CHEEK SURGERY

heek implant surgery usually takes about one hour. If you are having a facelift or a forehead lift at the same time, your cheek implants may be inserted through an incision made for these procedures. Otherwise, they'll be made through an incision made inside your upper lip. Occasionally, a lower eyelid incision is used to insert the cheek implant.

Your surgeon will first lift the tissue of your cheek away from your cheekbone, creating a tunnel that will hold the implant in place. The implant will rest directly on the bone, which must be completely bare of tissue before the implant is inserted to provide a stable "seal".

The surgeon will then place the implant in the tunnel, stitch it into place and sew up the incision. Surgical tape or a light compression dressing may be applied to your cheek to control swelling and to give you the extra support required, right after surgery.

You'll probably feel very little pain after surgery, although your cheeks may feel stiff and numb. You may not feel like talking much and your smile won't feel as complete as usual for several days. Yawning and chewing may also feel a bit uncomfortable. These sensations will begin to pass four to five days after surgery.

You can usually get back to work about a week after facial surgery. Many people, however, don't feel comfortable going out socially until the bruising and swelling go down, usually two to three weeks later.

You should avoid any activity that may result in your face getting jarred or bumped for at least six weeks - the time it takes for scar tissue to form around the implant and hold it securely in place.

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Facial surgery can dramatically or subtly change the way you look, depending on what you want. The key to a successful operation is working with your plastic surgeon to define your expectation as specifically as possible.

You may experience some unusual reactions from family and friends who don't appreciate the results of your surgery or understand your reasons for pursuing it. If that happens, try to keep in mind why you decided to have the surgery in the first place. If you've met your goals, your surgery is a success.

A short incision under   the chin or inside the      mouth allows the surgeon   to place a chin implant directly on the bone.

Facial implants help      change the basic structure       of the face to give a fuller, more balanced look.