POSTED UNDER Cheek Augmentation REVIEWS
Revision Rhinoplasty and Removal of 8 yr old Malar Cheek Implants-Ottawa, ON
ORIGINAL POST
Hi everyone, I am scheduled to have a revision...
NIKKI613September 21, 2013
$8,000
Hi everyone, I am scheduled to have a revision rhino and a fat transfer to my cheeks on Oct 23, 2013. I am having lots of last minute hesitations with respect to the fat transfer. I had my cheek implants done when I was 24 and incredibly stupid. Now 7 years later they have shifted slightly and in my opinion are very uneven. I asked my new DR (not the same DR who performed my cheek implants) to remove them and he said he wouldn't recommend it. He then suggested a fat transfer to make my cheeks more symmetrical. Oh yes, before the cheek implants I had my buccal fat pads removed. My new DR said that procedure coupled with cheek implants is a terrible combination and accelerates the aging process considerably. I am curious to find out if anyone has had a similar experience or decision to make. Thank you.
NIKKI613's provider
Replies (24)
June 13, 2015
So are these before and after pictures
June 22, 2015
No they're all after, just at different stages and with different amounts of filler. I will be posting before and even more before pics soon.
June 15, 2015
Hi you truly look attractive, I had cheek implants surgery 8 years ago a real night mare way too big chunky chip muni look, am terrified to take them out . I am 47 years old did you take yours out how do you look now?
June 22, 2015
What about replacing them with a smaller implant. I was 31 when I removed mine and still suffered extremely saggy cheeks (well on one side). My PS told me that the older I got, the greater the chance and the amount of sagging would be. So you are right to be concerned.
I don't know what your situation is but I would imagine that cheek implant removal with a cheek lift would be a good combination. It would be expensive but might be the best way for you to circumvent sagging cheeks.
Thanks and good luck. Please update me.
I don't know what your situation is but I would imagine that cheek implant removal with a cheek lift would be a good combination. It would be expensive but might be the best way for you to circumvent sagging cheeks.
Thanks and good luck. Please update me.
June 19, 2015
You are still very pretty. I would put the malars back in with fat injections. Fat is permanent. I've had it put under my eyes and in my face and it's lasted for years.
June 22, 2015
Hi, I'm actually thinking about a cheek lift in the bad side. I asked my PS about putting the implants back in. He told me there was far too much scar tissue and that the implant would probably shift back to the same place that was the very reason for my decision to remove them.
I am interested in getting a second opinion but I am concerned that the Drs in my area are not experienced enough.
The Dr who performed my revision and the implant removal is a facial plastic surgeon. He didn't seem to have enough skill or experience to achieve satisfactory results.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
I am interested in getting a second opinion but I am concerned that the Drs in my area are not experienced enough.
The Dr who performed my revision and the implant removal is a facial plastic surgeon. He didn't seem to have enough skill or experience to achieve satisfactory results.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
June 22, 2015
It looks like the side that is indented in slightly is in the mid face. You could put sub malars instead of malars which would be in a different area of the cheek that does not have scar tissue (on each side of the nose) and that would give you a forward projection of fullness on the apple area of the cheeks. I have had both fat injections and submalars and although fat may fill it in somewhat, the submalars would somewhat lift the cheek and also fill in the midface. They would also probably be cheaper than a lift. My doctor specializes in the face and he is in Newport Beach CA. His name is Dr. George Brennan. He is the one who did the submalars. You should email him and see what he thinks.
June 23, 2015
Hi, I didn't even know that submalar cheek implants even existed. Wow. I will check it out and give him a call. Can you tell me roughly what you had to pay?
I am in Ontario Canada so travel to California would be really expensive but is rather see so
Rome who knows what they're doing.
Thanks.
I am in Ontario Canada so travel to California would be really expensive but is rather see so
Rome who knows what they're doing.
Thanks.
June 23, 2015
Arg sorry, I meant I'd rather see someone who knows what they're doing. Travel will probably be necessary.
June 25, 2015
You can probably get them for anywhere from 3500-5500. Depends on the doctor but find one who does that specific kind alot and see his pictures first. I think that would totally solve your problem. Get a small implant only though so you don't look funny.
September 18, 2015
Are these your post op pictures? If so, I think you look stunning here. Perhaps some filler on the right cheek pad, but seriously, you are WAY too critical of yourself my lovely!!!
UPDATED FROM NIKKI613
2 days post
Day 3 Post OP
NIKKI613October 25, 2013
In the end I decided to have my cheek implants removed. Dr. Brownrigg was amazing through the whole process. We also did a revision rhinoplasty. I am so swollen it is hard to see results at this time. I think I made the right decision and am really looking forward to seeing the results.
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM NIKKI613
7 days post
1 Week Post OP
NIKKI613October 30, 2013
Unsure if I made the right decision with respect to implant removal. The swelling distorts any hope I have of seeing exactly how my face will look without the giant cheek implants.
We took the cast off my nose yesterday and it looks much bigger than before. I know again the culprit is "swelling" but it takes some getting used to. My revision was complicated.. one side of my tip was very small and the other side was much larger. My nose was crooked and leaned to the right (as most of Dr. Kane's noses do).
To correct this my new Dr. had to graft some cartilage and do a bunch of other stuff. My biggest worry though for my nose is that it will still be asymmetrical with more cartilage on one side of the bridge than the other side. I think Dr. Brownrigg did a great job but 1 week post op is too early to draw any definitive conclusions.
Now about my cheeks. I have been searching for any info in regard to removing cheek implants. I was shocked at the lack of information out there.
I decided to remove the implants because they were uneven one was much higher and placed further out than the other. As I aged the implants became more visible. Apparently buccal pad removal and cheek implants is not a good combination (Dr's now know this but apparently they did not know this when I got my cheek implants put in 6 months after I had my buccal pads removed).
The swelling from cheek implant removal is incredible. I look like I had impacted wisdom teeth pulled but the front of my mid face is also extremely swollen. Once the swelling subsides I will have the potential of "sagging cheeks" because the implants were a large size and I have had them in for 8 years.
I will update you with respect to swelling and other issues as they arise. Please feel free to ask questions.
I will get some pics together to post but will ensure that the pics are edited. (See comments below)....
We took the cast off my nose yesterday and it looks much bigger than before. I know again the culprit is "swelling" but it takes some getting used to. My revision was complicated.. one side of my tip was very small and the other side was much larger. My nose was crooked and leaned to the right (as most of Dr. Kane's noses do).
To correct this my new Dr. had to graft some cartilage and do a bunch of other stuff. My biggest worry though for my nose is that it will still be asymmetrical with more cartilage on one side of the bridge than the other side. I think Dr. Brownrigg did a great job but 1 week post op is too early to draw any definitive conclusions.
Now about my cheeks. I have been searching for any info in regard to removing cheek implants. I was shocked at the lack of information out there.
I decided to remove the implants because they were uneven one was much higher and placed further out than the other. As I aged the implants became more visible. Apparently buccal pad removal and cheek implants is not a good combination (Dr's now know this but apparently they did not know this when I got my cheek implants put in 6 months after I had my buccal pads removed).
The swelling from cheek implant removal is incredible. I look like I had impacted wisdom teeth pulled but the front of my mid face is also extremely swollen. Once the swelling subsides I will have the potential of "sagging cheeks" because the implants were a large size and I have had them in for 8 years.
I will update you with respect to swelling and other issues as they arise. Please feel free to ask questions.
I will get some pics together to post but will ensure that the pics are edited. (See comments below)....
Replies (9)
March 6, 2014
hi nikk, how r u now? How was the result of cheek removal? Sagging ? I also live in Canada too. I have my cheek implants 4months ago, I want to remove it as I can't smile normally , and my face is sagging after the implant . Would u please reply me? Thank you !
June 10, 2015
I'm sorry, I just saw your response now. I kinda gave up on this site for a bit. As soon as I get my kids off to school il respond.
June 9, 2015
I got small cheek implants 20 years ago and had problems with them off and on due to having an old type of sinus surgery on my right nostril called a culdwell luc. My cheek around the implant would swell and I would get a "black eye." My old PS claimed this was not an infection as the cheek did not get red or hot, it just filled with fluid apparently from my nostril. This would last for weeks on end, then all would return to normal on its own. I recently had a facelift and my new PS suggested a different type and size implant. He used large sized malar implants. The implant on my right side moved way out of place within weeks. I had to wait 3 months for the swelling to subside before he would remove it and replace it with another implant. He did not charge a fee for his services, but I still had to pay for the outpatient costs. Within 3 weeks, this new implant moved also and had to be removed, and he did this in his office using "dental shots." He did not charge me. My PS says this movement was due to the previous culdwell luc surgery and that fluid and pressure from sneezing caused the implant to move. I have been left with one "good" implant on my left side and none on my right. I do not have a droopy cheek where there is no implant, but the cheek is smaller and shaped differently. Now my PS wants to do a fat transfer to this side as he says I will not have good luck with another cheek implant. My only concern is that my cheeks will not look the same after that procedure. Also, I'm amazed that I keep reading on here about droopy cheeks after cheek implants have been removed. I had large implants for 3 months and LOTS of swelling, but my cheek did not droop after the implant was removed. It just got smaller. I am 70, so do not have young elastic skin!
June 10, 2015
Thanks for your response. I hope it works out. For me, the worst decision I ever made was putting the implants in at 21. I was pretty without them. But even worse than that, was the decision to remove them 8 years later. It's a constant battle to try to achieve any amount of symmetry. I look like I have two different faces. Living in Ontario, I am limited to Dr's that do not have the experience necessary to deal with the problem. Can you tell me more about the "dental shots"? I may need a cheek lift on the bad side (if the procedure even exists) but I will not trust another Dr from my area. I'm going to have to travel to fix this problem.
November 12, 2015
So you had implants for 20 years and you had no sagging after removal? How were they placed (under eye or via mouth)? I ask b/c 20 years ago is when mine were done, and I had mine via under eye. Under eye may mean above the periosteum, so I'm wondering if yours were similar to mine. Did yours move easily? We're they visible under your eye? I would love if you'd private message me about this b/c you are, literally, the only other person I have ever found who had 20 year old implants removed! And I am so reassured that you had no sagging! I'd love to hear more...
November 17, 2015
Hi, I had my implants in for 8 years not 20. Only the left side (the side that migrated) was visible. I Did have and still do have sagging (but only on the left side).
It's a big problem for me and has been causing me lots of anxiety.
Pm me still if you'd like. I'd be happy to answer any other questions.
It's a big problem for me and has been causing me lots of anxiety.
Pm me still if you'd like. I'd be happy to answer any other questions.
June 16, 2015
I think your beautiful. I'm 60 and always had high cheek bones and bucal fat. But here is the good news. As I got older the bucal fat gets less and less so I'm always mistaken in my 40's which cracks me up. I have had some fillers around the eye and upper cheek area Also have gotten laser for skin. I have no wrinkels which I can't even believe. Remember fat can be your friend. Look at children's faces. You are lovely
June 16, 2015
Thanks, I'm curious what kind of fillers have you used? And I am happy for you, that you've had a good experience with fillers etc.
December 2, 2015
Did they give you a steroid "pack" for swelling (ie Medrol, Prednisone, Methylprednisone, etc.)? Thanks, Nikki.
Thanks so much for starting your story on RealSelf! Did your doctor say why he recommended not removing the implants?
I'd love to be able to visualize what you're describing and reviews with photos do increase engagement with other community members, so please consider posting pics.
We are here for you through this process!