Improving the shape of the face is usually considered separately from the issue of facial rejuvenation, although it can serve both purposes. For many women, having a more sculpted face is an aesthetic goal, and, therefore, cheekbone augmentation is among the more common procedures in facial plastic surgery practices. Cheekbones are reshaped and built up by placing an implant (made of plastic or some other inorganic material) over them to build up their structure. But beyond wanting to have higher cheekbones, this procedure can be helpful for an aging face. This is because with aging the volume of the cheekbone’s fat pad and bone structure diminishes, one of the reasons an older face can become gaunt. Cheek implants can correct this appearance.
Cheek implants are considered a safe, relatively simple technique with generally good results, although like any surgery it can have its problems both in terms of adverse events and results that are disappointing or upsetting.
The inorganic implant is usually inserted via an incision within the mouth, but it may be done through a lower eyelid or brow incision. Perhaps the biggest mistake made during this procedure is overcompensation. When cheekbones are so enlarged they look like they belong on someone else, the effect is fake-looking (think Disney’s cartoon character Cruella de Vil).
Alternatively, the buccal fat pads under the cheekbone, which are located above the jawline near the corners of the mouth, just below the cheekbone, can be removed in individuals with an excessively round face if they want a more angular appearance. This procedure imparts a more contoured look, sometimes referred to as the “waif look,” a la Kate Moss. However, plastic surgeons warn that, in many individuals, removal of the buccal fat pads can lead to a more drawn, hollow-cheeked look as the naturally occurring aging progresses continues, making the face look older, not younger.
(Sources: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; February 2008, pages 620-628; and Facial and Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, February 2008, pages 11-32.)