What is cheek augmentation?
Cheek augmentation (cheek implants) is surgery that increases the projection and volume of the cheekbone (malar) region to give more definition to the midface. It is performed by placing a solid silicone implant over the bone or, in selected patients, with a graft of the patient own fat. The goal is to harmonise the cheeks with the rest of the features, whether they are flat by genetics or have lost volume with age.
It should be distinguished from hyaluronic acid fillers, a non-surgical, temporary procedure that adds volume without placing a permanent structure. Cheek implants offer a stable long-term result and are reversible in the sense that the implant can be removed; a fat graft is the patient own tissue, though some of the volume is reabsorbed over time. When the reason for consultation is a global descent of the tissues from ageing —not only a lack of malar projection— it may be worth combining it with a facelift.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
Not every cheek needs the same thing: some need projection over the bone and others need to fill the hollow beneath it. That is why the technique is defined during the assessment, based on the anatomy of the patient and the type of volume that is missing:
- Malar implants: placed directly over the zygomatic bone to increase cheekbone projection and define the bony contour. This is the option when the cheek is flat or poorly defined.
- Submalar implants: positioned below the cheekbone, over the soft tissue, to fill the midface depression that gives a gaunt or tired appearance. They correct the hollow, not the bony projection.
- Combined (malar-submalar) implants: cover both areas when the patient needs both more bony projection and filling of the hollow of the cheek.
- Intraoral approach: the incision is made inside the mouth, in the groove between the gum and the upper lip, so no scar is visible on the skin.
- Implant selection and shaping: the size and shape are chosen according to each face; in some cases the implant is trimmed during surgery for a precise fit.
- Cheek augmentation with a fat graft: an alternative —or complement— for those who prefer not to place a foreign material. Fat is harvested from the patient by liposuction and infiltrated into the malar region. Some volume is reabsorbed, so it is sometimes planned with a slight initial excess.
How is it performed?
Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia or sedation with local anaesthesia, in a hospital operating room, and usually lasts approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. Through an incision inside the mouth a space (pocket) is created over the malar bone or tissue, the selected implant is inserted and fixed in the correct position; the incision is closed with sutures that usually dissolve. When the chosen technique is a fat graft, the fat is first harvested by liposuction from another area and then infiltrated into the cheek. It is generally an outpatient procedure: the patient goes home the same day with a soft diet and oral-care instructions.
All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.
Who is a good candidate?
Candidates present one or more of the following and are in good general health:
- Flat or poorly projected cheekbones by genetics.
- Loss of midface volume from ageing.
- A gaunt or hollow appearance in the submalar area, below the cheekbone.
- Asymmetry between one cheek and the other that the patient wishes to balance.
- A desire for greater facial definition that is stable rather than temporary.
- A non-smoker, or willing to stop tobacco during healing, given its effect on the oral mucosa and tissues.
- Realistic expectations, reviewed in detail at the consultation.
Recommended post-surgical treatments
To support a more comfortable recovery and reduce cheek swelling, Dr. Arístides may recommend manual lymphatic drainage, hyperbaric chamber sessions and careful oral hygiene while the internal incision heals. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
The reference price starts at approximately $40,000 MXN, depending on the complexity of the case and the indicated technique. The price is all-inclusive: it covers use of the operating theatre and facilities, pre-operative laboratory work and the post-surgical recovery treatments. It is not the surgeon’s fee alone. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
To decide with confidence who to trust with your face: How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla — part of the informational guide series reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Days 1–3Cheek swelling and discomfort managed with prescribed analgesia; soft diet and relative rest.
- Week 1Swelling starts to subside; internal sutures usually dissolve on their own. Prescribed oral hygiene is maintained.
- Weeks 1–2Gradual return to social life and desk work, as medically authorised.
- Weeks 3–4Exercise and higher-effort activity are gradually authorised.
- Up to 2–3 monthsResidual swelling fully resolves and the malar contour result settles.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cheek implants cost in Puebla?
The cost is defined at the in-person consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano, because it depends on whether malar, submalar or both implants are placed, on the type of implant or whether a fat graft is preferred, and on hospital and anaesthetist fees. There is no single list price for this surgery.
What is the difference between malar and submalar implants?
Malar implants are placed over the cheekbone to increase its projection and define the bony contour. Submalar implants sit below, over the soft tissue, to fill the midface hollow that creates a gaunt look. They can be combined when the patient needs both corrections.
Does the surgery leave a visible scar?
No. In most cases the incision is made inside the mouth, in the groove between the gum and the upper lip, so no scar is left on the skin of the face.
Are cheek implants or hyaluronic acid filler better?
It depends on the goal. Hyaluronic acid filler is non-surgical and temporary, ideal for a subtle, reversible change. An implant offers a stable long-term result and is the option when a permanent contour change is sought. The right choice is defined at the consultation.
Can cheek implants be removed?
Yes. One advantage of a solid silicone implant is that, if needed, it can be removed or exchanged in a later surgery. A fat graft, by contrast, is integrated tissue of the patient own and is not removed in the same way.
How long is recovery after cheek implants?
Most patients return to social life and desk work in 1 to 2 weeks. Visible swelling subsides over the first weeks and the contour result fully settles between 2 and 3 months. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Can it be combined with other facial surgery?
Yes. Cheek augmentation is often combined with other facial procedures, such as a facelift or rhinoplasty, when the treatment plan justifies it. Whether to combine surgeries is assessed at the consultation based on your anatomy and general health.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.