Cheek Dermal Fillers At A Glance
- Best ResultsImmediate
- Treatment RecoveryNil
- Procedure Time10 minutes
- Skin SpecialistDermatologist, Nurse Injector
- Duration of Results2 to 3+ years
- AnaestheticNumbing in filler
- Back to WorkImmediately
- Cost$$
Cheek Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers in the cheeks can provide lift, volume & definition. Treating this area can give an instant ‘wow’ factor. Subtle changes in how light reflects off contours can make a noticeable difference in skin ageing & volume loss. Cheek enhancement with volume & contouring ties in the upper & middle thirds of the face.
FactsFacts on cheek contouring with dermal fillers
- Cheek fillers give an immediate lifting effect
- Only a small volume, 1-2mls can markedly improve the cheek profile
- Treatments are painless & take less than 5 minutes to perform
- Fillers in this area last beyond 2 years
- I use hyaluronic acid, collagen stimulating fillers & fat grafting in this area
- Correct product selection will give the best outcomes & longevity
Cheek Dermal Fillers
In the majority of patients, cheek rejuvenation will give the biggest ‘wow’ factor as fillers can address-
Volume: Volume replacement is paramount to achieving a natural look. As we age, bone, fat & collagen loss occurs. This results in lines, and sunken cheeks, & portrays the look of ‘tiredness.’ Simple & conservative fillers can rejuvenate this area immediately.
Lifting: Fillers can provide lifting, hence the term ‘liquid facelifts.’ Placed approximately, fillers can lift the lateral, mid & medial cheeks.
Contours & highlights: Strategically placed fillers along the ‘point’ of the cheek bone can add another dimension to contouring & highlight. A small volume placed in key areas will improve the ‘light reflex.’ Well placed fillers will give a similar highlight as professionally done make up, without the makeup!
Size, shape, and symmetry: Volume replacement or addition can change the shape of ‘weak’ cheekbones, in addition to correcting any major changes in symmetry.
What types of dermal fillers do I use for cheeks?
I work with a variety of fillers, based upon individual factors such as volume loss & age of the patient. As a guide, for younger patients my aim is to highlight the ‘point’ of the cheek and create the swoop of the cheek bone. For this I use a soft, lifting hyaluronic acid dermal filler.
For middle age patients my aim is to replace volume, in addition to creating lift. In this age group I use a ‘structural’ or foundation filler to replace bone resorption & volume loss. A firmer filler is chosen as the foundation, and a softer filler is used to ‘highlight.’
I do believe that working with a selection of fillers including many different companies that provide hyaluronic acid filler as well as collagen stimulating fillers such as calcium hydroxyl apatite & poly- L- lactic acid is super important. Much the same as an artist has to work with many different types and colours of paint. Choose the best filler for the patient.
How long do dermal fillers last?
As a guide, HA – hyaluronic acid fillers last between 18 to 24+ months.
Poly L-Lactic & Calcium Hydroxyl apatite fillers last between 24 to 48 months.
We now know (through MRI scans), the majority of dermal fillers last well beyond their advertised dates. Longevity also depends on individual factors such as metabolism.
“Top ups” are performed not based upon time, but based upon how patients actually look like, as compared to previous photographic records.
Is the treatment painful?
Fillers in this area are well tolerated; this is due to technique in addition to the numbing agent incorporated with the filler. Majority of patients rate the pain as 1 out of 10!
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What does the procedure entail?
The time taken to slowly but carefully perform this procedure is between 5 to 10 minutes. The skin is cleaned with chlorhexidine and injections are performed in my treatment rooms. Depending on the treated area, I use either a cannula or point injection with a needle.
What are my restrictions after dermal filler injections?
No make up for 3 hours post procedure. No exercise for 24 hours, and no massages* where you may lay face down for 5 days after the procedure.
(* The pressure downwards on your cheek area during a back-neck massage may displace the filler.)
Are dermal fillers the only way to enhance my cheeks?
No, however dermal fillers are the most effective method with the least amount of downtime & costs compared to other methods.
Can fat transfer be used on the cheeks?
Yes. I do perform fat transfer on select patients. As a guide I prefer patients with a stable body weight. Fat transfer has advantages & disadvantages compared to dermal fillers.
Advantage: Natural source of ‘filling agent’. Larger volumes can be used especially in sunken cheeks. Nanofat can improve skin quality. ASC or adipose stem cells have the potential to differentiate into collagen producing cells.
Disadvantage: Variable rate of resorption. Some cases resorb over 60% of fat, especially in active patients. Over the past few years there have been newer ways of harvesting, processing, & injecting fat grafts/stem cells. This has increased the probability of graft / fat survival.
How much dermal filler will I require?
As a guide:
20’s to 30’s :1-2 mls
30s to 40’s : 1-3 mls
40s to 50’d: 2-3.5 mls
50 & beyond: 2- 4 mls
*The amount of filler is only a guide. Patients with naturally high cheekbone will require a lot less filler compared to patients who exhibit bone loss with age.
What are the possible side effects with cheek fillers?
Swelling & bruising can be expected in some cases. Lumps are commonly felt but not seen with thicker fillers. Delayed nodules-lumps are exceedingly uncommon <0.1% of cases. There have been reports of injections into the arterial blood vessels, however in the cheek area the probability is less than 0.01%.
Meticulous and careful injections with background anatomical knowledge will reduce but not eliminate the risks associated with dermal fillers.
Are cheek fillers reversible?
HA or hyaluronic acid dermal filler are reversible. An enzyme known as Hyaluronidase breaks down this family of fillers. If you have cheek fillers & would like the area dissolved, book in with my clinical nurse injector @cutis_dermatology.
How do I book in for a filler consultation?
Reception at Cutis Dermatology Brisbane will schedule you for an appointment with myself or my specialist nurse injectors. Contact them here.
Davin’s viewpoint on cheek enhancement
This is the number one place to start for patients in the mid to late 30s. The majority of cases, both male and female will only require 1ml to notice the difference (in this age group). As a rule of thumb, add one ml per decade, hence for patients in the 50s, a good starting point is 3ml of filler. To put things into perspective, a teaspoon contains 5mls.
I prefer to perform ‘Freestyle’ work, namely address other areas that can benefit from dermal fillers, rather than ‘let’s just address your cheek.’ This takes a lot more effort in helping patients understand dermal filling is so much more than addressing one specific point. I keep going on about balancing skin texture (skin quality), tone & volume. Bespoke rejuvenation is addressing ALL deficits according to the individual. In general, lasers address skin quality (texture), whilst skin tightening with energy devices and or surgery address skin tone. Volume replacement cannot occur with surgery or energy devices including lasers. Volume can only be replaced with fillers or autologous fat transfer.
