Traditionally, strong cheek bones and facial angulation have been considered signs of beauty. Cheek implants add to the definition of the face and help improve facial harmony through two procedures - malar augmentation and submalar augmentation. The submalar implant may even give a more youthful appearance to the face or enhance the results of a face lift.

Candidates for malar augmentation may have inherited flat cheek bones which give no contour to the face, or they may wish to eliminate the cherub-cheeked look.

Candidates for submalar augmentation seek to enhance the natural facial contours that have become hollow and contributed to a weak mid-face area. These candidates, who are usually men and aging women without substantial fatty deposits in their facia area, seek to fill out their face. The surgery may offer a more natural "high cheekbone" effect with the malar implant.

Patients who have suffered facial trauma or have a congenital defect are candidates for cheek augmentation as well.

The surgeon will study the contours of your face very carefully to determine whether an implant will help you and which type, malar or submalar, is best for your particular condition. There are a variety of sizes and shapes of preformed rubber implants that are used in these procedures, and it is necessary to determine which size and shape will provide the facial structure and balance you desire.

The surgery is done with local anesthesia and mild intravenous sedation, or "twilight" anesthesia. The implant is placed through an incision in the mouth hidden in the upper lip above the gum line. There is no visible scar and dissolvable stitches are used.

There is little, if any, pain associated with either implant surgery and the swelling is minimal. Very rarely will a patient suffer from bruising. Patients can return to work and other activities within two to four days.