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Guide To Cosmetic Surgery - Cheek Implants

Cheek implant surgery

Also known as cheek augmentation: this surgery is performed to correct or improve unwelcome cheek deficiencies. These may have been caused by accident, injury or as a result of the ageing process. In other cases, a congenital disorder may be the cause.

It can mean a weak and unbalanced facial structure. The face appears drawn or sunken and older looking as a result.

Implants can be used to round out those weak areas and give a natural, youthful look to the face as a whole. The shape and symmetry of the face will be improved. This will enhance confidence and well being.

This surgery can be performed on its own or in conjunction with a face lift.

To get the very best results from this successful procedure involves a combination of top notch skills and a good choice of implant. The effects are permanent.

Suitability for cheek implants

There are several factors which are taken into account when deciding upon a patient’s suitability for surgery.

These include physical health, emotional stability, age and the reasons for wanting surgery.

These and other factors will be taken into account by the surgeon during consultation.

It is important to remember that this surgery is designed to improve the appearance or to correct a defect and not to achieve 100% perfection.

No cosmetic surgery can guarantee that but it does come very close.

Young people with a genetically inherited cheek defect, older people with visible signs of ageing (hollow, drawn cheeks) and those who require facial reconstruction following an accident are the best candidates.

Preparing for surgery

If you have decided to have this surgery then you will have to prepare for this event over the coming months (or weeks).

In order to help you with this the surgeon will give you a set of guidelines – a sort of ‘do’s and don’ts’, which are aimed at your personal health and wellbeing. The fitter and healthier you are for surgery the better the outcome.

This means being frank and honest about your health. The surgeon will take a complete medical history so it is important that you tell him or her everything. This includes any allergies you have, any past treatment – surgical or medical and any medications you are currently taking.

If you fail to mention an underlying condition or allergy then this could cause problems during or after surgery.

Are you a smoker? If so then the surgeon will ask you to stop for at least two weeks before your operation. Smoking can interfere with wound healing by depriving the tissues of the treated area of much needed oxygen. This means a much longer recovery time than that of a non-smoker.

Basically, smoking prevents the incisions from healing properly. These effects can be reversed if you give up before your surgery. It is a good idea not to return to your cigarettes for at least two weeks after.

The ideal situation is one in which you stop smoking altogether. Whichever surgeon you visit would prefer you to stop but does understand how difficult this can be. So, he or she will be sympathetic about your reasons for smoking and can offer advice if you are thinking of giving up.

You will have to take time off work following your surgery. This may only be a couple of days but this is something you will have to arrange with your employer.

The guidelines from your surgeon will include advice on what to pack the day before your operation, what will happen on the day itself and, what the recovery will involve.

This is quite a stressful process and so you may find it helpful to make a list of things to do beforehand. This list can include what preparations to make on your return from hospital. As you will be resting for the first couple of days it is important that you don’t overtire yourself or do any unnecessary bending or lifting.

So, ask someone to come and give you a hand with the usual everyday jobs such as cooking, shopping, cleaning etc. It is a good idea to stock up on ready meals (or cook and prepare meals in advance and freeze these); bottled water, soft foods, soups, juices etc.

Have some loose soft clothing such as a jogging suit or baggy top to hand so that you don’t have to pull anything close fitting over your face. Keep some blankets and extra pillows to hand and have a good supply of your favourite magazines, books and CD’s.

You may need to obtain an ample supply of painkillers and any medications (if allowed) in advance. Other items include dressings, gauze, petroleum jelly and scar reducing creams.

Ice packs and help reduce any swelling. You can either buy the ready prepared gel packs from your chemist or make your own via packs of frozen vegetables.

The cheek implant procedure

You may have the choice of a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic with sedation although this will depend on your surgeon. This can be performed as a day surgery.

The surgeon will make small incisions either on the outer cheek, below the lower eyelid or at the top of the upper lip (near the gums).

The surgeon will insert the implant directly on top of the cheek bone. It may have to be repositioned several times during the surgery. A small titanium screw is used to secure the implant to the bone.

The implants themselves are made out of solid or semi-solid materials. Other options include injectable fillers. There are advantages and disadvantages with all types and these will be discussed between you and your surgeon.

The incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches. A light dressing may be applied.

The surgery can take from 1.5 to 2 hours although this depends on the scope of the procedure. It will take longer if performed with other cosmetic procedures.

If this is the case then you will be required to stay overnight in hospital.

Recovery

Expect to feel tired and sore afterwards. There will be some pain but this can be controlled with pain medication. Make sure someone can drive you home after your operation, and if necessary, stay with you the next day.

There will be some minimal bruising and swelling.

You will be advised to stick to a light diet the first few days. This means ‘soft foods’ such as yoghurt, soups etc. Avoid foods which require a great deal of chewing. Keep away from salty foods as they can aggravate any swelling of the wound.

You will need to take a week off work to recover. During this time, get plenty of rest and give your face chance to heal. Do not do anything strenuous and avoid contact sports or activities which can put pressure on the cheek area.

Whilst you have the chance, read, watch television, listen to music or other light activities. Once you feel like moving then try some gentle walking but avoid sports for a week or two.

The great majority of patients have a trouble free recovery but things can go wrong in a small minority of cases. If you experience any of the following symptoms then contact your surgeon immediately:

• Poor or delayed wound healing
• Excessive bleeding
• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Sharp or intense pain
  

You will have been given a date and time for the first of your aftercare visits. These are check ups, designed to assess your progress.

The benefits of cheek implant surgery

The benefits are largely psychological: these include greater confidence, happiness with one’s appearance and an improved quality of life in general.

The physical results are filled out, rounded cheeks which are youthful and natural looking; successful facial reconstruction as a result of an accident or injury and cheeks which are perfectly in balance with other facial characteristics.

The risks of cheek implant surgery

All surgical operations have risks although these tend to be very small.  Complications are rare but are more likely to happen in those patients with immune system ‘problems’, poor wound healing or bleeding disorders.

The risks common to all procedures are:

Infection: infection is more likely with this type of procedure. If this happens then the implants may have to be removed. If you experience any redness or severe pain following surgery then notify the surgeon.

Antibiotics can be prescribed before and after surgery to prevent this.

Scarring: the scars are very small and do fade over time. Steroid injections, moisturising creams and massage can help.

Poor wound healing: this can happen in a small minority of cases.

Adverse reaction to anaesthesia: anaesthesia is safe but a tiny minority of patients have a bad reaction.

Deep vein thrombosis: this is where a blood clot can form in the lower leg as a result of inactivity. The danger is if this clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream towards the heart.

However, patients are given special compression stockings to wear which help to prevent this. They are also encouraged to get up and move around as soon as possible.
There are complications which are specific to this type of surgery. These are:

• The implant is rejected: The human body may treat this implant as a ‘foreign body’ and reject it as thus. This implant will have to be removed.
  
• Implant moves or shifts out of place: this is very rare but the implant can shift out of place. If so then further surgery is required to reposition it.
  
• Capsular contracture: scar tissue or a ‘capsule’ tends to form over the implant as a protective device. However, this tissue can tighten which can then squeeze the implant. If this happens then the scar will need opening to release the tension.
  
• Loss of sensation: in some cases there may be reduced sensation. This can take up to 3 months to return to normal.
  

Asymmetry: the tissues may heal at different rates and if they do so then the cheeks may appear unbalanced. If so then further surgery will be required to correct this.