Strong cheekbones are one of the most sought after features in men and women, and are considered by many to be a true mark of beauty. If you take a second look at your favourite movie stars or models, there’s a good chance that they have very defined cheekbones.

Luckily, these days it’s very easy to obtain that Katharine Hepburn or Johnny Depp look, regardless of your current facial structure by using one of two cosmetic procedures: fillers, or implants.

Both procedures are very popular and effective, and offer their own lists of advantages.

Fillers

In the past ten years or so, fillers have become one of the most popular procedures in the cosmetic surgery world. Part of their appeal, is that they require no surgery at all. They are easy to use, require little to no recovery time and pose very few, if any health threats to clients.

Two types of filler procedures exist:

  • A fat transfer involves using a needle to withdraw fat from a “donor site” on the client. This fat is then injected into the “recipient site”
  • Non-biological fillers are also available, and often involve the injection of a silicone-based mixture into the cheeks.

In both instances, the filling procedure is extremely flexible, and can be tailored to meet any client’s needs, whether they’re looking for subtle results, or a more defined look.

Fillers typically last for about a year, and cost $500-$600 a vial. The average cheek augmentation procedure requires two to four vials.

Implants

Cheek implants are a more long-term alternative, and involve the surgical implantation of either solid silicone, or medpore. The procedure involves treating the client with a general or local anesthetic, making a small incision in the patient’s mouth, and inserting the implant through this incision.

Although implants are considered to be a more permanent solution, they are also reversible and can be removed using a procedure similar to the one used to insert the implant.

Like fillers, cheek implants can be customized to provide both subtle and dramatic augmentation. That being said, their ideal use is in patients who are seeking significant and long-term augmentation.

An implants procedure can cost anywhere from $3,500 to $4,500. They are more expensive than fillers, but the procedure doesn’t have to be repeated annually.

In both cases, you can expect to see very immediate results. Recipients of both fillers and implants typically marvel at the youthful effects of cheek augmentation.

Both procedures are effective in their own right, but in order to decide which option is best for you consult your surgeon and discuss your personal wants and needs.