Cheek augmentation in Iran: all you need to know

Cheek augmentation is a common cosmetic surgery in Iran, offered at numerous beauty clinics and hospitals across the country, including the cities of Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, and Isfahan.

At AriaMedTour, we offer cheek augmentation services with the most reputed and experienced cosmetic surgeons. These specialists are a hand-picked group of highly-trained board-certified plastic surgeons with at least 12 years of experience.

Cheek augmentation cost in Iran

The cost of a cheek enhancement procedure in Iran is much more affordable than in many other countries. Depending on the reputation of the surgeon, the technique used, and the clinic’s fee, cheek augmentation prices ranges between $200 and $3000.

As the most expensive cheek augmentation option, a cheek implants surgery costs between $1500 and $3000 in Iran. This cost includes all related expenses, including, lab tests, anesthesia, medications, doctor’s fee, and clinic’s fee. To make a comparison, the average cost of a similar procedure in America, NOT including anesthesia, operating room fee, and other related expenses, is over $3500.

The cost of a fat transfer for cheek augmentation in Iran falls between $500 and $1500, depending on the amount of fat injected. The cheapest cheek enhancement procedure is injectable dermal fillers, which costs between $200 and $500 in Iran.

What is cheek augmentation?

Cheek augmentation, sometimes referred to as augmentation malarplasty, is a cosmetic procedure aimed at adding volume to the cheeks in people who are unsatisfied with their ‘gaunt’ face due to flat and sunken cheeks.

This facial cosmetic procedure is most popular among women, but some men, too, may seek this procedure to get a more muscular face and improve the contour of their face. Cheek augmentation for men and women also improves the saggy cheeks resulted from aging.

Types of cheek enhancement procedures

Cheek augmentation can be done in several ways. There are three main methods for enhancing cheeks: cheek implants, cheek fillers, and cheek augmentation with fat transfer.

Cheek implants

Cheek implants are anatomically designed to add fullness to the cheeks and improve their contour. They are made of different materials, including solid silicone, which is the most common material of cheek implants, as well as high-density porous polyethylene, known by its brand name Medpor, and ePTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), marketed as Gore-Tex.

The difference between silicone implants and Medpor and Gore-Tex is that the removal of silicone implants, in case of a need for revision or changing your mind later, is easier than the other two options, especially Medpor, because Medpore and Gore-Tex provide better integration with the underlying bone and tissues due to the tissue ingrowth, making it more challenging to remove them. Because of this characteristic, these two types of implants provide a more natural result, which is considered an advantage in another respect.

In terms of shape, cheek implants can be malar, submalar, or combined. Malar cheek implants, which are the most common shape of implants used for cheek augmentation, are placed directly on the cheekbones, offering a sharper projection on the cheeks and a higher, more defined cheek contour.

Submalar implants are not intended to augment the cheekbones. They are placed under the cheekbones to increase the volume of the midface in people whose cheekbones are already ok but desire a fuller midface. Combined implants are larger implants that cover both the malar and submalar areas.

Cheek fillers

A non-surgical cheek augmentation option is cheek fillers. The dermal fillers used for cheek enhancement is the same substance used to add volume or smooth wrinkles in other parts of the face. Injectable fillers are can be temporary or permanent, depending on their material.

Cheek augmentation with fat grafting

Fat transfer, or fat grafting, is a very popular method for cosmetic surgery with a variety of uses. In this procedure, fat is extracted from the patient’s own body using liposuction and, after being purified, is re-injected into other areas with the aim of adding volume and improving the contour of specific parts of the body.

Am I a candidate for cheek augmentation surgery?

Going for a cheek enhancement surgery is a decision you make for your own heart’s desire. If you feel too self-conscious about your facial appearance and gaunt face, and you’ve got congenital sunken cheeks or your cheeks lost volume due to aging, you can consider a cheek augmentation procedure. However, in order for a cheek augmentation procedure to produce the desired outcome, you should:

• Be physically healthy with a stable weight;
• Be a nonsmoker or stop smoking a few weeks before until a few weeks after surgery; and
• Have realistic expectations.

To be more specific, good candidates for different types of cheek augmentation are as follows:

Candidates for cheek implants: People who are looking for permanent results and have healthy skin. Too thin skin doesn’t provide a natural-looking result.

Candidates for fat grafting cheek augmentation: Those with enough fat stores who are healthy enough for liposuction are ideal candidates for this method. Furthermore, people seeking fat grafting should not have coagulation or lipid metabolism disorders, acute infections, or severe chronic diseases.

Candidates for facial fillers: Injectable fillers are a good option for people who do not have enough excess fat, or prefer a less invasive procedure. These people also must be informed that the results of most dermal fillers last shorter than those of other options. Additionally, breastfeeding or pregnant women and people with sinus infections are not good candidates for this procedure.

 How is cheek augmentation performed?

The first step in every surgery is anesthesia. Depending on the type of cheek enhancement surgery, your preference, and especially your doctor’s recommendation, you may receive general anesthesia, local anesthesia, or intravenous sedation (IV).

After administering anesthetic medications, the surgeon makes the necessary incisions. If cheek implants are used, there are two options for inserting the implants. Some surgeons prefer ‘intraoral’ incisions, which are made inside the mouth and do not leave a visible scar after healing. Others choose external incisions, which are placed under the lower eyelids.

The implants are then placed under the skin through the incisions, and if needed, are fixed with microscrews. Finally, the incisions are closed using sutures, adhesives, or tapes.

In case a fat transfer procedure is employed for cheek augmentation, small incisions are made in areas where fat is to be harvested. After suctioning out fat, it is purified using a centrifuge and injected into the cheeks using a thin cannula. The incisions made on the liposuctioned area and cheeks are very small and will not leave a visible scar after healing.

The non-surgical filler injection method involves injecting dermal fillers under the skin using a syringe.

All types of cheek augmentation surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you don’t need to stay in hospital overnight. They can be done in a hospital or a clinic and doctor’s office with surgical facilities.

What should I do before a cheek augmentation surgery?

You need to stop smoking a few weeks before surgery because it can hinder the healing process. You also have to stop taking certain medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements because they, too, can increase the risk of bleeding during the surgery.

The pre-op consultation session is an important preparatory step before surgery, during which the surgeon discusses different issues with you, including potential risks and expected results. Be sure to ask him/her all your questions in the consultation. The doctor may ask you to undergo certain tests and medical evaluations.

Cheek augmentation recovery and downtime

Recovery from a cheek augmentation surgery is different depending on the type of procedure you have. Patients having dermal fillers and fat grafting will typically fully recover from the procedure in 5-10 days.

Cheek implants patients need a longer time for recovery because the procedure is more invasive, causing more bruising and swelling, which peaks on days 2 and 3 and gradually subside until fully disappearing after a few weeks.

The downtime after a cheek augmentation is different from a patient to another. Most patients will be able to return to work and resume normal activities after 2-3 days as long as they don’t involve strenuous activities.

Some doctors apply dressing or bandages after surgery. They may also prescribe compression garments to minimize swelling and help you heal faster. If intraoral incisions are used for placing implants, a special diet and mouth rinses may be prescribed by your doctor. Make sure to strictly follow your doctor’s instructions to heal fast from your surgery.