Zygomatic Implants

Many people don’t realize this, but the overall appearance of the face is largely dependent on the cheeks. Chiseled, prominent cheekbones can elevate a moderately attractive face to Hollywood-level beauty. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born with A-list bone structure, but, with the help of zygomatic implants, anyone can have beautiful, defined cheekbones.

WHAT IS ZYGOMATIC SURGERY?

The term “zygomatic surgery” can mean different things to different people, but the most common form of it is malar augmentation (otherwise known as mid-face or cheek implants). Though bone grafts were initially the chosen material for implants, alloplastic implants—silicone implants, in particular—have become the main option for prospective zygomatic surgery patients. Patients may also seek out a reduction of the zygomatic bone, in order to decrease the width of the face. This, however, is less common.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATIENT

Implants are generally used for a wide variety of patients. One subset that benefits greatly from implants are those who have genetic asymmetries—for example, people who have an underdeveloped cheek, which can be corrected with an implant. This patient population will often present in early adulthood.

Another subset of patient who would be interested in this type of procedure is someone with an aging face. As we age, we lose volume in our faces. The skin thins, and we lose some of the fat pads and bone mass beneath. When a patient loses volume in the face, his or her features begin to sag. This can be fixed with implant surgery, which can re-lift and re-suspend those tissues.

Lastly, there are many prospective patients who don’t necessarily have underdeveloped cheekbones, but are interested in acquiring more chiseled, defined cheekbones, similar to those of many famous actors and models. This is one of the most common subsets of patients for this procedure, and patient ages tend to range from the early 20s and up.

RISKS

The most common risk in zygomatic surgery is asymmetry. No one has a perfectly symmetrical face, and doctors should be prepared for that when performing surgery on the zygomatic bone, or else they may wind up exacerbating the problem. Another risk patients should be wary of is the possibility of infection, which is a possibility any time a foreign object is implanted in the body. However, the likelihood of this occurring is extremely small. To prevent infection, patients are typically prescribed a few days’ worth of antibiotics.

RECOVERY

In general, swelling can take a long time to resolve in surgeries like these. Patients should be advised, however, that the swelling following zygomatic surgery can take upwards of six months before it settles and patients can see their final results. Most patients are able to get back to work about a week after surgery, but they should expect some puffiness, bruising, and discomfort still at that point. Recovery time, of course, will vary from patient to patient.

PRICE

As with any treatment, the price will vary depending on location and surgeon. On average, the cost of zygomatic surgery starts at $10,000, and is rarely (if ever) covered by insurance.

FINDING A DOCTOR

Cheek implants, historically, have been a very difficult procedure for doctors to get right. It is extremely important that, if you are considering zygomatic surgery, you find a skilled, facial surgeon to perform the procedure. Make sure to find someone who has a lot of experience with implants and facial work in general, and who has previously done a large amount of zygomatic surgeries and who uses silicone implants. Zygomatic implants are permanent, so you’ll want to make sure that you visit someone who is a master of them.

Written by Cosmetic Town Editorial Team through exclusive interview provided by Dr. Jason B. Diamond of Diamond Face Institute in Beverly Hills, CA