Cheekbone or lower/lateral orbital rim implants close to eye socket for more chiseled look?

Question

My face is naturally featureless and has poor bone structure. I notice when I pinch the very edge of my eye socket area (simulating some sort of augmentation there) provides a much better look. The only issue is that the implant would need to be on the very edge of my orbital rim which most cheekbone implants are not made for that. Are custom implants or some sort of bone cement able to get this result?????

James M. Ridgway, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear Bradm,Thank you for your question.  There are a number of options that can be employed to create a more "featured" face.  There are a number of fillers on the market that are  available in producing excellent results.  I am not an advocate of permanent fillers, outside of fat grafting, as I have had to remove these fillers when they had not been placed correctly or when they develop infection or granuloma reactions. Silicone implants can be customized to augment  certain the regions of the face, but these also create a more natural  and rounded effect.  A heavily chiseled  look develops as we get older and lose the baby fat in her face, and you are just too young for that.  I would recommend a consultation with a board certified specialist who specializes in the face and would advocate for either a temporary filler to review the changes that you would create with a permanent implant.  I hope this helps you find the right answer for you.  Be healthy and be well, James M. Ridgway, MD, FACS

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

Best to get personal consultation to determine what exactly is bothering you and discuss options. One option could be extended tear trough implant which covers the lower orbital rim and upper/outer cheek area. It is inserted through clean transconjunctival approach. Having said that, a less invasive option is filler injection.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

You have a few options. Facial sculpting and contouring of the face can be created with well-placed fillers (Voluma, Radiesse, Bellafill) and Sculptra, which would give improvement in a more sculpted look. These options allow you to try on the look before committing to a more permanent option like fat or implants. If necessary, custom implants can be created. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Cheek implants are not designed to give a more chiseled look. Cheek implants are placed for patients who have a flat maxilla and a flat cheek profile, and desire volumetric mid face augmentation. Cheek implants are manufactured in a large variety of sizes( small, medium, large, extra-large). They are also manufactured in large amount of shapes, malar, sub- malar, and combined. In our practice, we do not use lateral orbital rim implants for variety of reasons due to complications we have seen from other practices. Trying to augment the orbital rim will only make the eyes look more sunken.  Solid silicone cheek implants can also be custom carved when necessary. For more information  and many before-and-after cheek implant examples, please see the link and the video below

Brian Windle, MD (retired) · Answer

Thank you for providing your photos.  It appears that you do not have much volume on your central malar bone area.  While you could have an implant, I prefer the far less invasive option of using a long term filler like Bellafill for this area.  The correction can be far more precise and customized to your needs and facial structure.  I have added a web site reference and a video that may help you.I hope that helps.Best regards.

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

Hi, I have performed many facial shaping procedures using dermal fillers, facial implants (cheek, chin), liposuction and/or facelifts for over 30 years.  From the photos, your cheeks are very flat in the front and I suspect that the chin is weak (can be confirmed with a profile photo).   Based upon my beauty principles, men look chiseled and handsome with angularity in the cheeks, chin and mandibular angles.  The following procedures would create a more ruggedly handsome face.
Cheek augmentation with cheek implants to add angularity to the cheeks and mid face.  The cheeks are not as narrow as portrayed when pinching skin over the cheeks.  This is why an orbital rim implant wouldn't have sufficient shape and size to create the proper aesthetic shape to the cheek.
Chin augmentation, using a chin implant, to add projection to the chin creating harmony and balance to the lower face.
Augmentation of the mandibular angles using a dermal filler (jaw implants have too many unwanted side effects IMHO) to add volume, angularity and flare to the jaw line.
Hope this helps.

Cheekbone or lower/lateral orbital rim implants close to eye socket for more chiseled look?

Answers (6)