Will getting cheek implants fix my hollow tear troughs?

Question

I would like to enhance my flat cheekbones and fill my tear troughs. Will cheek implants fix both? Is there a procedure that would be better?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Implants to the cheeks do very little for the troughs, but do help elevate the upper cheek to decrease the need for signiicant filler int the trough.  See an expert for treatment of this area.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Cheek implants are excellent. An alternative would be to use Sculptra and/or Radiesse to fill in the tear troughs and create a more youthful contour in the area. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian Los Angeles

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

Cheek implants can actually make the tear trough area worse !  That's because when the cheeks get bigger, it will make the under eye area look more hollow.  For the under eye hollow area (tear trough), best to use either filler or fat or tear trough implant.  Sometimes, lower blepharoplasty with respositioning of the bags is the best answer. Need photos for more accurate response.

Kimberly Finder, MD · Answer

I've seen cheek implants that look very natural and I've seen cheek implants that don't look natural. (For full disclosure, I don't place cheek implants.) There is a filler called Juvéderm Voluma that is meant for cheek augmentation and is very natural looking. It's also easily dissolvable if you don't like (the goal, of course, is that you will like it). Juvéderm Volume is a great way to get improvement without surgery, either in place of surgical implants or to hold off a surgical implant. There are other filler options that may be of benefit for the tear trough. Be sure to see a physician who has experience with tear trough fillers and can guide you whether fillers or a surgical option is better for you.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Cheek implants are really not designed to augment a tear trough, they are designed to augment a flat maxilla and cheek bone. Cheek implants are composed of Silastic, manufactured in a variety of sizes( small, medium, large) and a variety of shapes( malar, sub--malar, and combined). Since the cheeks and the cheek implants are three-dimensional structures, a full set of photographs and in-person examination and consultation is required.  Cheek implants are inserted through an intra-oral approach under a brief general anesthetic. Anticipate 2 weeks of  visible bruising and swelling after the procedure. For many examples and more information, please see the video and the link below regarding  cheek implants

Sean Freeman, MD · Answer

username481, cheek implants do not help tear trough deformity. A "SOOF lift blepharoplasty" works well to eradicate this problem. See several specialists of facial surgery with years of experience. Do an Internet search of the SOOF lift and you will find plenty of information. Good luck!

Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO · Answer

The cheek implantation will improve tear trough deformity but not completely since the implant usually will not extend medially. However, I have used  a custom tear trough implants to eliminate this problem. Occasionally, filler injection may be required if cheek implant alone is used to improve the result.

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

Hi, I have performed many cheek augmentations with cheek implants over the past 27 years.  The upper edge of the cheek implant ends approximately 5 mm's below the lower edge of the eye socket where the tear trough occurs.  Cheek implants taper in all directions making the leading edges quite thin, so I would not expect the tear trough to be completely filled in by the cheek implants alone.  When flat cheeks and tear troughs exist, I do typically place cheek implants first which allows the face to be aesthetically enhanced, then let the patient decide if they still want the tear trough filled in with some dermal fillers.  Hope this helps.

Will getting cheek implants fix my hollow tear troughs?

Answers (8)

More Cheek Implants Questions

Extra small malar implant size? At the final decision stage

What is the difference between submalar, malar & combined submalar implants?

Will custom cheek implants have a lesser risk of migration and asymmetry as compared to a standard cheek implant?

I'd like cheek implants, I don't want fillers. I feel that I look very fake. How do I know what is best for me? (Photo)

Asymmetrical cheek implant. Is it common?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS