The purpose of cheek augmentation is to give the cheeks more volume or lift. Some people find it bothersome when their cheeks age-related volume loss or even drooping. Others struggle with cheeks that could be characterised as thin or flat because they never gain the necessary volume in them.

Options for enhancing the cheeks

The use of solid cheek implants or fat grafting/transfer (when the patient's own fat is used) are both acceptable surgical techniques for enhancing and augmenting the cheeks. Using injectable fillers to accentuate the cheeks is a nonsurgical approach; this topic is covered on the dermal fillers page.

An extremely personalised technique is cheek augmentation. For patients who are self-conscious about their cheeks, the treatment can change their lives. You should do this surgery for your own benefit, not to please others or to live up to any sort of idealised ideal.

In general, you might be a suitable candidate for cheek augmentation if:

• You are in good physical shape, and your weight is steady.
• You set reasonable goals.
• You don't smoke.
• Your cheeks' appearance is upsetting you.
• Your cheeks are too thin, flat, or sagging.

Review cheek augmentation pictures and find out what to anticipate during recovery if surgery is something you're thinking about. Patients benefit from forward planning by having realistic expectations and experiencing a quicker recovery.

The choice to have cheek augmentations is quite individual. You must determine whether the advantages will help you reach your goals and whether the dangers and possible side effects of cheek augmentation are worth it.

How safe are cheek implants?

The dangers of surgery will be thoroughly explained by your plastic surgeon and/or staff. You will need to sign consent paperwork to show that you are aware of all the risks and potential consequences associated with the treatments you will be undergoing.

The following are only a few of the potential hazards of cheek augmentation:

• Hazards of anaesthesia
• Asymmetry
• Bleeding
• Being blind (rare complication of fat transfer)
• Dislocation of a cheek implant
• Problems related to cardiac, pulmonary, and deep vein thrombosis
• Cysts of fat
• Deep beneath the skin, fatty tissue may pass away (fat necrosis)
• A buildup of fluid (seroma)
• Hematoma
• Infection
• Lumpiness
• Other alterations in cutaneous sensation, such as numbness
• Chronic discomfort
• Donor site for fat transfer has poor cosmetic results.
• Incisions don't heal well
• Surgery revision is a possibility.
• Long-lasting swelling or skin discolouration
• Losing skin
• Inferior aesthetic outcome
• A large scar around a cheek implant (capsular contracture)
• Negative scarring

Before you give your consent, all risks, including these ones, will be clearly disclosed. It's crucial that you speak candidly with your plastic surgeon about all of your concerns.

Your incisions may receive gauze dressings or bandages after cheek augmentation surgery. In order to reduce swelling and support the cheeks as they recover from surgery, consider using an elastic bandage or compression garment. Alternately, you might not have any bandages or dressings. You might be put on a liquid diet and/or given specific mouth rinses if you had cheek implants placed through an oral incision.

You'll receive detailed instructions, which can include:

• How to take care of the surgical site(s) after surgery
• Drugs that can be used topically or taken orally to promote healing and lower the risk of infection
• Specific issues to watch for following surgery or with your general health
• When to schedule a consultation with your plastic surgeon.

Ask your plastic surgeon detailed questions regarding what to anticipate throughout your particular recovery period.

• Where will I be taken when my procedure is finished?
• What prescription drugs will I receive or be given following surgery?
• After surgery, will I wear dressings or bandages? Will they be taken out when?
• When may I take a shower or a bath?
• When can I get back to my regular routine and exercise?
• When do I go back for additional treatment?
• Do I have to adhere to a certain diet after surgery?

As the swelling goes down, healing will continue for a few weeks. Continue to adhere to your plastic surgeon's recommendations and show up to follow-up appointments on time.

Swelling may initially hide the ultimate effects of cheek augmentation surgery. The outcomes of fat transfer cheek augmentation depend on how much fat was injected into your cheeks and how much of that fat your body has kept. Numerous variables, such as the surgical procedure and the unique metabolism of your body, can affect this. Your final result will be more predictable if solid cheek implants are employed.

Surgery and medical treatment are not exact sciences. Although positive outcomes are anticipated, there is no assurance. In some cases, a single surgical treatment might not be sufficient to produce the best results, and a second surgery can be required. Instead of going back into surgery, some patients choose to "touch up" their results using injectable fillers.

When you go home, if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, or strange heartbeats, get medical help right away. You could need hospitalisation and further care if any of these side effects appear.

The outcome of your surgery depends on you following your doctor's recommendations. During the healing process, it's crucial that the surgical incisions not be subjected to too much stress, abrasion, or motion. You'll receive detailed instructions from your doctor on how to take care of yourself.