Your recovery time after a cheek implant procedure is usually about six weeks. Before planning this type of major change to your appearance it might be wise to prepare for it psychologically and emotionally. Be aware too that it is considered to be a purely cosmetic procedure that is rarely, if ever covered by health insurance.

The good news about cheek implants is that it is a reversible operation. If you don’t like the way they look you can always have them removed and have them replaced with ones that you find more suitable for your facial structure.

The usual recovery after aesthetic cheek surgery depends on the type of surgical approach utilized and if other procedures are performed at the same time.  In general, from a cheek augmentation alone, you should be active the day of surgery, but your upper lip will be “asleep” similar to a visit to the dentist.  This sensation returns overnight, and the cheeks will feel mildly sore and swollen.  

Prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medicines may be provided, and you should maintain light activities.  Keeping your head elevated helps the swelling resolve sooner.  If your cheek augmentation was performed through the mouth, you will be restricted to a soft diet for a few days until the gums have healed.  You will rinse your mouth after eating to keep the sutures clean, and these will dissolve on their own after several weeks.  

If the eyelid approach was utilized, your surgeon will instruct you on how to rest your eyes, and utilize lubricants to prevent dryness during the post-surgery swelling phase.  During follow-up visits, skin sutures will be removed.

With the intra-oral approach for cheek augmentation, no visible external scars should be present.  If an eyelid approach is utilized for your aesthetic cheek surgery, scars will be present under the eyelash margin.  Scars in this location are usually very hard to identify, even when you are searching for them.

After Care and Recovery

Bruising and swelling are commonplace, but in the vast majority of cases this subsides within two weeks. You may need to have your head elevated while you sleep for a while, and in some cases a liquid diet is necessary to follow for a few days as you may experience restrictions chewing. Numbness is not likely but not uncommon.

After surgery, a dressing is applied to minimize discomfort and swelling. There will be dietary restrictions as well as limitations to your activities. Your ability to move your mouth and lips may be limited and as a result so will your ability to eat. Be prepared to do a lot of drinking through a straw for ten or more days. It may also be difficult to talk or smile.