Am I a good candidate for cheek implants or buccal fat removal?

Question

i want to remove the lines on my face that have been there all my life that are exaggerated when i smile.i have these lines on my face that appear to be the result of having chubby cheeks. i have always hated them. i was wondering if i would be a good candidate for cheek implants in that area to reduce the lines and possibly another cheek implant to give me high cheekbones? or is buccal fat removal [which seems very risky] is my only option

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Buccal fat excision is an appropriate surgical procedure for patients that of overly full and wide cheek areas. In common terms, it is good for patients who have chipmunk cheeks. Liposuction can be used to further slim the face. In reviewing your pictures, is difficult to tell if you're a good candidate because your cheek area is slightly full but not overly full. Both implants and fillers in the cheeks can create good results for patients.  Both can build up the cheeks and create symmetry.  You must balance the pros and cons of each procedure and do what you feel is the best decision for you.
Fillers:
Pros: No downtime Reversible Quick
Cons: Temporary More expensive in long run
Implants Pros: Permanent Great for patients with poor bone structure Less expensive overtime
Negative: Risks associated with surgery Possible infection DowntimeYou are a patient that would need and in person consultation for a complete evaluation and explanation of the positives and negatives of these procedures in your situation.
I hope this helps.

John Mesa, MD · Answer

Buccal fat removal is a plastic surgery procedure that addresses the fullness of the anterior lower cheeks (chubby cheeks)
Cheek implants is a plastic surgery procedure that helps to define the cheek bones.
Both procedures could help to achieve a chiseled face but not necessarily address the smile lines (nasolabial folds). For improvement of the smile lines usually fillers to those lines or fillers to the lateral cheek bone may help to improve them.

Ali Gurlek, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question

The buccal fat pad is a rounded mass of fat in the middle of your cheek. It’s located between facial muscles, in the hollow area beneath your cheekbone. 
The size of your buccal fat pads affects your face shape. Everyone has buccal fat pads. However, the size of buccal fat pads can vary greatly. If you have larger buccal fat pads, you might feel like your face is too round or full. You can be a candidate for a Buccal Pad removal surgery.

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Am I a good candidate for cheek implants or buccal fat removal?

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