The Secret to a More Youthful Face After 40

How Cheek Fillers Work for Aged Women

Aging gracefully is a beautiful thing, but it’s completely normal to want to turn back time a little and restore the youthful fullness in your face. As we get older, our cheekbones tend to become less defined as facial fat pad shrinks and skin sags. 

Hollow or sunken cheeks can make you look older and more tired. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Dermal fillers offer a safe, effective way to plump up aging cheeks and bring back structure to your face. In skilled hands, a simple filler treatment can take years off your appearance without looking artificially puffy. 

Here’s an in-depth guide on everything you need to know about getting cheek filler as a mature woman.

What Causes Hollow Cheeks in Aged Women?

Aging causes two key changes that lead to sunken cheeks in women:

1. Loss of Facial Fat Volume

Your face is made up of discrete fat compartments. As we get older, the fat pads in our cheeks start to atrophy and deflate. This leads to a loss of support for the overlying skin, causing it to sag. The shrinking fat compartment leads to the appearance of hollows under the cheekbones.

2. Skin Laxity

Collagen and elastin fibers in the skin become weaker with age. This causes the skin on our cheeks to lose elasticity and droop downwards. Gravity also exacerbates this. This skin laxity accentuates cheek hollows and creates jowling.

Together, fat loss and skin sagging create the characteristic “skeletonized” look that can age the face. Cheek filler helps address both these issues for a rejuvenated look.

Cheek Fillers for Aged Women

Dermal fillers are approved for use in people aged 22 and up. They are extremely effective at recreating a heart-shaped face regardless of your age. That said, there are some important factors to keep in mind:

Factors	Description
Skin elasticity	Older skin has less ability to stretch. Overfilling cheeks can make skin appear taught and unnatural. A conservative approach is best.
Skin laxity	Aged women have more skin laxity. Fillers help fill hollows but don’t lift saggy skin. Combining fillers with threads or an Ultherapy skin tightening treatment is ideal.
Metabolism	Metabolism slows down with age, so results may last longer compared to younger women. Less frequent touch-ups are needed.
Bruising	Bruising can take longer to resolve in older patients, so avoid blood thinners like ibuprofen before treatment.

In experienced hands, fillers can beautifully restore lost volume in aging cheeks and delay the need for a surgical facelift.

How Do They Work?

Cheek fillers replace lost volume in the midface for more matured women. Volumizing fillers like Juvederm can lift the jowls using a fine needle and restore cheek volume. The material then integrates into the skin's scaffolding.

The filler material attracts water molecules and expands, providing immediate volume to lift and plump up skin from inside. Results from these treatments are seen instantly. As your collagen grows into the filler material, results improve further over the next 2 weeks.

The filler supports the skin and creates a scaffolding structure that lifts sagging cheeks. This restores the plump, heart-shaped face of youth. Over time, your body naturally absorbs the filler. 

Which Dermal Filler is Best for Cheek Enhancement?

The top picks for safe, effective cheek filler in mature women are:

Filler	Description
Juvéderm Voluma	The gold standard cheek filler. Provides robust lift and projection for up to 2 years.
Restylane Lyft	Made specifically for midface injection. Lasts approximately 1 year.
Bellafill	80% collagen-stimulating polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles plus 20% hyaluronic acid. Provides 5+ year results.
Radiesse	Calcium hydroxyapatite-based filler that stimulates long-term collagen production. Lasts approximately 1-2 years.

The Cheek Filler Consultation Procedure

Your cheek filler consultation will be a comprehensive appointment with an experienced cosmetic provider to determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment. It will involve:

1. Reviewing your full medical history, including any medications, supplements, allergies, previous cosmetic treatments or surgeries, and any conditions that could impact treatment or healing.
2. Pinpointing your specific aesthetic concerns and cosmetic goals. Your provider will ask about the changes in your cheek area you hope to correct, such as restoring fullness, reducing the appearance of sagging skin or wrinkles, etc.
3. Conducting a detailed facial analysis and examination. Your provider will assess your individual degree and pattern of facial aging, bone structure, skin thickness and elasticity, muscle tone, and volume loss in the midface/cheek region.
4. Using advanced facial morphing software to show you potential projected results with cheek filler. This helps give you a preview of how restoring volume and contour can aesthetically balance and harmonize your facial features.
5. Determining the optimal filler material and injection technique customized to your facial anatomy. Factors like your bone structure, muscle definition, weight changes, and amount of correction needed will impact the filler choice and injection approach.
6. Discussing realistic expectations about the degrees of improvement possible for your cheek concerns based on skin laxity, volume loss, and other aging factors present.
7. Reviewing any risks, potential side effects, pain and discomfort levels, and what to expect during the procedure and recovery period.
8. Providing pricing options based on the estimated number of syringes required to achieve your goals, as well as any package deals available.
9. Explaining pre- and post-treatment instructions such as avoiding certain medications or supplements, arnica use, and when to resume activities.

This customized consultation allows Dr. Lanna to develop an appropriate treatment plan addressing your unique concerns and facial profile.

What Are the Risks of Cheek Fillers for Aged Women?

Cheek fillers are very safe procedures with few side effects when properly performed by experienced injectors. However, there are some potential risks to be aware of. 

Infection is very unlikely with today's sterilization practices but may require antibiotics if it were to occur. Under-eye swelling can happen with tear trough injections but generally resolves within a week.

Asymmetry is possible if different amounts of filler or techniques are used on each side, which could make the cheeks appear uneven. Using excessive amounts of filler can overfill the cheeks and stretch the skin, leading to an unnaturally wide or "pillow face" appearance. 

Visible lumps or nodules can also form if filler is injected too superficially into the skin. Vascular occlusion, while very rare, involves blockage of an artery which could compromise blood flow and require hyaluronidase injection to dissolve the filler. 

Bruising is also common but temporary; avoiding blood thinners before treatment can help reduce bruising risk. Supplements like arnica may also help. 

Choosing an expert, experienced injector is key to minimizing risks and complications from cheek fillers. Get in touch with the team of Dr. Lanna Aesthetics today!

Cheek Fillers vs Facelift: Which is Better for Matured Women?

For significant sagging and loose skin on the cheeks, a surgical facelift may be required. But in earlier stages, fillers can rival a lift. Here’s how the two options compare:

Procedure	Cheek Fillers	Facelift Surgery
Invasiveness	Minimally invasive, lunchtime procedure	Involves incisions and lifting of deeper facial layers
Anesthesia	Little to none	General anesthesia required
Recovery Time	Resume activities immediately	Significant swelling and bruising with 2 week recovery
Results	Adds volume to fill hollows.  Provides moderate lift of mild to moderately sagging skin. Natural looking results that emerge gradually	Dramatic lifting of loose, sagging skin. It can comprehensively tighten cheeks, jowls and neck. Results look natural but surgical changes are noticeable
Longevity	Lasts 6-12 months typically and requires maintenance	Lasts 7-10 years typically
Main use	Early jowling and midface volume loss	Loose, sagging skin on cheeks, jowls and neck

For mild to moderate cheek sagging, properly placed fillers can provide a mini “liquid facelift” while avoiding surgery. But for severe skin laxity, a surgical facelift is more effective at repositioning and tightening cheek skin.

Tips for a Smooth Cheek Filler Recovery

Follow these tips to ensure proper healing and the best possible outcome after your cheek filler treatment:

1. Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours. Vigorous activity can increase swelling and disruption of the filler.
2. Use cool compresses and avoid very hot showers for the first 1-2 days. This helps minimize swelling.
3. Sleep on your back with your head elevated using extra pillows to reduce fluid buildup on the cheeks.
4. Follow all post-injection care instructions from your provider, like gently massaging the treated areas.
5. Take arnica and/or bromelain supplements to help speed resolution of bruising.
6. Don’t apply makeup for at least 4 hours after the treatment. Make sure hands are clean before touching the area.
7. Contact your provider if you have excessive pain, swelling or lumps that don’t resolve within a few days.

Following proper aftercare protocols helps ensure the best results with minimal downtime or side effects.

Refresh Your Look with Cheek Fillers by Dr. Lanna

Thanks to advanced dermal fillers, fuller, lifted cheeks are achievable at any age. If your mirror is starting to reflect a tired, hollowed appearance, cheek augmentation can refresh your look.

Dr. Lanna is an expert injector who has performed over 10,000 successful injections. Her artistry with fillers volumizes cheeks, smooths lines, lifts jowls, and enhances facial contours for a refreshed, youthful beauty. Contact the office today to learn more about achieving your aesthetic goals with expertly administered dermal fillers.

FAQs

What are the benefits of cheek fillers for aged women?

Cheek fillers can help restore volume loss in the cheeks that occurs with aging. This can result in a more youthful, lifted appearance. Fillers in the cheek area can also reduce the look of wrinkles, folds, and hollowness.

What kind of fillers are used in the cheeks?

Hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero are commonly used for cheek augmentation. These fillers provide a natural look and feel. Radiesse, a calcium hydroxylapatite filler, is also sometimes used.

How long do cheek fillers last?

With hyaluronic acid fillers, results typically last 6-12 months. Repeat injections are needed to maintain the effects. With Radiesse fillers, results may last 12-18 months or longer before a touch up is needed. The longevity depends on the individual and the amount injected.

Do cheek fillers help with sagging cheeks?

Cheek fillers excel at restoring lost volume in sagging cheeks. As we age, skin becomes lax while fat pads deflate. This leads to loose, droopy skin on the cheeks with hollow areas underneath. Injecting dermal filler into sagging cheeks provides both structural support and volume.

Can I combine cheek fillers with Botox?

Yes, cheek fillers and Botox work beautifully together! Cheek fillers like Voluma or Radiesse lift and volumize a flat midface. This restores the plump cheek contours of youth. Strategically placed Botox relaxes muscles around the eyes, forehead and jawline that contract with age.