Cheek surgery: procedures, results and prices

Fortunately or unfortunately, time passes for everyone. Each wrinkle, facial crease or imperfection is one more example of what has been experienced, which is why obsessing over aesthetic canons and the effects of the passage of time is usually never a good idea.

Even so, the biological clock can be delayed to some extent, and cosmetic surgeries are real proof of this. In the United States, 18.7% of all surgeries of this nature are performed, which translates into in more than 1.8 million patients annually who undergo surgery to solve various imperfections aesthetic.

It is clear that facial and body touch-ups are on the rise, since it is estimated that each year, globally, the number of people who undergo them increases by at least 5%. Augmentation mammoplasty, blepharoplasty (retouching of the eyelids), rhinoplasty, abdominal implants... aesthetic interventions do not know gender, age or ethnicity.

Today we come to introduce you to a slightly less common procedure and not as well known by the general population: cheek surgery. Immerse yourself with us in this world of scalpels and implants because, whether out of curiosity or because you plan to undergo this process, we assure you that you will come out enriched after reading these lines.

• We recommend you read: "The 10 most important types of surgery (and their characteristics)"

What is cheek surgery?

Cheek surgery, also known as malarplasty, is a surgical process whose objective is the reduction of the malar bone (the one that gives shape and prominence to the cheekbone) or, failing that, the application of a filling that gives a certain volume and projection to a “flat” facial structure. In summary, this cosmetic surgery seeks to shape beautiful cheekbones that adjust to the maxillofacial contour of each patient according to their needs and characteristics.

In places like Asia, malarplasty is in the "Top 10" aesthetic operations, although it is necessary to make a clear distinction between increase and decrease procedures, since both the prices and the steps to follow are completely different. Next, we present each one of them in detail. In this sense, cheekbones surgery can be either augmentation or reduction.

• You may be interested in: "Lip surgery (cheiloplasty): what is it, price, procedure and results"

1. Cheek augmentation

First of all, it is essential to note that cheek augmentation can be performed surgically and non-surgically. The second is much less invasive, because simply It is a facial injection of fat from the patient himself or a dermal filler, although implants are the option to follow when looking for a more obvious or long-term result. Since we are talking about surgeries, we will focus on the variant that requires passage through the operating room.

Process

This procedure is not performed in just one day, as the specialist must thoroughly examine the patient's face and perform based on it, a three-dimensional computed tomography in which to make the changes that will later take place in life real. The basis of all these initial precautions is to predict what the final result of the process will be, since reversing it can be very complex and expensive.

Once the size and shape of the implant have been chosen, the selection of the material will be used, which is usually silicone or porous polyethylene. The former usually have a smooth surface, while polyethylene is more textured. The choice will be made based on the tastes of the patient and the recommendations of the medical professional.

Often, a pre-measuring implant is used that will allow the surgeon to opt for a definitive option once the operation itself is performed. It should be noted that the implants are performed through the mouth, after local or general sedation of the patient. When making the incision and insertion endobucally (where the upper teeth meet the inner cheek), a pocket is created between the cheekbone and facial muscles, allowing easy implant placement.

This entire procedure lasts from about 30 minutes to an hour and a half and the results are immediate. In general, cheek augmentation surgery is recommended in the following cases:

• For patients who seek to alleviate the passage of time and combat facial aging.
• To balance facial features.
• To give "more life" to the gaze of those patients with sunken eyes.
• To soften the nasolabial fold, that is, the line that descends from the wing of the nose to both sides of the mouth.

Price and considerations

As far as postoperative care is concerned, it is usually necessary to prescribe antibiotics to the patient, especially if the procedure has been performed through the previously described endobucal route. This is done to prevent infection in the incision area. It is also common for the individual to present bruises and edema during the first days and, unfortunately, complete healing can take 2-3 months.

In general, cheek augmentation without undergoing surgery is usually much cheaper, with a price of about 300-475 euros, since injections of botox or other materials are performed quickly and simple. It should be noted that, unfortunately, these procedures are temporary, unlike the surgery already described. Although we have not been able to find a definitive price for surgical augmentation malarplasty, it is clear that this will increase considerably. In general, most facial aesthetic touch-ups that require surgery are at least 2,000 euros.

2. Cheekbones reduction

On the other side of the coin we have the reduction malarplasty, that is, the one that seeks sharpen rough facial features due to overly pronounced cheekbones. Next, we see the particularities that define it.

Process

Cheekbone reduction requires general anesthesia. In the operating room, the first thing that is done is an intraoral incision to expose the excess of the upper jaw bone. Behind this, excess bone is removed and the face is refined, followed by deep muscle replacement and cut closure.

It should be noted that this procedure should be followed by a cheek lift and zone correction skeletonized, since the decrease in the amount of bone will be accompanied by a necessary repositioning of certain structures. This operation is relatively extensive and a little more complex than the previous one, which is why the patient must remain in the hospital for 24-48 hours after the intervention.

Price and considerations

As with cheek augmentation, it is common for the patient to experience swelling, bruising, tightness, and tingling in the affected area for the first few days. As it is also an endobucal procedure, special hygiene measures are required in the mouth during the first days.

Unfortunately, we cannot award a fixed price for this procedure either, as It depends a lot on the post-incision touch-ups, the surgeon, and the facility where you are going to perform. Even so, we assure you that this easily exceed 1,000 euros and that it is surely much more expensive. Furthermore, in this case we cannot offer you a non-surgical solution either, as is the case with cheek augmentation.

Resume

As we have seen, augmentation malarplasty can be carried out easily without going through the operating room by means of injections of own fat, botox or other compounds, although their effects are temporary and are not as successful as those that are the result of passing through operating room. Cheekbone augmentation with prosthetics provides much clearer and more permanent benefits, but it is a much more aggressive intervention.

On the other hand, the reduction of cheekbones passes yes or yes by an operation in which the bone structures are filed and reduced and then a relocation of various structures is required. We are facing an invasive process and, therefore, the patient must prepare for spend a couple of days being monitored in the hospital.

Here we have presented you with the possible options, but ultimately, the decision is yours. If you have the money and the will, let nothing stop you: you are the owner of your aesthetics, with all the changes that this may entail.

Bibliographic references

• Cheek augmentation, maxillofacial institute. Picked up on November 16 in https://www.institutomaxilofacial.com/es/tratamiento/cirugia-estetica-facial-aumento-de-pomulos/
• Cheekbones surgery, Flat clinics. Picked up on November 16 in https://www.clinicaplanas.com/cirugia-estetica-facial/cirugia-de-pomulos
• Cheekbone reduction operation, Instituto DR. E Lalinde. Picked up on November 16 in https://drlalinde.es/blog/operacion-reduccion-pomulos/
• Ranking of the main cosmetic surgeries carried out worldwide in 2018, Statista. Picked up on November 16 in https://es.statista.com/estadisticas/583168/principales-operaciones-de-cirugia-estetica-a-nivel-global/
• Malarplasty, cosmetic surgery in Madrid. Picked up on November 16 in https://fcestetica.com/facial/malarplastia-cirugia-del-pomulo/
• Cheek augmentation, which technique is the most appropriate? Estetic.es. Picked up on November 16 in https://www.consalud.es/estetic/bienestar/aumento-de-pomulos-que-tecnica-es-la-mas-adecuada_47744_102.html