Not only do we develop wrinkles and get grey hairs when we get older, but we also lose volume in our face. This leads to hollow cheeks that reveal your age. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do to prevent losing volume in our cheeks, as it is a natural effect of aging. When we grow older, we lose fat tissue underneath the skin around the mouth and the eyes, causing the skin to thin out, sag, and look sunken in the cheek area. Fortunately, there are several cosmetic treatments that can reverse the aging process in the cheeks by filling them out. These are made up of facial fillers and fat transfer.
Fillers
Fillers are the best non-surgical solution to hollow cheeks.There are many different fillers available on the market today. The filler is injected into the sunken cheek area to replace the lost volume, leaving the cheeks looking naturally youthful again. Some filler treatments can be completed within a few minutes, and most show improved results within one week. Here are a few of the most effective methods to fill out your cheeks:
Radiesse
Radiesse is a volumizing filler made of tiny spheres of calcium. It’s used to add volume to the cheeks, fill-in lines and wrinkles, reshape facial contours and augment the jaw line. Radiesse stimulates collagen growth, allowing for long-lasting results. Along with the initial plumping from the treatment, the stimulated collagen growth will cause extended correction for one to two years as new tissue regenerates. The treatment usually takes 15-30 minutes to complete and results can be seen instantly after treatment.
Sculptra
Sculptra Aesthetic is another long-lasting solution used to gradually replace lost collagen in the cheeks. This filler is made up of poly-L-lactic acid, which gives you subtle results over time. Although initial improvement is seen as a result of swelling, two or three treatments will be needed to gain significant and long-lasting correction. It is important to note that results are not immediate, yet the correction usually lasts about two years or longer. Evidence has suggested that Sculptra may even offer some permanent correction, as the body may stimulate collagen formulation at the treatment site.
Hyaluronic Acid
There are a variety of popular dermal fillers that use hyaluronic acid, which is a substance found naturally in the body. Juvederm Voluma, Perlane, and Restylane are among the more recognized hyaluronic fillers used to replace volume in the cheeks. When injected, these fillers create a cushion that supports the facial tissue, restoring the lost volume. It also binds to water, which helps the skin appear healthy and fresh.
Fat Transfer
Fat transfers are surgical procedures that allow for semi-permanent volume replacement. The fat used is harvested from a small incision from either the hip or the abdomen. On average, the treatment takes less than an hour to complete, and involves very little downtime. Although some redness, swelling and bruising may occur, patients are typically able to return to their normal lives immediately.
If you have not experienced a loss of volume in your cheeks, there are multiple things that you can do to slow down the aging process. It is important that you use sunscreen regularly, refrain from smoking and sun tanning, and have a healthy diet rich in antioxidants in order to retain your cheeks’ plumpness for as long as possible. If you already have sunken or hollow cheeks and are unhappy with them, we hope that you take advantage of the treatments available to you to make your face look young again.
If you would like to ask Michelle a question, email: myclinicalteam@drdayan.com with the subject line “Question for Michelle”. If you would like to book an appointment with Michelle, please call 312-335-2070.
