Full cheeks and a round heart-shaped face are associated with a youthful and attractive appearance. Unfortunately, over time, especially if you have lost weight, the middle of the face can become flat and wrinkled as tissue degrades. For some people the structure of the cheeks has never been adequate, so with age the lack of cheek projection becomes more apparent.
Cheek augmentation procedures are designed to correct these problems by creating the appearance of full healthy skin in the middle of the face.
How Dr. Rand Chooses Candidates for Cheek Augmentation
Dr. Rand can help you determine the best treatment, whether that means a facial implant or injection of dermal filler. Part of this process may depend on your choice; if surgery is something you want to avoid, the wrinkle filler will clearly be the best option. If you are interested in a facelift as well, it may be an ideal time to utilize a facial implant.
What are facial implants?
Facial implants are made of silicone rubber and designed to augment a specific area of the face. While chin implants are more commonly used, cheek implants provide a long-term solution for inadequate cheek projection. If needed, they can be fastened to the underlying bone with screws or sutures, so they do not migrate after your surgery.
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are injectable products used to restore skin volume. There are many different types that suit different purposes. For cheek augmentation, Dr. Rand may recommend Radiesse or Restylane. Fillers offered at our Bellevue practice include the following:
How Cheek Augmentation is Performed
Cheek implant surgery usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes. When cheek implants are being placed in .jpg)
conjunction with another cosmetic procedure, such as a facelift, forehead lift or eyelid surgery, the implants may be inserted through the incisions made for those procedures. Otherwise, an incision will be made either inside your upper lip or your lower eyelid. A pocket is then formed and an implant is inserted.
Dermal filler injections are brief and require little or no downtime. A wrinkle filler is chosen that will create the desired effect deep beneath the skin, adding sufficient projection to the middle of your face. Before the injection, Dr. Rand will use a topical anesthetic or dental block to control discomfort. Using a needle of specific size, Dr. Rand injects the filler into the cheek area, making sure the product is placed correctly.
What to Expect After Your Cheek Augmentation
After cheek augmentation with dermal filler, you should be able to see the results immediately. There may be some swelling and the area may feel fuller than expected at first, but that should subside quickly. With some fillers such as Radiesse, the results can last as long as 3 years.
After surgery with facial implants, you will immediately see a volume enhancement but you will also experience some swelling. It may take as long as 3 or 4 months for swelling to completely subside but about 80% of the final result should be visible at one month.
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