Cheek implants in San Francisco usually take about 45 minutes with IV sedation. A small incision is made inside the upper lip, with mild pressure lasting two to three days. Fat grafting involves harvesting fat from the waist or thighs and injecting it into the cheeks, which may cause weekend bruising. About 60–70% of the fat typically remains at one year. Cheek fillers take about 15 minutes in-office, with immediate refreshed results that last 12–18 months.Most patients return to work the next day after fillers and in three to four days after implants or fat transfer. Swelling usually improves by the second week, and most patients are cleared for gym activities by week four.
