The Cheek Of It

Last week the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australia held a meeting exploring mid-face rejuvenation, and I was invited to present on the topic of Cheek Implants.

Sculpted high cheekbones are a hallmark of beauty. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born with naturally beautiful cheekbones, and the ageing process can rob this striking quality from some of the people that are.

Visible signs of ageing in the mid face area occur with a loss of volume or support. Over time, the skin tends to lose some of its elasticity and the ligaments supporting the soft tissues in the face also become lax so this creates loose skin.

Cheek fat descends or becomes saggy as a result.

Initially fillers can replace volume loss, helping create a more youthful appearance, and restoring prominence in the cheek area.  Fillers also give the flexibility to correct asymmetries.

The main problem with this approach is that it requires ongoing maintenance.

Cheek implants offer a more permanent  solution.

As with all facial surgery procedures, an individual consultation is the first and vital step in the process. A full assessment is made during the consultation, to determine the prospective patient’s suitability and carefully determine the size of the implants – ensuring that they are in proportion with the overall facial features.

Cheek implants sit very naturally, the implant is performed in a day surgery, and patients should allow1-2 weeks downtime.

Younger people that never had defined cheekbones and want to add more definition to their cheek area; or people who are getting older and experiencing volume loss or the sense that soft tissue needs restoring, are most likely to consult with me about cheek implants.

For some of these people, I may recommend the deep plane facelift. In this technique there is limited dissection under the skin, preserving the lymphatics and minimizing the swelling. The surgeon dissects below the SMAS layer, releasing it completely from the underlying muscles. Even the mid-face fat is freed completely by dividing the zygomatic (cheek) ligaments, which tether it to the cheekbones beneath. Once this is done, the whole face can be lifted vertically. The now mobile SMAS layer and cheek fat pad can then be very solidly re-anchored higher up the face restoring a more youthful appearance and enhancing the whole cheek area.

You can read more about the deep plane facelift here:

• Deep Plane Facelift