The Latest on Non-Surgical Cosmetic Cheek Fillers

Cheek Fillers: The Age-Defying Option for Beautiful Cheeks

For years, the only solution to remedy age-related changes to your cheeks was to undergo a painful, invasive, and expensive surgical cheek implant procedure. Fortunately, the development of improved dermal filler procedures and non-surgical cosmetic techniques have led to a whole new range of safe, effective cheek fillers designed to replace the volume and shape that have been lost over time.

But Cheek Fillers Aren’t Just for Preventing Aging

In addition to reducing the fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging associated with aging, we are also seeing a trend of more and more people under the age of 40 turning to nonsurgical cosmetic cheek filler procedures as an affordable, safe, and effective way to bolster flat and under-developed cheekbones while also creating a more symmetrical, youthful, softer look.

According to the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM), the number of non-surgical procedures performed continues to rise, increasing by over 450% since 1997; the use of anti-wrinkle injections has increased by 600%, and there was also a 205% increase in the number of soft tissue procedures, including cheek fillers, performed during this time¹.

Cheek Fillers: The Non-Surgical Option for Beautiful Results

Similar to the process used for non-cosmetic lip fillers and other dermal filler injections, cosmetic physicians inject a series of gel-based fillers designed to fill, plump, and shape the cheeks and areas around the cheekbones to produce the results desired by their clients.

How Filler for the Cheeks Work

Injectable cheek fillers are available in a number of different formulations, each with their own specific advantages and benefits. When it comes to cheek fillers, most cosmetic physicians opt for injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) based fillers to increase volume and for reshaping the cheeks; but HA-fillers are not the only type of injectable cheek filler.

All of these cosmetic injectable fillers not only provide lift and volume to your cheeks and surrounding areas, but are also used to shape the cheek area, creating a softer, slimmer appearance with better symmetry and results that are unique, or “custom” to your face.

Different Types of Cheek Fillers: Understanding Your Options

Since cheek filler procedures are highly customizable, as mentioned earlier, cosmetic physicians typically use one of four types of injectable fillers; each producing a slightly different result, these fillers include:

> Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

The preferred cheek filling injection option of cosmetic physicians, hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are primarily used to plump and fill your laugh lines; HA-based fillers are also used to improve your cheek’s volume and lift immediately after injection.

Hyaluronic acid is a very safe, naturally occurring substance produced by the body. Most often found in skin cells and connective tissue, HA’s main function is to retain water to keep the tissue of your cheek cells well lubricated, hydrated, and plump.

Other Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid Injections Include:

●   Creating a softer, more radiant appearance,
●   Filling in fine lines, creating a younger, healthier appearance, and
●   Providing antioxidant properties to protect cheek cells from further damage caused by oxidative stress, free radicals, and other harmful environmental and lifestyle factors.

Other cheek filler options

> Poly-L-lactic acid

An alternative filler used cosmetic medicine is poly-L-lactic acid. It is a synthetic, biocompatible substance that is biodegradable and classified as a collagen stimulator.  Used primarily to restore volume and structure lost with age, it works by stimulating the production of collagen and encourages gradual results over the several months.

Typically used for treatment and correction of very deep wrinkles, poly-L-lactic acid injections produce results that can last for up to two years.

> Calcium hydroxyapatite

This compound is a soft gel injectable filler produced from calcium hydroxyapatite, a naturally occurring substance found in our bones and often used for treating lines and wrinkles considered to be moderate or severe.  Calcium hydroxyapatite is generally thicker than typical HA-fillers and commonly provides noticeable results for up to one year after injection.

Preferred for its ability to provide both instant and progressive results, Radiesse restores lost cheek volume and encourages your skin’s natural collagen production.

What Does a Typical Cheek Filler Procedure Look Like?

Cheek fillers, along with other dermal filler procedures, are growing in popularity, are affordable, and have a long history of being both safe and effective.

Like most cosmetic procedures, a procedure for your cheek injections begins with a consultation with Dr. Allison, who will a full facial assessment to better determine the most effective type of filler for your cheeks to best achieve the results you are looking for.

The cheek filler procedure itself is non-invasive, involves a series of injections using small needles, and usually takes between 15- and 30-minutes from start to finish. Patients are generally able to return to normal activities right after leaving the procedure. The results are immediate and last for up to 24 months.