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The Skinny
Who doesn’t love a strong cheekbone or a nice high cheekbone? Don’t we all wish our zygomatic bones were sharp as glass? Ok, maybe not. But a refined and defined cheek appearance can greatly enhance facial aesthetic and create a youthful appearance (check out our complete guide to Cheek Volume Concerns). If your cheeks are too full, not full enough, your cheekbone is dull or way too sharp, or you want some dimples, a cheek augmentation or cheek reduction procedure with a board certified plastic surgeon can create the cheek definition, look, and volume you desire.
The Specifics
Who may consider cheek augmentation or reduction procedures?
In case you missed the anatomy lesson on the concern page, here’s a quick recap. The cheekbone (a.k.a. malar or zygomatic bone) sits just below and to the ear side of the eye. The soft tissue extending down towards the lower jaw (mandible) contains soft tissue, the buccal fat pad, and the parotid gland (salivary gland). Issues related to any of these structures can cause any one of the below sub concerns.- Hollow & Sagging Cheeks: This can be caused by an overly prominent cheekbone, lack of volume of the buccal fat pad, and/or low body weight/fat. These conditions cause a sunken cheek appearance.
- Full Cheeks: Full cheeks generally correlate to excessive volume of the buccal fat pad or soft tissues of the cheek. An under defined cheekbone may also contribute to an overly full cheek appearance.
- Cheekbone Definition: The cheekbone defines the appearance of the cheek/midface. The volume of the buccal fat pad may also make the cheekbone appear more or less defined. Those with low body weight/fat may have more pronounced cheekbones as will certain ethnic groups.
- Dimples: These are the small indentations appearing in the smile line at rest or when flashing your pearly whites. For those with naturally occurring dimples, a tight and short zygomaticus major (a muscle in the cheek) is the culprit.
What can you expect from a cheek augmentation and reduction procedure?
Both cheek augmentation and cheek reduction procedures exist to refine, define, and alter the cheek appearance. The level of invasiveness depends on the procedure. A general overview of procedures is below:- Cheek Augmentation: Can correct sagging or hollow cheeks, and can also be used to create dimples. Augmentation procedures utilize injectables to enhance and fill out the cheek. Fillers, implants, and fat transfer can be utilized.
- Cheek Reduction: For those seeking to correct overly full cheeks or alter the underlying zygomatic bone, a reduction procedure like Buccal Fat Removal or Zygoma Reduction Plasty (cheekbone reduction) can reduce volume, soften overly harsh definition, and refine overall cheek appearance.
- Dimpleplasty: For those seeking to create a dimple within the smile line, a dimpleplasty can create a permanent indentation.
Each of the reviewed procedures will carry different side effects, recovery times, and permanence of results. Injectables are generally minimally invasive with few side effects, but require regular maintenance. Surgical procedures to bone or soft tissue will necessitate more recovery but produce lasting results.
When should you consider a cheek augmentation and reduction procedure?
The ideal time to consider a plastic surgery cheek procedure is when it feels right... well, kind of. For best results, candidates should be in generally good health, have ruled out underlying medical illness, mentally prepared for recovery, and set realistic expectations. And yes, when it feels like it’s time to create your ideal appearance then it definitely is.Why should you consider a cheek augmentation and reduction procedure?
As with most cosmetic surgery procedures, a professional enhancement provides more precise, longer lasting, and more significant alterations to appearance. There’s nothing wrong with some good DIY home cosmetic solutions, but, if you're seeking to spend less time, mental energy, and money on daily routines to adjust your appearance, then a cheek augmentation or cheek reduction procedure is an excellent choice.Cheek Augmentation Procedures
For those concerned with hollow or sagging cheeks or lack of dimples, an augmentation with facial implants procedure can provide a significant refinement to cheek appearance. Cheek augmentation can enhance cheek fullness and volume leading to a more toned and refined look.- Cheek augmentation with fillers
- Overview: To enhance cheek fullness, dermal fillers, like Sculptra®, Restylane®, or Radiesse®, are injected into the cheek. These substances naturally enhance volume, and also encourage the body to produce more collagen.
- Cost: $1,000 - $4,000
- Recovery & Results: Tenderness, swelling, and bruising will resolve within one week. Results are temporary and require maintenance every six months to two years.
- Cheek Augmentation with implants
- Overview: Silicone implants, Gore-Tex, or Medpor are placed within the upper outer cheek. These implants integrate with natural bone and tissue overtime.
- Cost: $2,000 - $4,000
- Recovery & Results: Pain and bruising persists for about two weeks. Swelling can last for up to six months. The results are permanent and do not require maintenance.
- Cheek Augmentation with Fat Transfer
- Overview: Fat grafting is utilized via liposuction usually from the thigh or stomach and implanted into the cheek. The body will not reject the implant as it is natural material.
- Cost: $350 - $6,000
- Recovery & Results: Bruising and swelling resolve, and sutures are removed after 10 days. Maintenance treatments are required every one to five years.
Cheek Reduction Procedures
Overly full cheeks or undesirable cheekbone definition can be corrected with a buccal fat removal or zygoma reduction plasty. These procedures can alter the soft tissue of the cheek or the underlying bone structure to define the cheek.- Buccal Fat Removal
- Overview: A surgical procedure to remove the buccal fat pad in the cheek reducing cheek volume. This is not performed in thin people or those with narrow facial bone structure secondary to risk of developing a gaunt appearance with aging.
- Cost: $2,000 - $5,000
- Recovery & Results: Tenderness, swelling, and bruising typically last for about two weeks. Results are noticeable after several months. Significant weight loss or weight gain can impact results.
- Zygoma Reduction Plasty
- Overview: This procedure is used to shave down and refine the appearance of the cheekbone (zygomatic bone) in those with genetically large cheekbones. This procedure does not alter the soft tissue of the cheek.
- Cost: $2,000 - $8,000
- Recovery & Results: Bruising and swelling generally resolves within two weeks, although swelling can persist for a few months. The results are permanent and most noticeable after three months.
For Dimples
Are you okay with the volume of your cheeks but want a different kind of definition? Dimpleplasty can create a more youthful and jovial smile.- Dimpleplasty
- Overview: Small dissolvable stitches are placed on the inside of the cheek to cause the cheek tissue to heal in an indented (dimple) appearance.
- Cost: $1,500 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Swelling and redness resolve within five days. Final results are permanent and will be noticeable after about two months.
The Takeaway
A board certified plastic surgeon can create the cheek definition and volume you wish God gave you. Through injectable fillers, cheek implants, or surgical procedures, cheek augmentation and cheek reduction procedures are safe, effective, and precise. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to schedule a consultation and become the Grecian god or goddess you’ve always dreamed of being.
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Source List
- Paul Cohen, Bruce M Spiegelman Cell Biology of Fat Storage PubMed.gov; 2016-08-15
- GB Forbes Body Fat Content Influences the Body Composition Response to Nutrition and Exercise PubMed.gov; 2000-05-01
- Park, S The Mini Zygoma Reduction Surgery: a Simple and Reliable Approach for Mid Face Narrowing pubmed.gov; 2016-07-27
