Cheek Augmentation

Cheek augmentation is a process by which a person’s cheeks can be enhanced. It is usually combined with other forms of facial surgeries like facelift and chin augmentation. In this process, the patient’s cheeks are augmented either by placing a solid implant over the cheekbone or injecting the area with the patient’s own fat.

A process much similar to breast augmentation, cheek enhancement is mostly used when major parts of the face are being reconstructed.

The MATERIALS used in cheek augmentation are as follows:

• SOLID SILICONE:

  This is the most common material used in cheek implants.

• POLYETHYLENE:

  Marketed as Medpor, this high density porous material provides greater integration with the underlying tissue and bone unlike solid silicone. However, medpor has its disadvantage. Its integration and ingrowth with the underlying tissue can make its removal difficult, a risk in case alterations are required.

• ePTFE:

  Also known as polytetrafluoroethylene or Gore Tex, it is an inert substance which again integrates well with the underlying tissue.
  Cheek augmentation comes in three varieties of SHAPES:

• MALAR:

  These implants are the most common, normally placed directly on the cheek bones. The result is the enhancement of the cheek bone itself, providing more contours to the sides.

• SUBMALAR:

  These implants are placed in the midface. It is normally used in cases where the person has sunken cheeks.

• COMBINED:

  As the name suggests, a combined augmentation makes use of both malar and submalar implant to give a combined enhancement of the cheek bones and the cheek.

The implants are normally placed through INCISIONS made in the upper mouth near the top gum line. Another method of incision is through a cut near the eye. This however is not a preferred method as it leaves a visible scar.

The former method has a greater risk of infection as it is done intra-orally where the presence of bacteria is abundant.
Surgery is done after the administration of general anaesthesia. Recovery normally takes ten days.

Cheek augmentation, like all other surgeries, involves the risk of infections, wrong construction and an unwanted look. Asymmetry is major risk with cheek augmentation. This can occur due to displacement of the implant or even due to resorption. Thus, this decision has to be made after measuring the pros and cons.
An alternative to cheek augmentation is through fillers or injections. Injections provide a less insidious and less expensive alternative to cheek augmentation.

ZYGOMATIC OSTEOTOMY is yet another alternative to cheek augmentation, however, far less common. This method is normally used to correct birth defects or traumatic injury. In this process, the cheekbone or zygoma is separated by bone cuts near the orbital rim and maxilla. A solid material like hydroxylapatite is then used to wedge in place the newly located bone.

Since cheek augmentation is normally always a part of a larger surgery like facelift or face reconstruction, if done as a separate process requires a lot of deliberating. It is a permanent change made, thus the decision taken has to be taken calmly.

- Vishwadha Chander

Tags: cheek, cheek augmentation, cheek enhancement, cheek enlargement, cheek implant

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