No sagging after cheek implant removal?

Question

I had medium-size malar implants put in over a year ago. I only had them for 7 months, and removed them 7.5 months ago. I didn't notice any sagging in soft tissue/skin after removal, and my doctor and 2 other surgeons I have visited say there is no sagging. However, reading some of the comments made by doctors here it seems they say sagging is inevitable. Now I'm confused- is it possible that I'm lucky and the implants caused no sagging? I don't see cheekbone difference compared to pre-implants.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

I would say that most people do not get sagging after cheek implant removal.  From the ones that I have seen, most people do return to their pre-implant appearance after removal.  Whether sagging occurs or not may also depend on the skin of the patient, the size of the implants and how long the implants were in place.  I would say if you have not seen any sagging after your cheek implants were removed, that you will not see any later.

Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Sagging depends on prior placement, and size of correction.  No sagging many be due to prolonged inflammation as well.  If no change, and swelling is all gone, they may have been too small.  If you could not see a difference with them, then what is the prupose of keeping them? I hope this helps!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

I typically have patients do venus legacy treatments and fillers after implant removal to keep the space filled and tight.  Best, Dr. Emer.

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Curious_Inquirer,

Cheek sagging after cheek implant removal can certainly occur
and this can result for several reasons. 
The cheek sagging can occur from removal of cheek implants in a more
elderly patient where skin elasticity is compromised and without the underlying
support laxity dominates in the cheeks to, in fact, sag.  Malar implants when removed in a younger
individual with good soft tissue envelope rarely experiences cheek sagging.  More commonly cheek implants may be removed
following inflammation or infection and there may be a loss of mid face fat and
this will lead to a deflation or loss of cheek projection rather than sagging
upon removal of Malar cheek implants.

If you have not noticed any change in your soft tissue
envelope or sagging then you have nothing to worry about or concern yourself
with.  Following removal there is often a
remodeling of the space and capsule around the cheek implant, you actually end
up with a slight autogenous (real self tissue) augmentation, which enhances
your cheek contour.

Over time and as you age loss of cheek volume, which is
inevitable can be enhanced with the use of soft tissue fillers off the shelf
such as Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse or Sculptra or the use of autogenous fat
grafting.  Radio frequency bulk heating
treatments such as Venus Freeze, the Forma or Exilis can help maintain soft
tissue envelope skin tightening and collagen production.

If you’re happy with your cheek contour and it’s 7 months
following its removal, you are unlikely to get compromise at this point and you
should proceed with aesthetic procedures as they seem appropriate during the
aging process.  Remember that facial
aging is characterized by the three D’s. 
D Number 1 is deflation or loss of volume, D Number 2 is descent and D
Number 3 is deterioration.  In your
younger years 20’s, 30’s and 40’s non-surgical techniques with soft tissue
fillers, energy based devices for tightening and Botox together with suture
suspension can often keep patients looking much younger, fresh and volumized.  As one ages further usually more surgical
techniques are required and an endoscopic mid facelift may be necessary for
your mid face volume at that time.

I hope this information has been helpful and best of luck.

For more information, please review the link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

No sagging after cheek implant removal?

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