Which Type of Cheek Implant Is Better?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would like to get some facial cheek implants done and I have heard there is silicone and Gore tex. Do you have an idea of which one is better? And does Gore tex  implants get smaller after time passes? Thanks alot.

A: What is commercially available as preformed off-the shelf cheek implants are the materials, silicone and Medpor. Each of these materials has advantages and disadvantages and neither one is perfect. So it is not an issue that one is better than the other. Both can work very successfully and they are non-resorbable so they are permanent and do not change in size with time. Goretex is available as a block material which can be carved into a cheek implant shape during surgery but is a softer material and more deformable than either silicone or Medpor. What matters a lot more than the material is the right shape and size for your desired cheek look and a surgeon who has both the artistic skill to make that selection and then insert them properly.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana