Cheek augmentation surgery helps patients who have naturally weak cheekbones or patients who have lost cheek volume due to age and gravity. Facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Matthew Bridges M.D. FACS, uses high-quality silicone implants at his plastic surgery office in Midlothian, VA to create the high cheekbones and voluminous cheeks that are associated with health and youth. Cheek implants can also help patients who have suffered a facial injury and they want to restore the natural contours of their face. Patients who do not wish to have an implant, may be candidates for a liquid cheek lift, which uses an injectable filler to fill in the hollows of the mid-face and nonsurgically lift the cheeks.
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"I had seen 5 other ents before Dr. Bridges was reccomend for me to see. I wish I found him years ago. He is by far one of the best Doctors I have been fortunate to been seen by. He took the time to listen to my systoms and my journey of trying to get well and looked through my cscat scans and mri results to find what the real issue was. I ended up having sinus surgery and he was so gentle and explained everything. He has bedside manners! Very rare to find. I cannot recommend him enough! Thank you Dr. Bridges!"
During cheek augmentation surgery, an implant is inserted through an incision made in the upper lip. Cheek implants come in many different sizes, shapes and materials. The implant chosen will determine the size of the incision. A pocket is made through the incision directly over the cheekbone and the implant is inserted. The incision is then closed with either absorbable sutures or stitches that will be removed within 1-2 weeks following surgery.
Cheek augmentation surgery is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure in an accredited surgical facility. The procedure usually takes just under an hour to complete. Following surgery, the outcome is immediately noticeable. There will be swelling, which could last several months. There may also be localized discoloration, numbness or discomfort. Most patients are able to return to work after a full week. However, exercise should be avoided for at least 3-4 weeks.
Cheek implants come in several varieties. The oldest and most widely used implants are solid silicone. Gore-Tex has recently become a popular choice among surgeons for facial implants, due to the low rejection rate.
In the hands of a qualified plastic surgeon, cheek implants are very safe. Quatela.com cites the rejection rate for implantable materials at less than 1%.
How Will my Cheeks Feel?
Most patients can expect some mild to moderate discomfort after surgery, with some tightness or pulling around the incision and implant sites. These uncomfortable sensations should only last about 3-4 weeks. Numbness along the skin may occur for several months until the implants have settled into their final position and the internal tissues return to normal.
Food with sharp edges should be avoided for about one week following cheek implant surgery due to the incision sites’ location under the upper lip. Some doctors suggest avoiding dairy products for the first week following surgery due to the natural bacteria found in dairy products and the small risk for infection of the incision.