Can Cheek Fillers Help Reduce Jowls?

Dermal fillers are a popular treatment choice for facial rejuvenation today. One of the common areas for injectables is the cheeks which are often affected by the loss of volume and the appearance of moderate wrinkles and fine lines. Sagging cheeks can also contribute to the formation of jowls along the jawline.

So can cheek filler injections help with jowling? Yes, the injection of facial fillers adds cheek volume and lifts the skin in the lower face and around the jawline. Cheek fillers can be a good treatment for mild to moderate jowls. You can also get optimal results by combining cheek fillers with other cosmetic procedures such as Botox or laser treatment. However, severe jowls may require cosmetic surgery, such as a facelift or neck lift.

Cheek Filler for Jowls: Will The Injectable Treatment Work?

Some of the early signs of facial aging are noticeable in the cheeks. The loss of facial fat pad and thinning skin leads to the appearance of flat or sunken cheeks. As the cheek volume deteriorates, it causes the skin around your mouth and jawline to lose its elasticity and tightness, resulting in the development of jowls.

Jowls are the sagging skin that appears along your lower face, specifically around the jawline or below the chin. They may be pronounced in individuals with thin skin or those who frequently spend time in the sun since this can damage the collagen and elastin fibers.

Fortunately, dermal fillers can help minimize the appearance of face jowls. Since volume loss is the primary culprit for sagging jowls, you can get cheek fillers to plump and lift the skin to appear taut and firm. It can also help improve the appearance of drooping around the corners of the mouth and enhance the shape and contour of your lower face.

Cheek fillers can likewise address the signs of facial wrinkles and folds that develop along with jowls. Providers can use the injectable filler to smooth out areas with mild to moderate creases and fine lines. It can reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds which run down from the nose to the corners of the mouth. Additionally, it can minimize pronounced marionette lines which are long vertical folds that extend from the mouth to the chin.

How to Use A Cheek Filler to Lift Jowls

One of the benefits of using cheek fillers for jowls is that it’s minimally invasive. Before the cosmetic procedure, you should consult your provider to discuss your goals and assess the severity of your sagging jowls. Generally, injectable fillers are indicated to treat mild to moderate facial jowls.

Using a small needle or cannula, your injector will place the dermal filler in and above your cheeks. This will restore volume in the sunken or drooping area and provide support to your cheekbone structure to raise the skin and improve the contours in the midface region.

Once the cheek fillers have settled, they can provide a subtle facelift effect which can reduce the look of sagging jowls. It can also soften the skin surrounding the cheeks and mouth area to erase the visible nasolabial fold and marionette lines. The fillers can also help in jawline contouring and tightening loose skin to reduce the appearance of a sagging neck or double chin.

Depending on the amount of fillers injected, you can expect the procedure to take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. On average, a dermal filler patient may need about 2 to 3 syringes to improve the shape of their cheeks, while around 4 to 8 syringes of jawline filler may be injected for eliminating the jowls.

What to Expect From Using Cheek Fillers for Jowls: Results, Side Effects, and Aftercare

The initial plumping effects of cheek fillers can be noticeable almost immediately after the procedure. However, you may need to wait around 1 to 2 weeks to see its final results and appreciate the full improvements to your sagging jowls and cheek area.

The injections are likewise safe with very minimal risk for serious complications or adverse events. Most patients can return to their normal activities or go home after the treatment with almost no downtime. But you may still experience several side effects after the dermal filler injection which includes:

• Pain in the treated area
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Itching

These side effects typically only last for about 7 to 14 days. Since it’s not as invasive as plastic surgery, cheek fillers don’t need any recovery time but there are still aftercare instructions that you have to follow to ensure that you get the best possible results. Here are some of the common post-filler treatment reminders:

• Apply an ice pack or cold compress to the treatment area to control swelling and bruising. An Arnica gel or pill may also help alleviate the immediate side effects.
• While the cheek injection settles, don’t touch, rub, or massage the treated area to avoid misplacing the fillers.
• Avoid doing strenuous exercises for 24 to 48 hours to prevent increased blood flow which may prolong your healing from the injections.
• Limit your sun exposure and stay away from saunas, hot rooms, and tanning beds.
• Don’t consume alcoholic beverages for 48 hours after the cheek or chin filler injections.
• Avoid putting on makeup for at least 24 hours since this requires touching the cheeks. If needed, apply makeup with gentle and light strokes to avoid pressure on the treated area.
• Avoid getting other cosmetic treatments, such as a facial, chemical peel, or microneedling, for at least 2 weeks after the dermal filler treatment.

Best Types of Cheek Fillers to Lift Lower Face

There are different kinds of dermal fillers that can be used for cheek augmentation and jowl treatment. These fillers can either be made of hyaluronic acid or biocompatible substances that can help stimulate collagen production. Here are some of the common choices of fillers for cheek and jowl injections:

1. Restylane Lyft

Restylane is a popular line of cosmetic fillers that contain hyaluronic acid. For cheek and lower face augmentation, providers typically administer injections of Restylane Lyft. Compared to other Restylane products, Lyft has a firmer texture and consistency which is suitable for restoring volume in sunken areas of the face.

Restylane Lyft is specifically made for improving the fullness and shape of the cheeks and lifting sagging skin to reduce nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and jowls. The results of Restylane Lyft can last about 6 to 12 months for cheek injections and about 12 to 18 months for nasolabial fold and jowl treatment. Another possible injection for treating deep folds around the mouth is Restylane Silk but it’s mostly used as a lip filler.

2. Juvéderm Voluma

Another hyaluronic acid filler that’s commonly used for cheek and jowl treatment is Juvéderm Voluma. This injection has a thick gel consistency which helps add significant volume to achieve a cheek lift. With its high viscosity profile, this filler can remain stable in the injected area and provide more fullness, shape, and contour to the cheeks and along the jaw. Its results can last for 12 to 24 months, especially with regular maintenance treatments.

3. Radiesse

Radiesse fillers are made of smooth calcium hydroxyapatite microspheres which are suspended in a liquid gel. It has thick and firm consistency which is why it works great for providing facial volume and support to hollow cheeks.

The filler material is also easily moldable so your provider can improve the contour and shape of your cheeks however you want. It also helps lift the skin in your lower face to eliminate jowls. Its results can last for 15 to 18 months with continuous improvements due to its collagen-stimulating effects.

4. Sculptra

Sculptra injections consist of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) which is a synthetic, biocompatible substance that can boost your collagen production. Unlike HA fillers, the results of Sculptra for cheek and jowl treatment aren’t immediate.

It essentially stimulates your body to create more collagen so you can expect to wait around 6 weeks to see its full effects. Once its effects kick in, you’ll see a significant improvement in the shape and fullness of your cheeks and a reduction in moderate to deep folds. This is one of the longest-lasting fillers that can last for up to 2 years.

Can You Combine Other Cosmetic Treatments With Cheek Filler To Lift A Sagging Jawline?

Although cheek fillers can help reduce sagging jowls, you can get more significant and lasting improvements when you combine the injections with other treatments. One of the common procedures that you can get along with dermal fillers is Botox. This popular wrinkle eraser can help relax the neck muscles and tighten sagging skin in the jaw and chin area.  

You can also combine cheek filler injections with skin tightening procedures such as laser or radiofrequency treatment. Non-invasive laser-based procedures can firm up sagging jowls and increase collagen production to improve overall skin elasticity and quality. RF-based treatments, like Morpheus8 and FaceTite, can also contour the jawline to eliminate the jowls and soften your aging skin. 

Another possible cheek and jowl treatment is a PDO thread lift. It involves dissolvable sutures that are inserted into the skin to lift sagging cheeks and jowls. Combining this procedure with a dermal filler may help improve cheek lift results and reduce nasolabial fold and marionette lines. 

If you want to get additional treatments for jowls after cheek fillers, it’s best to wait at least 2 weeks before having the cosmetic procedure. This will give your skin ample time to heal and recover from the side effects of dermal filler injections. 

Eliminate Your Jowls With The Best Filler Injections at Dr. Lanna Aesthetics

Having jowls can affect your facial shape and profile and contribute to a more aged appearance. Thankfully, dermal fillers can be safely placed on the cheeks and lower face to address the loss of volume and correct sagging jowls.

Dr. Lanna Aesthetics is a trusted provider of dermal filler injections for cheek and lower face enhancement. Our team will prepare a customized treatment plan to provide your desired outcomes for your facial filler injections. Call us today to schedule a consultation or learn more about our cosmetic treatments.