What Are the Best Cheek Fillers?

Looking your best shouldn’t require suffering. Thanks to the latest advancements in cosmetic medicine, staying young and beautiful doesn’t have to be painful or difficult. Even adding simple cheek injections to your beauty treatment can give you an enhanced facial profile and a youthful appearance.

So what are the best cheek filler injections for restoring cheek volume? There are many types of dermal filler brands that are specifically made for cheek augmentation, but the best ones to use are Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, and Sculptra. Cheek injections are the best way to replenish facial volume around the cheek area without relying on cheek implants.

4 Best Dermal Fillers for Cheek Enhancement

According to the recent yearly report by the ASPS, dermal filler injections are one of the most popular minimally invasive cosmetic treatments with about 3.4 million procedures performed in the U.S. They’re usually made of different biocompatible materials that instantly restore volume in the treated areas, effectively smoothing static wrinkles, fine lines, and deep nasolabial folds.

Dermal filler injection treatments lift and fix low, barely visible, and hollow cheeks. When injected under the skin of the cheek area, the injectable filler replenishes lost volume in the cheeks and creates the illusion of a more defined bone structure.

But with many cheek filler types and brands on the market, it gets confusing for patients to determine their differences and decide on a specific cheek filler injection. To help you get started, here are 4 of the best-selling cheek fillers that many medical spas and aesthetic clinics offer:

1. Juvederm

Juvederm is a collection of hyaluronic acid fillers that comes in various formulations designed for different treatment areas, such as the lips, cheeks, chin, brows, and mouth area. For non-surgical cheek augmentation treatments, injectors often recommend Juvederm Voluma XC.

Juvederm Voluma XC has a thick hyaluronic acid gel formulation, making it dense enough to add volume and stay in the treatment area for longer. Although Voluma XC injections are made to settle better in the cheeks, they’re still pliant enough for injectors to easily contour the cheeks based on the patient’s desired results. They’re also a great choice for a non-surgical brow lift.

This hyaluronic acid filler also works great for full facial rejuvenation when combined with other fillers from the Juvederm family. It takes care of the volume loss in the mid-face region while the others erase wrinkles and fine lines in different parts of the face – Juvederm Ultra XC for the lower part of the face, Juvederm Vollure XC for moderate fine lines and wrinkles, and Juvederm Volbella for lip filler treatments and smile lines.

How It Plumps Your Cheeks

The active ingredient of Juvederm facial fillers is hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring material in the body that keeps the skin firm, hydrated, and healthy. But like collagen and elastin, the hyaluronic acid levels in the body slowly decline with age, causing wrinkles and deep nasolabial folds to appear.

When injected into the treatment areas, the HA filler attracts water molecules into the skin and plumps the cheeks. Aside from the additional facial volume, this facial filler also stimulates the body’s collagen production for long-lasting skin rejuvenation results even after the material has dissolved.

How Long It Lasts

Some Juvederm injections last longer than others depending on the thickness of its formulation, the location of the treated area, and the skincare habits of the patients. Since Juvederm Voluma XC is one of the densest Juvederm injections available, you can expect the filler to last for about 6 to 18 months before the body completely absorbs it.

The good news is that it’s still safe for patients to undergo maintenance treatment for Juvederm injections if they want to keep its results. The HA fillers stimulate collagen production, so less facial filler is required with every succeeding treatment.

How Much It Costs

The national average for Juvederm filler injections is $620 per syringe, which can be higher or lower depending on the injector’s experience and the clinic’s location. Non-surgical cheek augmentation treatments require about 1 syringe per cheek, so expect to spend at least $1240 for your first cheek filler appointment with Juvederm.

2. Restylane

Restylane is similar to Juvederm in a few ways – it’s also made of hyaluronic acid and it comes in different formulas made for various treatment areas. But the main difference between these brands is that Restylane injections are typically thicker and denser than Juvederm fillers.

Restylane Lyft and Restylane Contour are two of the best Restylane injections for defining the cheekbones. Restylane Lyft is used to lift the cheeks and hold their shape while Restylane Contour is a more flexible option that allows for natural facial expressions and soft cheek contours.

Aside from these injectable fillers, injectors may also recommend Restylane Defyne for the jawline, Restylane Refyne for the nasolabial fold, Restylane Silk for the wrinkle near the mouth, and Restylane Kysse for the lip filler treatment. By treating different parts of the face with corresponding Restylane fillers, patients can experience skin rejuvenation results that are almost as good as facial plastic surgery.

How It Plumps Your Cheeks

Restylane works like any other HA filler on the market – it’s injected into the treatment area to attract water molecules and add facial volume for a more defined contour. The active ingredient of Restylane fillers also stimulates natural collagen production, so patients only need fewer touch-up sessions and injections.

How Long It Lasts

A full treatment of Restylane fillers for the cheek area can last up to 12 months. This includes the initial injection plus another round of repeat injections. The injection’s longevity depends on a lot of factors, such as how well the patient takes care of their skin and how they manage to avoid things that accelerate skin aging.

It’s also safe for patients to return for maintenance treatments every year or every few months to preserve the results of their Restylane injections. In cases of bad dermal filler jobs, patients may ask their provider to dissolve the filler using hyaluronidase and redo the treatment until they’re satisfied with their facial profile.

How Much It Costs

Restylane fillers cost around $400 to $800 per syringe, depending on the provider’s location and their experience as a dermal filler injector. A plastic surgeon might charge higher rates than less experienced providers, but their skills and experiences allow patients to achieve the best results for their cheek enhancement without worrying about serious complications and side effects.

Since cheek filler treatments typically require one syringe per side, patients should expect to pay about $800 to $1600 out of their pocket.

3. Radiesse

Radiesse is different from most dermal fillers in the market because it doesn’t use hyaluronic acid to plump the treatment areas and erase the wrinkles there. Radiesse is a common treatment for smoothing a moderate to severe fine line or nasolabial fold and improving the contour of the jawline.

But while this injectable filler has lots of different uses, including non-surgical cheek augmentation, they’re not recommended for lip filler treatments because the microspheres of the injection can create lumps that last for up to a year.

How It Plumps Your Cheeks

Radiesse fillers contain Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres that restore facial volume in the cheek area and reduce the appearance of moderate to severe wrinkles. Calcium hydroxylapatite is a mineral usually found in the teeth and bones. When used in dermal fillers like Radiesse, the microscopic calcium particles are suspended in a smooth gel.

Thanks to its thick formulation, Radiesse is a great dermal filler for filling the hollowness of the cheek area. It also increases collagen production, so patients may experience a noticeable improvement in their skin even after the gel is absorbed and the calcium is metabolized by the body.

How Long It Lasts

Radiesse injections may last up to 15 months, as long as patients stay healthy, follow a good skincare routine, and avoid factors that accelerate skin aging. But it’s highly recommended for patients to return to their provider 7 months after they receive their initial injection for a touchup treatment session.

How Much It Costs

Radiesse filler injections cost around $650 to $800 on average, depending on the injector’s experience and location. A patient usually needs about 1-2 syringes per cheek, so they should prepare about $1300 to $3200 for the entire treatment.

4. Sculptra

Sculptra was initially developed to help HIV patients fill some of the facial fat they lost because of their health condition. But studies and clinical trials showed its potential for cosmetic use by anyone who wants to replenish lost facial volume and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

While Sculptra is a safe and effective dermal filler that works for most parts of the skin and face, it shouldn’t be injected around the eyes, lips, or other sensitive areas to avoid serious complications or side effects.

How It Plumps Your Cheeks

The main active ingredient of Sculptra is poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a biodegradable synthetic material that encourages natural collagen production to restore facial volume and get rid of fine lines and wrinkles on the face.

Since Sculptra works differently from other dermal fillers in the market, patients only observe subtle results that improve over time. This injectable filler is the perfect choice for patients who want to achieve a more youthful appearance without looking like they had any work done.

How Long It Lasts

What many patients love about Sculptra injections is that it keeps their cheeks full for up to 2 years. There are some improvements a few days or weeks after the initial treatment, but the injectable filler results continue improving over the next few months since it takes time for the body to produce more collagen.

Although Sculptra is one of the longest-lasting fillers on the market, it’s still important for patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid aging factors to keep their youthful appearance for longer.

How Much It Costs

The average cost of Sculptra is estimated at $1500, which has to be paid by patients out of their pocket. The exact cost depends on the number of injections the patient needs, the injector’s experience, and the clinic’s location.

Are Cheek Fillers Better Than Surgical Cheek Augmentation?

Both cheek fillers and cheek implants are excellent treatments that make the cheeks look round and plump. There’s no easy answer to which treatment is better than the other because there are lots of factors to consider, like the cost of the procedure, results to expect, recovery time, and risks to be aware of.

Cheek fillers work great for patients who want to subtly lift their cheeks without going through cosmetic surgery. But do note that they have to commit to maintenance treatments every few months or years if they want to maintain the volume of their cheeks and youthful appearance.

On the other hand, cheek augmentation using cheek implants provides dramatic and long-lasting results. But like any other surgical procedure, certain risks come with the treatment like skin discoloration and scar formation around the cheeks.

Restore Cheek Volume with Cheek Filler Treatments by Dr. Lanna Aesthetics

Finding the right cheek filler can be overwhelming especially for first-time patients. There are a lot of factors to consider, but our team at Dr. Lanna Aesthetics can help you pick the best dermal filler based on your needs and goals.

We always make sure to perform each cheek enhancement procedure with the proper care and treatment you deserve, so you can look and feel young without compromising on comfort. Call us today to know more about our cheek filler treatments and book a consultation.