Do Midface Implants Become Exposed With Aging?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a few questions about facial implants. Do tear trough, cheek implants, and orbital rim implants become visible as the skin ages? If I need to get them removed will it leave obvious scars? If I get the facial implants but later decide to get a cheekbone reduction would it affect the implants? Thank you!

A: This is a good question about facial implants and is not the first time I have heard it. I have not seen increased visibility of midface implants with aging but that does not mean it does not exist. It would depend on the patient’s face and whether they suffer significant fat loss in the face as they age. It would also depend on how much fat one has in their face and the number and size of midface implants placed.

The removal of implants does not usually any more scars than those that were used to place them. If you get cheek implants and then elect later to have cheekbone reduction, the implants may or may be in the way based on how far back the tail of the cheek implant goes. Usually the implant would be in the way but it could easily be displaced so that the cheekbone osteotomies could be done.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana