Your Cheek Fillers Guide – What You Should Know

Like so many other dermal fillers used to volumize and enhance the face, the procedure is becoming increasingly popular in the cheek areas. Injecting cheek filler into the cheek is done primarily for aesthetic purposes, improving facial and profile balance, and reinstating a youthful, better-contoured appearance. While no two faces are the same, what cheek filler does for one person will likely be similar for the next since the act of minimal tweaks, which cheek filler achieves, creates a personalized approach to restoring a more youthful look to your face.

 

Enhancing Cheek Volume with Dermal Fillers

Like injecting filler into other isolated facial features, using filler in the cheeks helps add volume and redefine lost contours. Many patients want to know just what cheek filler does, and the answer is simple: it creates a more natural contour of the cheekbone since you can quickly lose definition due to age. Using cheek filler also restores volume to the cheeks as fat is lost from the face with aging. Cheek filler can also create the illusion of naturally fuller cheeks for those with naturally flat cheeks.

Typically, cheek fillers consist of hyaluronic acid, a synthetic gel of a substance naturally found in the body that helps retain moisture and add volume. Although some patients may do better with other types of fillers, dermal fillers for cheeks are an excellent option for those who want to achieve a youthful, plump appearance without undergoing surgery or more extensive procedures.

 

The Cheek Filler Procedure

How much filler needs to be injected into your cheeks depends on the aesthetics and structure of the area and your goals. During a consultation, we will discuss what you hope to achieve with cheek filler to make the treatment personalized to your needs and wants. It is also crucial to use appropriate fillers to avoid interfering with facial movements.

During the treatment, the cheek area is cleansed first. Next, numbing cream is applied before the procedure begins. The synthetic gel filler is injected directly into the cheek area using either a needle or blunt-tipped cannula, which is up to your injector and what they appear. The treatment isn’t painful, but some patients say it feels like a slight pinch or some pressure in the area.

Injecting filler into different parts of the cheek can have different effects. For example, placing it higher in the cheekbones can give a more contoured look, while placing it lower in the cheeks may help camouflage lines near the nose and mouth.

Since it’s normal for the cheeks to bruise or swell after cheek filler, you can take arnica supplements for a few days before your filler appointment to diminish this occurrence.

When injected into the correct plane of the cheeks, cheek filler can also help with under-eye hollowing in some patients. Often, cheek filler is combined with tear trough filler to improve the look of the cheek-eye junction.

On average, you can expect the results of cheek filler to last between 12 and 18 months.

 

Common Questions About Cheek Fillers

What problems can cheek filler address?

Cheek fillers can address various cosmetic concerns, including age-related volume loss, naturally flat cheeks, asymmetrical-looking cheeks that lack definition, and changes to the cheek that may be bothering you.

Are there any risks with cheek filler?

Like all elective cosmetic procedures, there is always the potential for risks. Some common risks include mild bruising, mild discomfort, and mild swelling post-procedure. More serious yet rare risks include bleeding, vascular occlusion, filler migration, and overfilling.

Who is a good candidate for cheek filler?

The ideal candidate for cheek filler is someone who lacks prominence in their cheekbones and wants a natural contour if there is a lack of volume in the middle of the cheeks or a flatness that can easily be restored with cheek filler, too.

Anyone with naturally high, full, or prominent cheekbones with a good amount of volume in their cheeks likely does not need filler, especially since they can risk looking unnatural and ‘overfilled.’

How should I take care of my cheeks after treatment?

To prevent the filler from moving, it’s best to take it easy and avoid intense exercise for five days after your procedure. Allow any bruising and swelling to subside on its own. Avoid massaging the face where filler was injected, and steer clear of all other skin and face treatments for a few weeks or until you are given the green light.

How long do cheek fillers last?

Most patients notice improvement from cheek filler that lasts between six and 18 months. Certain fillers last longer than others, and the injection technique used can also dictate their duration.