Medical Tourism Blog
Gaunt Cheeks Solutions: Cheekbone Implant Procedures in Korea for Fuller, Youthful Faces
Table of contents
- Understanding Gaunt Cheeks: Characteristics and Causes
- Cheekbone Implants: A Comprehensive Medical Overview
- Best Clinics in Korea for Gaunt Cheeks
- Navigating Cheekbone Implant Surgery in South Korea: A Medical Tourist's Guide
- Cost Analysis: Cheekbone Implants in South Korea vs. Global Destinations
- Patient Perspectives: Addressing Gaunt Cheeks with Implants
- Important Considerations for Patients
- Conclusion
- References
Considering treatment in Korea? Everything you need to know e.g. — how to avoid scams, visas, interpreters, recovery tips — in our Medical Tourism Master Guide. Plan with confidence in minutes, not weeks!
A gaunt facial appearance — thin, hollow, or sunken cheeks — is a common concern linked to aging, weight changes, health, or lifestyle habits. Cheekbone implants offer a durable, effective solution for restoring fullness and facial harmony, especially appealing for those seeking a more lasting result than dermal fillers. South Korea stands out as a leading destination for cosmetic procedures like cheekbone implants, thanks to advanced facilities, skilled surgeons, and often more favorable pricing compared to Western countries.
Choosing to have medical procedures abroad can save money, but it requires careful planning, research, and preparation for every step of the journey — from selecting accredited clinics and board-certified surgeons to managing follow-up care after returning home. Patients consistently report high satisfaction with cheek implants, noting visible improvements in appearance and confidence.
Understanding Gaunt Cheeks: Characteristics and Causes
Defining Gaunt Cheeks and Common Pseudonyms
Gaunt cheeks — sometimes called "hollow cheeks" or "sunken cheeks" — describe a visibly hollow mid-face that can make someone appear tired, aged, or unwell. This lack of fullness often highlights deep lines, dark circles, or pronounced bone structure, leading to facial imbalance.
Comprehensive Exploration of Contributing Factors
Several factors can lead to gaunt cheeks:
- Aging: Declining collagen, elastin, and facial fat naturally create hollowness as we age.
- Weight Loss: Losing significant weight — especially rapidly — diminishes cheek fat and volume.
- Dehydration and Poor Nutrition: Insufficient hydration or nutrients reduce skin elasticity and fullness.
- Excessive Exercise: Intense cardio or overtraining can strip facial fat, contributing to a sunken look.
- Genetics: Some people naturally have leaner facial structures regardless of age or weight.
- Medical Conditions and Medications: Certain illnesses or treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, steroids) may affect fat distribution or facial volume.
- Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, heavy drinking, chronic stress, and poor sleep accelerate aging and facial volume loss.
Because gaunt cheeks can reflect underlying health or lifestyle issues, a thorough evaluation is essential. Addressing root causes—such as nutrition or hydration—should accompany or even precede cosmetic solutions for the best and healthiest outcomes.
Cheekbone Implants: A Comprehensive Medical Overview
What are Cheek Implants?
Cheek implants are solid, biocompatible materials placed surgically to enhance cheek definition and volume. For those with gaunt cheeks, these implants restore youthful contour and fullness, providing a permanent effect distinct from temporary options like fillers or fat grafting. A unique feature of cheek implants is reversibility—while the result is enduring, implants can be replaced or removed later if needed.
Types of Implants and Materials
Implant Materials
- Solid Silicone: Soft, flexible, and doesn't bond to tissue.
- Advantages: Easy to revise or remove, feels natural.
- Disadvantages: Possible capsule (scar tissue) formation.
- Fixation: Usually no screws required.
- Polyethylene (Medpor®): Rigid, encourages tissue integration.
- Advantages: Stable and durable, less likely to shift.
- Disadvantages: Complex to remove or revise, often requires screws.
- Fixation: Typically screw-fixed.
- Gore-Tex (ePTFE): Flexible, moderate tissue adherence.
- Advantages: Softer feel, some tissue integration.
- Disadvantages: Less stable than Medpor, less common.
- Fixation: May or may not need screws.
Implant Shapes and Placement
- Submalar Implants: Under-eye area, for mid-face fullness — popular for a contoured, elevated cheekbone.
- Malar Implants: Placed directly on the cheekbone, often chosen for a more defined, angular look.
- Combination Implants: Used together for both definition and overall volume.
The Surgical Procedure: A Step-by-Step Overview
- Pre-Surgical Consultation: Detailed discussion of goals, medical history, and planning with a certified surgeon.
- Anesthesia: Local with sedation (most common), or general anesthesia.
- Incisions: Usually made inside the mouth for hidden scars; occasionally below the lower eyelid.
- Implant Placement: Surgeon creates a pocket above or on the cheekbone and precisely positions the implant.
- Closure: Incisions are stitched closed.
- Procedure Duration: Surgery typically takes about an hour.
Recovery and Longevity
- Recovery: Most patients go home the same day. Swelling decreases over weeks; normal activities can often resume in 5–7 days.
- Care: Pain medication is provided. A soft diet and rinses help healing if the incision is inside the mouth.
- Longevity: Implants are permanent. Results last many years, but implants can be replaced or removed if needed, though revision difficulty depends on implant type (easier with silicone).
- Reversibility: Permanent but not irreversible — providing patients with flexibility as preferences or needs evolve.
Overall, this balance of permanence and reversibility provides confidence and peace of mind for patients seeking long-term solutions.
Best Clinics in Korea for Gaunt Cheeks
Listed below are the best clinics in Korea for gaunt cheeks:
| Clinic Name | Key Features | Special Techniques |
|---|---|---|
| THEPLUS Plastic Surgery Website | Located in Garosu-gil, Gangnam, THEPLUS Plastic Surgery stands out as the best choice in Korea for addressing gaunt cheeks by uniting world-class facial contouring expertise with an integrated, safety-first care system spanning consultation, surgery, and post‑operative skincare across four dedicated floors. Led by director surgeons Dr. Kim Taek Kyun and Dr. Jeong Jae Yong, the clinic offers tailored volumization strategies—from precise 3D implant-based augmentation and facial implants to face fat grafting and premium fillers—designed to restore midface harmony and natural fullness. | 3D implant-based augmentation; facial implants; face fat grafting; premium fillers |
| Made Young Plastic Surgery Website | Made Young Plastic Surgery in Gangnam is a premium clinic specializing in facial and anti-aging procedures, making it a trusted destination for those concerned about gaunt cheeks. Patients receive direct consultation and diagnosis from a verified medical team of highly skilled doctors with an average of over 15 years of experience, whose proven expertise is applied to individualized treatment planning. Drawing from a comprehensive portfolio that includes face-lift and contouring techniques alongside non-invasive options such as thread lifts, V-line lifting, skin boosters, Shurink, and Ultherapy, the clinic tailors care to restore balanced midface harmony and refine hollow or sunken cheek contours. | Face-lift and contouring techniques; non-invasive options such as thread lifts, V-line lifting, skin boosters, Shurink, Ultherapy |
| id Hospital Korea Website | ID Hospital Korea stands out as a top choice for treating gaunt cheeks because it is uniquely focused on facial treatments and builds every plan around customized plastic surgery, patient safety, and systematic post-care. By offering a comprehensive portfolio that spans facial contouring, lifting, skin clinic, petit plastic surgery, and dentistry—alongside deep expertise in orthognathic surgery—the team can address both the structural framework and soft-tissue volume that shape the midface, harmonizing contour, restoring fullness, and refining skin quality in a tailored, stepwise way. This breadth enables nuanced solutions ranging from subtle volumization and lift to skeletal balance when needed, while the clinic’s safety-oriented protocols and structured aftercare support comfortable recovery and durable, natural-looking results—key advantages for patients seeking effective, aesthetic correction of gaunt cheeks. | Comprehensive portfolio spanning facial contouring, lifting, skin clinic, petit plastic surgery, and dentistry; deep expertise in orthognathic surgery; safety-oriented protocols and structured aftercare |
THEPLUS Plastic Surgery
Located in Garosu-gil, Gangnam, THEPLUS Plastic Surgery stands out as the best choice in Korea for addressing gaunt cheeks by uniting world-class facial contouring expertise with an integrated, safety-first care system spanning consultation, surgery, and post‑operative skincare across four dedicated floors. Led by director surgeons Dr. Kim Taek Kyun and Dr. Jeong Jae Yong, the clinic offers tailored volumization strategies—from precise 3D implant-based augmentation and facial implants to face fat grafting and premium fillers—designed to restore midface harmony and natural fullness. Dr. Kim, a board‑certified plastic surgeon and global society member awarded for his research on 3D implants, is a leading authority in facial contouring whose philosophy centers on balanced, natural aesthetics; Dr. Jeong, President of the Korean Society of Plastic Surgeons, advances techniques that combine function and beauty and shares these through frequent conference talks and educational sessions. Their team’s more than decade-long experience, active contributions to journals and textbooks, participation in international symposiums (including ASPS-affiliated activities), and meticulous, personalized communication ensure that each plan—whether minimally invasive fillers, fat grafting, or implant-based midface augmentation—is executed at the forefront of modern practice and aimed at natural, long‑lasting, and harmoniously balanced results for hollow or sunken cheeks.
You can check out their website here: THEPLUS Plastic Surgery Website
Made Young Plastic Surgery
Made Young Plastic Surgery in Gangnam is a premium clinic specializing in facial and anti-aging procedures, making it a trusted destination for those concerned about gaunt cheeks. Patients receive direct consultation and diagnosis from a verified medical team of highly skilled doctors with an average of over 15 years of experience, whose proven expertise is applied to individualized treatment planning. Drawing from a comprehensive portfolio that includes face-lift and contouring techniques alongside non-invasive options such as thread lifts, V-line lifting, skin boosters, Shurink, and Ultherapy, the clinic tailors care to restore balanced midface harmony and refine hollow or sunken cheek contours.
Safety and continuity of care are embedded in every step. Made Young operates with full-time board-certified anesthesiologists, a 1:1 dedicated monitoring system, a cross-check response protocol among multiple anesthesiologists, and full CCTV coverage for maximum transparency. A separate, dedicated aftercare center provides complete, systematic post-procedure support. The clinic’s quality is further recognized by the 2022 Korea No.1 Award, 2022 Korea Customer Satisfaction 1st Place, selection as an Outstanding Member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and certification by the Minimally Invasive Aesthetic Surgery Society.
You can check out their website here: Made Young Plastic Surgery Website
id Hospital Korea
ID Hospital Korea stands out as a top choice for treating gaunt cheeks because it is uniquely focused on facial treatments and builds every plan around customized plastic surgery, patient safety, and systematic post-care. By offering a comprehensive portfolio that spans facial contouring, lifting, skin clinic, petit plastic surgery, and dentistry—alongside deep expertise in orthognathic surgery—the team can address both the structural framework and soft-tissue volume that shape the midface, harmonizing contour, restoring fullness, and refining skin quality in a tailored, stepwise way. This breadth enables nuanced solutions ranging from subtle volumization and lift to skeletal balance when needed, while the clinic’s safety-oriented protocols and structured aftercare support comfortable recovery and durable, natural-looking results—key advantages for patients seeking effective, aesthetic correction of gaunt cheeks.
Find more about this clinic here: id Hospital Korea Website
Navigating Cheekbone Implant Surgery in South Korea: A Medical Tourist's Guide
South Korea's Standing as a Medical Tourism Hub
South Korea is internationally recognized for excellence in plastic surgery. Its clinics combine high-end technology, skilled surgeons, and rigorous safety protocols. Many facilities cater to international patients with English-speaking staff and detailed, one-on-one consultations.
Pre-Procedure Planning and Clinic Selection
- Thorough Research: Safety depends on choosing accredited clinics and board-certified surgeons.
- Verifying Credentials: Look for KHIDI registration and, where possible, Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation. Surgeons should be board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
- Clear Communication: Reliable clinics are transparent about qualifications, procedures, costs, and risks.
- Patient Reviews: Examine before-and-after photos and former patient testimonials. Be wary of unrealistic results.
- Avoiding Shadow Clinics: Refrain from engaging with unlicensed brokers or clinics offering unusually low prices at the expense of safety.
The Surgical Experience
- Advanced Technology: Clinics often use 3D imaging and minimally invasive techniques.
- Surgeon Approach: Korean surgeons focus on natural, harmonious enhancements.
- Safety Measures: Multiple anesthesiologists, CCTV, and stringent protocols ensure patient safety.
- Personalized Planning: Consultations result in surgical plans crafted for each patient's anatomy and goals.
Post-Operative Care and Recovery Abroad
- Immediate Recovery: Patients rest and are monitored post-surgery, either in clinic or nearby accommodations.
- Recommended Stay: Usually 1–2 weeks, to allow for follow-up visits and stitch removal.
- Aftercare Packages: Many clinics offer recovery support, such as de-swelling treatments and local logistics assistance.
- Post-Operative Instructions: Following these is essential to avoid complications.
- Challenges at Home: After returning, access to original surgeons for further care can be difficult. It's important to plan for follow-up medical support in your home country.
Ultimately, success in medical tourism hinges on patient diligence — research, verification, and preparation are key for a safe, positive outcome.
Cost Analysis: Cheekbone Implants in South Korea vs. Global Destinations
Estimated Costs for Cheekbone Implants in South Korea
Cheekbone implant procedures in South Korea typically range from 5,500,000 KRW to 10,000,000 KRW (about $3,790 to $6,890 USD), depending on surgeon reputation, clinic location, and case complexity.
Understanding What's Included (and What's Not)
- Usually Included: Consultations, basic medical assessments, immediate post-op care, stitch removal, routine follow-ups.
- Typically NOT Included: Upfront deposit, accommodation, travel/flights, some post-op therapies, and the cost of handling revisions or complications after returning home.
Comparative Table: Cheek Augmentation Costs
| Procedure: Cheekbone Implant (Augmentation) | Estimated Cost (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $3,790 - $6,890 | Direct cost for cheekbone implant augmentation. |
| India | $5,500 - $6,200 | General procedure, not cheek implants specifically. |
| Mexico | $5,000 - $12,000 | General procedure, not cheek implants specifically. |
| Ukraine | $4,000 | General procedure, not cheek implants specifically. |
| Thailand | $10,938 | General procedure, not cheek implants specifically. |
| Colombia | $11,700 | General procedure, not cheek implants specifically. |
| United States | Significantly Higher | Facelifts average ~$11,000; direct implant cost much higher. |
South Korea offers a compelling mix of low cost, advanced care, and expertise, but patients must be mindful of potential extra costs if they need post-surgery care back home, as well as potential communication challenges.
Patient Perspectives: Addressing Gaunt Cheeks with Implants
Typical Results and Aesthetic Outcomes
Most patients report high satisfaction after cheek implant surgery, with restoration of cheek volume leading to fuller, more defined facial contours and minimal scarring (if any). Results are permanent, reducing the need for ongoing treatments.
Psychological and Quality of Life Benefits
Cheek implants' impact goes beyond appearance — patients often feel more confident, attractive, and comfortable socially or professionally. Even without individual testimonials, sources agree on the substantial emotional and psychological uplift following the procedure.
The true value of cheek implants, then, lies as much in improved self-image as in physical transformation.
Important Considerations for Patients
Suitability for the Procedure
Cheek implants suit both men and women who have lost cheek volume due to aging or weight loss. However, thin skin, very prominent bone structure, or immune issues may limit suitability — thorough consultation is essential.
Risks and Potential Complications
General surgical risks (infection, bleeding, anesthesia complications, nerve damage) apply, along with implant-specific issues like scar tissue, hardness, or shifting. Medical tourists especially need to plan for potential complications after returning home, when access to the original surgeon can be limited.
Realistic Expectations and Informed Decision-Making
Patients should have clear, realistic goals and discuss all aspects of the procedure, risks, and costs during their consultation. Understanding exactly what is (and isn’t) included in the surgical fee helps prevent financial surprises.
Alternatives to Implants
For those seeking or needing non-surgical options, dermal fillers or fat grafting can temporarily add cheek volume, but require regular maintenance. Fillers are especially useful for those not eligible or ready for surgery.
Conclusion
Gaunt cheeks are a common concern with diverse causes, but cheekbone implants provide a permanent and easily modifiable solution for restoring facial fullness and harmony. South Korea stands out as an appealing destination, offering expertise and savings for medical tourists. Careful planning, thorough research, and strong aftercare planning are essential to ensure a safe, successful experience and lasting satisfaction with the results.
