A zygomatic arch implant is a facial skeletal implant designed to increase the projection and width of the zygomatic arch, which is the bony arch that extends backward from the cheekbone toward the ear. It is a cheek implant but not creating a traditional form of cheek augmentation.
Anatomy
The cheekbone region consists of:
- Malar (cheek) prominence – the front part of the cheekbone that creates cheek projection.
- Zygomatic arch – the lateral extension of the cheekbone that contributes to facial width and angularity.
Many standard cheek implants primarily augment the malar prominence. A zygomatic arch implant specifically enhances the side portion of the cheekbone only.
What it does
A zygomatic arch implant can:
- Increase upper facial width.
- Create a stronger, more angular facial appearance.
- Improve facial balance in individuals with narrow midfaces.
- Enhance definition between the cheek and temporal regions.
Who seeks them?
Common candidates include:
- Men wanting a wider, stronger facial structure.
- Patients with congenitally narrow cheekbones.
- Individuals seeking a more athletic or masculine facial appearance.
- Reconstructive patients with asymmetry or skeletal deficiencies.
Implant designs
They may be:
- Isolated arch implants that augment only the arch.
- Combined malar-arch implants that augment both the cheek prominence and the arch.
- Custom implants designed from a CT scan for precise control of projection and width (there are no standard arch implants)
Surgical placement
The implant is typically inserted through:
- An incision inside the mouth (intraoral approach), or
- Occasionally through a lower eyelid incision.
The implant is ideally secured to the bone with tiny screws to prevent movement but not be possible in all cases. It depends on the implant’s design.
Aesthetic effects
Increasing the zygomatic arch generally:
- Widens the upper face.
- Makes the face appear more structured from the front and three-quarter views.
- Can create a more pronounced transition between the cheek and the side of the face.
Potential limitations
- Excessive arch augmentation can make the face appear too wide.
- The implant must be carefully designed to avoid being visible or palpable under thin soft tissues.
- Arch augmentation alone does not necessarily increase forward cheek projection; that requires a malar component as well.
In facial implant surgery, custom implants are the only methof for zygomatic arch augmentation because of its unique shape and the amount of width increase and the exact contour can be tailored very precisely to the patient’s anatomy and aesthetic goals.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Plastic Surgeon