Cheek implants at Spire Dunedin Hospital

You may have decided you want cheek implants because you feel your cheekbones are too flat, or are out of proportion with the rest of your face.

Or maybe you simply want to turn back the clock. As we age, our skin can start to sag and cheeks can lose their plumpness. This can leave us with jowls or saggy folds of skin. Having cheek implants can help pull up this skin to give your face different, more youthful, proportions.

Whatever the reason, we can help you achieve the look you want, so you have the confidence you need to live your life to the fullest.

The procedure builds on your existing bone structure, by placing a silicone implant over the top of your cheekbones to give you a look you're happy with. It's sometimes performed at the same time as other cosmetic procedures, such as a facelift, to reshape the face and maximise the results of surgery.

We pride ourselves on our clinical excellence, you'll be looked after by an experienced multi-disciplinary care team.

Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see and when you want. They’ll be with you every step of the way: from giving advice at your first consultation, through to offering on-going support after your surgery.

All of our cosmetic surgeons are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well equipped hospitals.  A cosmetic surgeon’s reputation, qualifications and experience are vitally important, so we only work with consultant grade specialists. These are highly experienced consultants who have completed years of medical training. All our consultants are on the specialist register of the General Medical Council (GMC), and many are also members of the UK’s leading cosmetic and plastic surgery associations.

Cosmetic surgery can be a life enhancing decision and we’re here to help you make the right one. Our experienced cosmetic surgeons will guide you through every step of the way.

It’s important to meet with your chosen consultant before treatment so that you are completely comfortable with them and they know what you want to achieve. It’s helpful to bring in some pictures and a friend or family member to your initial meeting to help articulate your thoughts. You should also ask to see some of the surgeon's recent before and after pictures of similar operations they've performed.

This is an important decision and we're here to listen and help you achieve your goals.

If you decide to go ahead with the procedure, we'll give you at least two weeks between consultation and operation date. This is because we want you to be really happy and confident with your decision.

We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.

For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.

Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

We understand that undergoing surgery can potentially be a time of anxiety and worry – even for the most common and straightforward procedure. Our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you, holding your hand, every step of the way.

Cheek implant surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic, which means you will be asleep for the duration of the procedure, or under a local anaesthetic, when the area will be numb but you will be awake. You surgeon will discuss this with you beforehand.

During the surgery, the surgeon will insert the implant through an incision made inside your mouth where your cheek joins your upper gum. This technique means there will be no visible scarring. Sometimes they may also insert the implant through a cut in your lower eyelid.

The material used for the implant is usually silicone or another manufactured material that the body tolerates well. Sometimes it is necessary to use a bone graft, usually taken from the hip. If a bone graft is used there will be some scarring in the area where your surgeon takes the graft. Your consultant will discuss this with you prior to your operation.

After this, you will be taken to your room or comfortable area where you can rest and recuperate until we feel you’re ready to go home.

You'll usually be able to return home later the same day after cheek implant surgery. 

Pain relief

For the first few days after the procedure you might experience some swelling and soreness in your cheeks and also in your mouth if an incision was made there. Over the counter pain relief should be enough to ease any discomfort, or your doctor might prescribe something stronger if you find it particularly painful.

Recovery time

After cheek implant surgery, your consultant will advise you on how to make your recovery as quick as possible.

When you get home you’ll need to take things easy at first for the first few days. After about a week, you should be able to engage in normal activities and go back to work though you should avoid contact sports for the first six weeks to avoid the risk of dislodging the implants.

End results

You'll be able to see a noticeable difference straight away and once the swelling has reduced you'll be able to judge your final new look. Because everyone looks different, everyone has different results. Your surgeon will discuss the outcomes and your expectations with you before the procedure.

How your loved ones can help

Once you’re ready to be discharged from hospital, you’ll need to arrange a taxi, friend or family member to take you home as you won’t be able to drive. Your surgeon will advise you when you should be able to drive and carry out strenuous activity again after your procedure.

Looking after you

Even after you’ve left hospital, we’re still looking after you every step of the way. After cheek implants, typically our consultants will want to see you after your procedure to see how you are doing. A follow up appointment will be made for you before you leave the hospital.

On rare occasions, complications following cheek implant surgery can occur. The chance and type of complications depends on the exact type of treatment that you're having and other factors such as your general health. Ask your consultant to explain how these risks apply to you.

If you have any questions or concerns, we're here to help.

We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.

Important to note

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.