Cheek Implants

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have had small cheek implants placed last year, but they are definitely too small. I’m looking to get some fillers for further augmentation. I just have a couple of questions:

1) Can a filler like Radiesse be placed over the implant safely?

2) My malar deficiency seems to be causing some mid-face sag and folds. Would adding fillers to the cheeks help address these concerns?

Thank you!

A: Any form of synthetic injectable fillers or injected fat can be placed over cheek implants. No complications will occur unless the injectate ends up violating the cheek implant capsule. This is where the role of using blunt-tipped cannulas for fillers are better than injecting using a needle.

I doubt that injectable cheek augmentation will do much for soft tissue elimination of your midface sagging. Larger cheek implants would be more effective in that regard but even they will not significantly improve your nasolabial folds. But an injectable approach to the cheeks and nasolabial folds would be a good initial approach to see how much improvement may be possible. I would not be optimistic about this approach but at least it is reversible if ineffective.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana