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Restore or enhance mid-face projection and balance with a customized cheek implant.
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Incisions are placed discreetly in the mouth’s upper gumline or within the lower eyelid, so there is no visible scarring.
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When performed as a standalone surgery, cheek augmentation may only require local anesthesia with IV sedation to help speed up recovery by avoiding the side effects of general anesthesia.
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Biocompatible cheek implants are typically made of silicone or porous polyethylene.
Contour in the cheeks can contribute to a balanced, youthful facial appearance. While dermal fillers are commonly used in this area, cosmetic surgeons also offer permanent cheek augmentation with implants as a lasting way to create proportional, lifted cheekbones.
See transformative results from our board-certified cosmetic surgeons.
Why Consider Cheek Implants?
Full, well-defined cheekbones frame the eyes, create the appearance of a “lift” in the lower face, and create attractive facial proportions. If aging, genetics, or significant weight loss have left your mid-face flat or hollow, or simply slightly out of proportion with other features, then cheek implants offer a predictable, permanent solution for volume loss or congenital under-projection.
Ideal Candidates
You may be a good candidate for malar implants if you:
- Are healthy, a non-smoker, and at a stable weight
- Have flat or hollow-looking cheeks
- Understand the procedure recovery protocols, and have realistic expectations for outcomes
- Would like a permanent alternative to fillers, desire a single-procedure solution, or are not a good candidate for fillers or fat grafting
- Desire improved facial balance, often alongside chin or jawline enhancement
- Accept that implants can be removed or revised with another surgery, but not “dissolved” like fillers
Patients with untreated oral infections, certain unmanaged diseases, or unrealistic expectations should postpone surgery. Your surgeon will consider your full medical history before surgery to make sure you are a good candidate.
The Procedure—Step by Step
- Anesthesia & prep with IV sedation or general anesthesia.
- Hidden incision of about 1 inch is created inside the upper lip or just inside the lower eyelid.
- Pocket for the cheek implant is created above the zygomatic bone.
- Trial sizing with temporary sizers allows your surgeon to confirm symmetry and balance before permanent implant placement.
- Fixation of the implant to the cheekbone to prevent shifting.
- Closure of the incision using dissolving sutures inside the mouth; no external stitches.
You will go home the same day with instructions to eat a diet of soft foods and wear a cheek support garment, as well as follow-up appointments scheduled to monitor your healing progress.
Recovery & Expected Results
Swelling, tightness, bruising, and mild cheek numbness are normal in the first few days after surgery. Your surgeon will give you instructions for using ice packs and elevating your head to reduce swelling during this time. You will also need to rinse your mouth with a solution to help protect the incision site after meals.
Most bruising will fade in about 1 week, and that is when it is common for patients to return to desk work or school.
Over the course of about 2-3 months, most visible swelling will go down, and if you experienced numbness post-surgery, this tends to return to normal as well.
Risks
A 2025 meta-analysis of 3,701 patients found malar implants carried a 7.4% overall complication rate, the lowest among all facial implants.
Risks associated with cheek implants include:
- Temporary numbness of the upper lip or teeth
- Swelling or bruising lasting several weeks
- Implant shift, which is usually prevented by fixation of the implant to the bone
- Low-grade infection treatable with antibiotics or, rarely, implant removal
- Visible or exaggerated projection if implant size is poorly chosen
To minimize both cosmetic and medical risks of cheek implants, it is critical to choose an experienced cosmetic surgeon who has performed many cheek implant procedures as a regular part of their practice. Look for patient reviews and testimonials, and ask to see numerous before and after photos of the surgeon’s previous patients who had the procedure you are seeking. They should also operate in surgical suites with hospital-level safety standards and highly qualified surgical teams, as reflected in the facility’s accreditation.
- Candidates must pass a challenging certification exam.
- Written and oral exams cover the full scope of cosmetic surgery and evaluate knowledge, surgical judgement, technical expertise, and ethics.
- Unlike other surgical boards, certification is entirely dedicated to cosmetic surgery.
- Surgeons must demonstrate expertise in a full range of modern aesthetic procedures of the face, breast, and body, including nonsurgical.
- The ABCS conducts a thorough screening and background check on each applicant.
- Diplomates pledge to act ethically, compassionately, and with the utmost integrity in all aspects of their professional and personal lives.
- Diplomates complete ongoing requirements to stay updated with the latest advances in cosmetic surgery.
- Maintaining board certification demonstrates a lifelong commitment to excellence.
Cheek Implants vs. Fillers vs. Fat Transfer
| Implants | Dermal Fillers | Fat Grafting | |
| Longevity | Lifelong | 6-24 mo | Variable (40-70% of fat usually lasts long-term) |
| Volume range | Moderate – large | Small – moderate | Moderate |
| Reversibility | Removable | Dissolvable (hyaluronic acid) | Partially |
| Cost over 5-year period | Initial surgery | Approx. 2-10 repeat visits | May require a second procedure for full results |
| Downtime | 5-7 days | Little to none | 7-10 days (bruising) |
Patients seeking subtle, adjustable enhancement may start with dermal fillers, while those wanting a one-time, structural solution often choose facial implants. Fat grafting is often ideal for more widespread facial volume loss, especially due to aging, and is often paired with a facelift for comprehensive results that “turn back the clock.”
Combining Cheek Implants with Other Surgery
Cheek implants are, in practice, often combined with other procedures, such as rhinoplasty, a chin implant, or a jawline implant.
Experienced cosmetic surgeons with a nuanced understanding of your facial anatomy may recommend a different procedure than you originally felt was needed, or a combination of more than one more subtle treatment, in order to best reach your goals.
