Cheek Implant After Fracture

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in getting a cheek implant. I was in a car accident ten years ago and had reconstructive surgery on right side of face. You can see that my fave is fuller along the jawline and lacking fullness on the apple of my cheek. I’ve had fillers for years to temporarily fix the problem area but I hate it. I’m ready for a permanent fix so I can feel beautiful. You can see in my attached pictures my facial asymmetry problem.

A:Thank you for sending your pictures. You have the classic cheek deformity that often occurs after a zygomatico-maxillary (cheekbone) fracture where the projection of the cheek is ultimately lost from inward translocation of the arched cheek bone complex. Given your naturally very high cheekbones (as seen on your left side) it would be easy for such a fracture and even its repair to match the naturally high cheekbone projection that you have. You are correct in that there is a simple fix to that concern by placing a cheek implant on top of the most depressed portion of the bone. This is done through a small incision inside the mouth.The key is both the proper cheek implant shape and size.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana