Cheek Implants & Fat Transfer: What's Involved & What to Expect

Everything You Need to Know About Cheek Augmentation

Cheek augmentation surgery is a versatile procedure with a relatively brief recovery and results that can make a meaningful difference in how the entire face looks and feels. Here's a closer look at who's a good candidate, what each approach involves, and what recovery looks like.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Cheek augmentation is a good fit for a wide range of patients. The best candidates are men and women who are in good overall health, don't smoke, and have realistic expectations about what the procedure can accomplish. In terms of cosmetic concerns, you may be a good candidate if you're dealing with any of the following:

• Flat or underdeveloped cheeks that lack the fullness or projection you'd like, regardless of your age or weight
• Volume loss in the mid-face due to aging, which can leave the cheeks looking sunken or hollowed out
• Facial asymmetry, where one cheek looks noticeably fuller or more projected than the other
• Mild skin laxity in the mid-face, which can sometimes be improved when volume is restored beneath the skin
• A desire for more balanced, harmonious facial proportions overall

It's worth noting that if skin laxity is more significant, a mid-face lift or facelift may be a better fit, either on its own or in combination with augmentation. Our surgeons will give you an honest assessment of which approach makes the most sense during your consultation.

Cheek Implants

Cheek implants are the most established and long-lasting method of cheek augmentation. The implants themselves are typically made of soft silicone and come in a variety of anatomical shapes and sizes, so our surgeons can select exactly the right dimensions to complement your natural facial structure.

The procedure is performed under general, sedation, or local anesthesia and typically takes about one to one and a half hours. Small incisions are made inside the mouth, which means there are no external scars and no visible indicators that anything was done. Through these incisions, the implants are precisely positioned in a pocket over the cheekbone and secured so they won't shift or migrate over time.

Cheek implant surgery is designed to be permanent. While the face will continue to change naturally with age over the years, the implants themselves are built to last a lifetime. In some cases, minor revision procedures may become appropriate down the road to keep the result looking natural as the surrounding tissue changes, but this is not a routine concern for most patients.

Fat Transfer to the Cheeks

Fat transfer, also called fat grafting, is a natural alternative to implants that uses your own body fat to add volume to the cheeks. Fat is harvested from another area of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs, through a gentle liposuction process. It's then purified and carefully injected into the cheek area in precise amounts to restore volume and improve contour.

Because the material being used is your own tissue, there's no risk of rejection or allergic reaction. The results look and feel completely natural. Fat transfer also offers the added benefit of subtly contouring the donor site where the fat was removed.

The longevity of fat transfer results can vary from person to person. A portion of the transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed by the body in the months following the procedure, which is why our surgeons may slightly overfill the treatment area to account for this. The fat cells that do establish themselves tend to remain long-term, providing durable, natural-looking volume enhancement.

Recovery from Cheek Augmentation

Recovery from a cheek augmentation procedure is quite manageable for most patients. Here's what you can generally expect:

• Some swelling and bruising in the mid-face area are normal in the first couple of weeks. Cold compresses can help minimize both.
• Most patients are able to return to work and normal daily activities within about a week of their procedure.
• Exercise and other strenuous activities should be avoided for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery.
• Following the initial recovery period, your results will continue to refine and settle over the next several weeks. Most patients see their final results take shape around the six-month mark, at which point the cheeks will look fuller, more defined, and naturally youthful.