Question:
A few days after my cheek implant, I was hit in the face with a softball. How will this affect the healing process?
Answer:
There are multiple ways to place cheek implants in the face; one of them is to create a small recipient pocket, in which the implant is positioned, and the other is to actually secure the implant with a small screw or suture. Regardless, when done correctly, mild trauma should not cause displacement of the implant. However, if one does experience trauma around the area where an implant was recently placed, it is always a good idea to have the surgeon evaluate things because there is a possibility that the implant can shift. One would also expect that it could increase the duration of swelling as well.
About the Author: Dr. Edwin Williams
Dr. Edwin Williams is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who founded The Williams Center in 1993. He has performed over 10,000 facial plastic surgery procedures and has pioneered the deep plane facelift. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery for over a decade, and served as President from 2015-2016. In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Dr. Williams earned the Castle Connelly Top Doctors award in New York Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Edwin F. Williams III attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He began medical school at the State University of Buffalo School of Medicine and received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986.
Dr. Williams is actively involved in teaching facial plastic and reconstruction surgery to the residents of the Albany Medical Center and is former Chief of the Section of Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery at Albany Medical Center where he received an academic appointment of Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery.