Can I Get Custom Cheek Implants To Restore Volume Lost After A Deep Plane Facelift?

Q: Dr. Eppley, My hope with reaching out to you, would be that you can help me find my way back to my old self. I had a deep plane facelift that took all of my volume and left me looking much older even at a full year if healing.  I am interested in a custom cheek implants. I do not want an apple cheek. I have also included attached images (which are most likely phoroshopped) of the desired aesthetic look I would like to achieve. If at all possible, I would like my old self back.I do not want filler, nor fat grafting. I had micro and nano fat with the deep plane, which now gives the appearance of jowling, as my cheeks have lost volume, so it looks like areas are sagging and hollowed out, this is in my orbital area as well. I will forward those pictures revealing the poor result. Please help!

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending all of your pictures. This is an unfortunate outcome and I can certainly understand your concerns and objectives. The soft tissues  of the cheeks have lost projection (technically not lost volume, just that the volume has now been displaced laterally, strerched ad compressed by the tighter overlying skin) You are correct in that any type of soft tissue augmentation is destined to fail because the pressure of the tighter tissues will be hard to give any adequate push outward with a soft material. Only an implant off of the bone Canal provide they needed secondary projection.

The concept of the cheek augmentation that you are now seeking is largely bone based. The traditional apple cheek augmentation effect is more soft tissue based where much of the augmentation is below the actual cheekbone. You are also correct in that only a custom cheek implant design can reliably affect this type cheek projection change.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon