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Question :
Can cheek implants give me the look of higher cheekbones?

Answer :
Cheek implants come in many shapes and sizes.  During your consultation it is important that you and your surgeon discuss the look of your cheeks that you are hoping to achieve.  If a high cheekbone is what you would like to see, then the type, size, shape, and location of the cheek implant that your surgeon chooses will enable them to achieve the desired appearance that you were hoping for.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

My face is gaunt and lacks definition. I think cheek implants will soften my look, but I am worried I don’t have enough skin to cover the implant. Can my skin be stretched to allow the cheek implant to be inserted?

Answer:

From the description that you have provided me I would suggest the addition of autologous fat to your cheeks and not cheek implants. Fat injections to the face will not only augment your cheek area in a very precise manner, but, if your face is already thin and gaunt, fat injections to the face will create a smooth and natural augmentation to your face that I feel cheek implants simply do not do in thin skin individuals. I do perform cheek implant surgery, but, from what you have described about your face, well placed fat grafts or dermal fillers will give you a wonderful result.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

I would like my face reshaped in what I think would be a fairly simple but dramatic way. I would like cheek implants to give some definition to my face and I would like to remove some fat from my cheeks at the same time. I have a very round face and I think would take away some of the roundness. If this can be done under local anesthesia, is the recovery time less? Would I be able to get back to work sooner?

Answer:

Placement of cheek implants and removal of a conservative amount of cheek fat would certainly help to change a rounded face into a more dramatically sculpted one. Although cheek implants and removal of facial fat can be performed under local anesthesia, I do not suggest this approach for a couple of reasons. Placement of cheek implants requires a fairly significant amount of surgical dissection into the face. The surgical procedure can be somewhat anxiety provoking without the use of IV sedation or general anesthesia. Regardless of the type of anesthesia that you have the recovery period from cheek implants and facial fat removal will be exactly the same. Your recovery will neither be easier or quicker if your cheek implants are placed under local anesthesia or with the use of IV sedation. I would suggest using IV sedation for this particular procedure.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

Is it possible to have my cheek implants removed and would this look bad?

Answer:

If you are unhappy with the appearance of your cheek implants then you may have them removed and in all likelihood you will look exactly as you did prior to the placement of the cheek implants. I prefer the use of silicone cheek implants in my patients. Silicone implants are extremely well tolerated by the body but, if there should be any reason for removal, they are easily removed without significant facial trauma.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

I am a 29 year old Asian woman. I want to have some work done on my cheeks to make them more pronounced. What are the risks of having a cheek implant put in?

Answer:

The risk of cheek implants placed in an Asian female is no greater than the risks of having cheek implants placed into anyone else. I use an intraoral approach to placement of cheek implants. The intraoral approach avoids any external incisions which could lead to scarring. The risks that I describe to my patients prior to undergoing cheek augmentation are prolonged swelling, cheek numbness, and dislocation or extrusion of the cheek implants. Needless to say, we take every precaution to prevent these potential complications.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

My cheek augmentation surgery was a week ago and I feel like the implants look too large. Is it possible I’m still swollen in my cheeks or did I just pick the wrong size?

Answer:

It is quite possible that after a week you still have considerable swelling in your cheeks and the implants that you had placed are entirely appropriate for your face. I would let the facial swelling subside for another two or three weeks before being too alarmed that your cheek implants are too big.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

For people with severe volume loss in the face, do you ever combine the cheek lift with cheek implants?

Answer:

Volume loss of the face is a relatively common problem. A cheek lift will not really address volume loss of the face completely as you are really repositioning thin facial tissue into an upward position of the face. Cheek implants are a better solution to volume issues of the face as the implants will provide volume to the midface area. I prefer fat injections to the face in situations of volume loss to the face. I frequently use fat injections to the face in combination with a facelift, but, rarely with a cheek lift.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

Whenever I see the singer Madonna, I wonder if she has had cheek implants. How would it be possible to make my cheeks look like hers?

Answer:

Madonna does have very nice facial features. Her high cheek bones are certainly coveted. I believe that her cheeks are likely natural however, you can have modifications to your face to give you an attractive and naturally appearing cheek bone. I use a great deal of filler like Perlane and Radiesse for this purpose. Facial filler can be performed in the office and the results are immediate. I also use autologous fat transfer to the face to sculpt the mid face and create cheek bones in individuals. The results are more permanent than injectable fillers but, a touch up of facial fat injection may be required. Finally, you may elect to have cheek implants placed to create more definition of your cheek bone area. The implants are safe and effective and easily reversible.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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