Cheek implant surgery happens in a set order: consultation, anesthesia, access, placement, closure and recovery. Timings, risks and outcomes depend on the surgeon and the patient, so each step comes with what to ask.
Planning a cheek implant
The implant consultation
The consultation sets the plan. Ask the surgeon what the implant is meant to change, what material and shape are proposed and what alternatives exist. Ask to see the surgeon's own before and after photographs.
Alternatives to compare
Ask which alternatives the surgeon would consider, such as filler. A plastic surgery society page titled What are Facial Implants? is a general starting point for that conversation.
During the implant operation
Anesthesia for implant surgery
Anesthesia is set up first. Ask which type is planned, who provides it and what you must do the night before, such as fasting or stopping certain medicines.
Access and placement
After anesthesia, the surgeon makes access and places the implant. Ask where the incision will be and how the implant is positioned. Ask how symmetry is checked before the operation ends.
Closing the access
The access is closed at the end. Ask what type of closure is used and what dressing you will have when you wake up.
Once the implant is in
Questions for the first days with an implant
Ask what the first days look like, what activity to avoid and which signs mean you should call the office. Ask when follow-up visits happen.
Planning the cost
Ask for a written estimate that lists the surgeon's fee, the facility, anesthesia and follow-up care. A plastic surgery society page on facial implants cost is a place to start for the questions to put to any practice.
Walking the implant sequence with your surgeon
Walk through the sequence with your surgeon from consultation to follow-up, and check that each step has a clear answer. The society's page on cheek augmentation covers the wider topic. General information is not medical advice, and a licensed surgeon should assess your own case.