Subciliary malar augmentation and cheek advancement: a 6-year study in 22 patients undergoing blepharoplasty

Twenty-two patients seeking aesthetic improvement of their eyelid and orbital-cheek region underwent malar augmentation and cheek advancement in conjunction with lower eyelid blepharoplasty by means of a subciliary incision. The follow-up ranged from 12 to 78 months, with a mean follow-up of 44 months. Concomitant other aesthetic procedures were performed in 27 percent of the patients. Satisfactory goals of lower eyelid aesthetic improvement and malar augmentation with cheek advancement were achieved in 21 of 22 patients. A single patient had her implants removed within 3 weeks of her initial operation, at her request. Complications included hematoma formation in two patients, transient ectropion in two patients, and a palpable implant edge in a single patient. There were no long-term functional or aesthetic sequelae. Malar augmentation and cheek advancement have been found to be a significant adjunct to lower eyelid blepharoplasty because they improve the appearance of the cheek region and add a youthful contour to the malar area. These straightforward procedures add an effective dimension to blepharoplasty in appropriately selected patients.