Can Autologous Materials Be Used For Cheek Augmentation?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Are malar implants only done with synthetic material? Can you use an autologous graft like cartilage as I am prone to inflammation.

A:While one can use autologous and allogenic tissues for cheek augmentation the amount and size of the graft material that is available (by harvest ot tissue bank acquistion) limits their potential effectiveness. In otherbwords for very small amounts of cheek augmentation they make be effective. In some patents cheekbone osteotomies can be used if the cheek augmentation goal is one dimensional. (cheek widening)

In essence implants allow any type of dimensional cheek augmentation change and the control of the result is preoperative selection. Conversely grafts and osteotomies have more limited effects their harvest size will control the cheek augmentation effect.

These are general statements about cheek augmentation materials. How all this applies to youis  knowing what your cheek augmentation goals are compared to what your cheeks look like now.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon