  At this stage, it's probably best to consider facial micro-liposuction to reduce the excess facial fat.  Hope this helps.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

I cannot tell you what are reasonable goals re cheek augmentation without knowing what you look like now.   Besides implants the cheek contour can be improved with fillers or the injection of your own fat which will last longer.

Is there an alternative to cheek implants?

Answers (8)

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