Cheek augmentation
Cheek augmentation (malar augmentation) is a cosmetic surgical procedure that is intended to pronounce the cheekbones in a person's face.
In western culture, prominent cheekbones have long been a sign of beauty in both men and women. People who want more prominent cheekbones can have an implant placed to rest on top of their cheekbones. In some Asian countries, for example Korea, the average person has prominent cheekbones, by western standards, and unusually strong cheekbones are considered unattractive.
A plastic surgeon will usually make an incision in the upper mouth near the top of the gum line and slide the implants into place. Another method is to make an external incision near the eye, but most patients do not prefer this method since it can create a visible scar. However, the intraoral (inside the mouth) approach carries a higher risk of infection since the mouth contains more bacteria.
Cheek implants can be made of different materials, and come in many different sizes and shapes depending on what the patient wants. The most common is solid silicone, however other materials can be used as cheek implants. The second most popular material is expanded polytetraflouroethylene (ePTFE), which is known to integrate well with internal tissue to prevent the implant from shifting out of place. Bone grafting can also be used to build up an individual's cheekbones as well as coral and other less common materials.
Cheek augmentations are usually performed under sedation or general anesthesia and take about one to two hours. Recovery from this surgery usually takes about ten days.