What are "mid-face implants"?
 

I've never heard of these before. :confused: Are they common? Who does them?

here are mid-face or sub-malar implants:
http://www.lovethatface.com/_media/i..._imlants14.jpg

here are malar or traditional cheek implants:
http://www.lovethatface.com/_media/i..._imlants15.jpg

and here are combo mid-face and cheek implants (malar and sub-malar):
http://www.lovethatface.com/_media/i..._imlants16.jpg

Mid-face implants should go hand in hand with face lifts. Too many people think that pulling their skin tight is the answer. In reality part of aging is losing volume of facial fat which just adds excess skin. Where do you think the phrase "baby fat" comes form? If you think about it this is why heavier folks tend to look younger in the face too.

Mid-face implants or sub-malar implants are a great product and it's a shame they aren't used more often. There's less than a dozen doctors in the U.S. that even do them. They're relatively new so I expect them to really pick up steam in the next 10 to 20 years.

how do these mid-face implants even stay in place? are they screwed on to the bone or something?

As hard as it is to believe, they should be well-fitted enough to stay in place without any kind of anchoring. Especially if you're getting the combo cheek and mid-face implants: since those cover such a large area and are fit to so many contours of your bone. A good surgeon will shave off certain areas of a shelf implant to give it that custom fit.

won't sculptra injections in the cheeks midface area or whatever you call it do the same as implants? it seems like the implants wouldnt give u natural movement since theyre hard, when sculptra would be smooth and move like fat in your cheeks would

did some digging around on this and here are some more pictures of sub malar mid face implants which gave me a better idea of where they go on the bone.

<image src="http://www.plasticsurgeryspot.com/images/useruploaded/mid_face_implants" width="180" height="195" alt="mid face implants">
<image src="http://www.plasticsurgeryspot.com/images/useruploaded/midface_implants" width="180" height="195" alt="midface implants">

these are called the 'BINDER SUBMALAR II FACIAL IMPLANT' and they're made by implantech

No actually quite the opposite. Sculptra when used in larger volume might create clumping and bumps which are visible, this is one of the reasons that despite it lasts long (3 to 5 years) not many people use it. Unfortunately right now there is no injectable that you can simply shoot up into the mid-face that looks natural and lasts longer than 7 to 9 months.

oh i forgot to post these ones too! these are just called the 'binder submalar facial implant" according to implantech
<img src="http://www.plasticsurgeryspot.com/images/useruploaded/submalar_implants.jpg" width="180" height="195" alt="submalar implants photos">
<img src="http://www.plasticsurgeryspot.com/images/useruploaded/sub_malar_implants.jpg" width="180" height="195" alt="sub malar implants photos"></html>