Introduction

Cheek augmentation – Cheek Lift is becoming increasingly popular among women and men. One of the main enemies of facial aging is the loss of volume in the central region of the face, which is known as the midface third. The bone slowly retracts backward, and the area loses fat volume so that there is less fat on the facial bones, and what there is tends to fall due to the effect of gravity and the loss of tension in the tissues.

What is cheek Lift augmentation?

It is a treatment whose main objective is to improve the contour, increase the volume and firm the tissues of the cheek area.

It is important to note that the cheekbones are the bones that project the part of the face known as the cheeks, so the main purpose of this treatment is to enhance the periorbital area and increase the face’s oval. According to a survey, it is the perfect treatment for patients with “little relief” on the face as it enhances the look.

How do I know if I am a candidate?

It is especially indicated in people who have an underdeveloped malar (the bone at the level of the cheekbones).

On the one hand, there may be young patients who go to the consultation of a specialist doctor with the need for volume to increase the projection of the cheeks or an older patient who, due to flaccidity or other issues, wants to reaffirm the tissues by performing this procedure. For both cases, they must undergo the exhaustive evaluation of a specialist to recommend the best treatment.

It is not recommended for patients who are not in good general health and for people taking anticoagulants.

How do I choose my specialist doctor?

It is very important to consider several considerations before choosing the specialist doctor who will be in charge of the treatment. It is essential to find out about the different clinics, hospitals, or medical centers that offer the cheek augmentation technique. As a second step, it is vital to determine which specialists have the necessary experience to perform this procedure and verify that they are certified, professionals.

Another point to consider is effective communication between doctor and patient since the professional must speak clearly and realistically about the results. For this reason, it is usual to speak of “realistic expectations” so that both value the future results of each operation above other factors such as economic factors. Following tips are recommended following before choosing a specialist doctor:

Do not be guided by the best prices: Perhaps a cheaper center cannot offer you the guarantees and security necessary for your intervention. Remember that your health always comes first.
Safety and reliability of the centers that perform cheek augmentation surgery. Each person is different: What went well for one person does not have to go well for you. This is according to the health of each patient, weight, age, and multiple factors to consider.
Choose a specialist physician who is appropriately qualified and certified.
Find out about the success rate of the professional who will treat you. Review their work and experience comments from their patients.

What is the first appointment with the specialist doctor like?

During the first appointment, the professional will evaluate aspects such as flat cheeks that are generally inherited from parents or loss of facial volume, which can occur due to the natural aging process.

At the first appointment, the facial composition of each patient should be carefully evaluated. To do this, the certified specialist doctor will examine your face, take photographs and recommend the procedures that are most likely to achieve your goals, maximizing results and minimizing recovery time.

Also, the specialist must take into account other factors to consider, such as the general health of the patient, age, physical condition, to anticipate any type of complication during the procedure. On the other hand, it is important that in this first appointment, all doubts are clarified regarding the expected results, benefits, possible complications, costs, among others.

As the last point to consider, remember to tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medication or if you are a smoker, as these factors will influence the process and recovery of your treatment.

How is the cheek augmentation procedure performed?

There are different methods for cheek augmentation, but among the most used are:

Hyaluronic acid application: Hyaluronic acid is a substance that our own body produces. The absorbable fillers are injected so that it is a procedure characterized by being painless, ambulatory, and safe, with a very high effectiveness rate. After its application, hyaluronic acid is slowly broken down by the body. The hyaluronic acids that are injected into this area have sufficient conjugation-crosslinking to last two years.”
Facial Lipotransfer (lipo injection or lipofilling): It is the technique most demanded by patients who seek longer-lasting results than those provided by hyaluronic acid but who do not want to undergo prosthetic implant surgery in the malar. With this procedure, we will increase the volume and projection of the cheekbone thanks to the injection in that area of the patient’s fat. This fat has been previously obtained (through local anesthesia) from the region around the navel or the crotch using suction microcannulas that will not leave a trace of scars. Since it is an alive tissue and belongs to the patient himself, there is no risk of rejection. The result will last several years, although it will depend on each specific case.
Implants or insertion of permanent prostheses (Malarplasty): This treatment has the longest durability. The most outstanding advantage of this intervention is that it allows to create or recover the cheekbones’ volume and firmness definitively. There are three common forms of cheek implants: malar, submalar, and combined. To do this, small incisions are made inside the mouth above the upper teeth. The cheek tissues are lifted, and a small pocket is created for the implant to rest on the malars. This type of implant increases the projection of the cheekbone and, depending on the implant chosen, also increases the cheekbone’s width. It is essential to fix these implants to the malar bone using screws, given the greater risk of mobilizing this type of implant. The surgery usually lasts 2 to 2.5 hours. Patients will be able to go home the same day.

How is the recovery?

As it is an outpatient procedure that does not require the patient’s admission to the medical center, recovery is quite fast.

Depending on which of the three procedures were performed will depend on the recovery time.

In the case of hyaluronic acid injection, recovery is almost immediate (1-3 days)
In the case of facial fat transfer, the recovery time will be one week.
Finally, in having an implant, the recovery time will vary between 2 and three weeks.

The main advantage of this procedure is that the results can be visualized in very few days. This surgery’s main benefit is that it improves the patient’s general image and allows the rest of the facial features to appear more prominent.

The postoperative period of a palatoplasty

When leaving the medical center and in the postoperative days, the patient may experience different discomforts or signs on the skin that are considered normal:

Redness in the area of the operation
Bruises in the area and contour of the operation
Swelling of the surgical site
Experiencing pain when eating

After 72 hours, the discomfort will decrease. It may require a few days of rest, depending on each case. It is also important to avoid the sun and to wax in the surgery area.

It is not recommended to do any type of physical exercise for 2-3 weeks since anything that causes an increase in blood pressure can cause bleeding.

It is recommended to sleep with the head higher than the body and on the back to avoid any friction that enhances the inflammation of the tissues. To do this, you can put up to two or three pillows under your head and back to stay in a reclined position. This pose reduces pain and swelling.

After two or three weeks, you can resume normal activities without any problem in the case of implants.

What are the results of cheek augmentation?

The results of this surgery are multiple:

Noticeably improves facial features.
It rejuvenates the look and makes a younger and fresher face look.
They add volume to areas that may be flat, in this case, the cheeks.
Gives a natural and harmonious result.
Results are visible within a few days.
They make it possible to draw the face’s contour showing clearer, more defined, and beautiful lines.

Frequent questions

Why is hyaluronic acid short-lived on the cheeks? The duration of the hyaluronic is related to the technology used in the crosslinking process and the concentration. That is why we have hyaluronic from the Juvederm line that has the longest duration of up to 24 months. But it is no less true that the rate of reabsorption can vary from one patient to another due to the characteristics of each one, says
When will I see the results? The specialists explain that the final results will be observed after approximately one month since the inflammation gradually decreases. You will notice a daily improvement, but you must be patient with the recovery process.
When will I be able to sunbathe? After a couple of weeks, the patient will be able to sunbathe. This to give enough time to the healing process and to reduce inflammation, according to the specialists of the
When will I be able to return to normal life after surgery? After a week, you will be able to return to normal life. This is according to the recovery process of each particular patient. This is why you must have fluid communication with the surgeon.
Is botox an alternative to fill in cheekbones? In no case are they filled with botox. Botox is an injectable to reduce dynamic wrinkles, which does not add volume and should not be put in that area. If you want to increase this area’s volume, you must undergo a treatment of hyaluronic acid (resorbable), lipofilling, or implants explains.
What is the difference between removing Bichat balls with cheek augmentation? Both procedures seek to harmonize the face by giving it a more triangular shape; the implant of a cheekbone prosthesis does so at the expense of enhancing the cheekbones’ volume. On the other hand, the resection of the Bichat Balls achieves this by reducing the volume at the cheeks’ level. Therefore, the choice of one or the other option will depend on the specific face of each case, emphasizes
I have read that there is a risk of losing sight after doing a filler injection in any part of the face, is there a high risk in the cheekbones area that can affect sight even if it is an area with fewer arteries? What are the precautions to avoid such an incident? Go to experienced professional specialists. There are risks even to squeeze a grain, with which the ideal is that you be treated and guided by accredited medical personnel.
Is it possible to have a rounder face with hyaluronic acid fillers? What you have is very typical in class III surgery. I have to tell you that there are several options to try to prevent that. The ideal would have been a transposition of the Bichat ball or a modified maxillary osteotomy (Le-Fort I in step) to try to avoid it at the time of orthognathic surgery. However, if you did it publicly, that is not covered since, In social security, orthognathic surgery is considered a functional treatment, and that is why it is performed. The ideal would be to assess you in person to advise you what best suits your desires and facial anatomy. Prostheses require surgical intervention and are permanent. Currently, personalized prostheses can be made, but their cost is higher. If your problem is bone, some imaging test would be necessary (surely you have a cephalometry or lateral skull teleradiography that your orthodontist or surgeon has done). Infiltration with hyaluronic ac is another option available, but an in-person analysis is necessary to see the depth and type of hyaluronic.
What would be the most recommended, an augmentation of cheekbones with permanent prostheses or HA’s infiltrations in the cheekbones? As their name suggests, they are permanent, they may indeed have a higher cost than HA, but in the long run, it is cheaper because you don’t have to be aware every six months that the HA is gone. The prostheses are perfectly designed for your type of face and bone so that they adapt to it. One con they have is that they can give rejection although it is material from which they are made, it has a low percentage of what it can provide.
On the other hand, the HA every six months, you have to repeat the session, the price is cheaper, and another advantage you have is that you can change the shape as you do the retouching. On the contrary, that tissue to which you are constantly putting AH when it swells and deflates forms scar tissue, and that tissue can eventually deform.
Each treatment has some pros and cons depending on what you are looking for and it’s budget. The two treatments are valid to achieve beautiful cheekbones.