Its a natural progression over time.

These can lead to the cheeks sagging and causing deeper smile lines.

Patients say, I inject and it goes away.

Gif of mona lisa portrait with implant animations

Channing Smith

Is there anything more permanent?

(you could confirm that a doctor is board-certified in plastic surgery atcertificationmatters.org.)

And now: Heres everything you should probably know about cheek implants.

What exactly are cheek implants?

Cheek implants are pretty much what they sound like.

your cheekbones], Dr. Doshi says.

They are shaped like ovals or teardrops and are better for fullness and lifting.

Before the procedure, your surgeon will determine whether malar or submalar works better for your face.

Then we use instruments to lift tissue off of the bone to basically make a pocket for the implant.

During consultation, ask your doctor about how they will secure the implant.

Since the incision is inside the mouth, theres no visible scar.

Again, this varies with each patient and the surgeons preference.

How can cheek implants change your face?

One reason cheek implants are so popular is that they can alter your whole face.

(Of course, afaceliftalso lifts, but is mostly focused on the jawline and neck.)

The one area where cheek implants fall short: They dont do anything for your overall complexion.

Whats the downtime after cheek implant surgery?

Post-op downtime after getting cheek implants is relatively short.

What are the risks of cheek implants?

Thats hard to predict, though, since it also depends on the skins elasticity.

In this context, getting cheek implants at a younger age can be a benefit.

They can get infected, they can shift, but they’re not really rejected, says Dr. Kontis.

What makes someone a good candidate for cheek implants and what doesnt?

Certain facial features can help determine whether cheek implants are a good idea or not.

This creates visibility of the cheek implant, says Dr. Chang.

How much do cheek implants cost?

Ultimately, what you see is what you get, says Dr. Kontis.

Especially with plastic surgery, thats a rare thing to find.

More reporting on plastic surgery procedures:

Now, watch one derm walk us through her entire day: