Submalar Cheek Implant

Q: Dr. Eppley, What is the maximum amount of projection in mm that off the shelf submalar cheek implants can give and how much projection can custom implants realistically give? I am looking for a pretty decent amount of projection in order to give me a more rounded apple cheek look.

A: The submalar cheek implant  is designed to elect and reposition soft tissue in an anterior and superior position. It adds some lower mid facial fullness and may have a mild effect on softening the depth of the nasolabial fold in some patients. It can create the so called ‘apple cheek’ look which is usually more of a desired feminine facial trait.

In theory there is very little limit as the midface soft tissues can stretch fairly significantly. The only real limit is the thickness of the soft tissues ands can a competent and tension-free intraoral would closure be done. Standard submalar cheek implant sizes range from 4.5 to 6 mms. I have made custom cheek implants with up to 8mms in thickness in this area. Whether you would need more than 8mms would require an analysis of your pictures and computer imaging of your projected results. I would not think that you would as a general statement as a few millimeters in this facial area has much more powerful efefctr than one would think.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana