How Long Do Cheek Fillers Last?

Cheek filler treatments are effective in reversing the signs of aging and restoring facial volume. The lasting effect of its results depends on the kind of dermal filler substance used for the cheek filler treatment. Choosing among these fillers depends on many factors which are considered by both the patient and the aesthetic provider.

So how long do cheek fillers last? Cheek filler injections may last for about 9 months up to several years, depending on the kind of dermal filler used as well as the internal factors of an individual’s body. Knowing the pros and cons of each kind of cheek filler is essential to evaluate the most suitable dermal filler substance to be applied to the cheek area.

Will Cheek Fillers Last?

Dermal fillers can enhance the appearance of your cheeks by adding definition and fullness to them. You can choose from a variety of dermal fillers depending on the treatment plan you're receiving from your aesthetic provider.

The best dermal filler to be used in the cheek area depends on an individual’s medical condition and aesthetic goals. Shown below are the kinds of dermal filler substances for the face and a few information about them:

Cheek filler substance	Products Using Substance	Results
Hyaluronic Acid (i.e, HA filler)	Juvederm fillers (e.g, Juvederm Voluma XC, Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Volbella) and Restylane (e.g, Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne)	9 to 24 months
Calcium Hydroxyapatite	Radiesse filler	15 months
Poly-L Lactic Acid	Sculptra filler	5 years
Polymethylmethacrylate (i.e, PMMA)	PMMA filler	5 years

Top Factors Affecting Cheek Filler Results

The lasting effect of cheek filler results depend on so many factors which may be caused by the patient’s own body mechanisms or the aesthetic provider’s professional expertise. These factors include:

• Type of filler applied. Each filler is made up of different filler substances to restore collagen and stimulate new collagen production. All dermal fillers have their own advantages and disadvantages, and whatever is chosen by the patient affects cheek filler longevity.
• Metabolism of dermal fillers. The rate at which the body metabolizes the injected dermal fillers affects the length of effectivity of the filler injections in the treatment area. This is especially applicable to hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient that’s naturally found in the body, which is then broken down by the body into compounds and eventually excreted. This aspect varies per person, and it’s one of the greatest factors that affect how long the results will last. So take note of the things that affect your metabolism if you want your cheek fillers to last longer.
• Facial structure. Cheek fillers enhance the volume and structure of the midface, but there are instances when the composition of that specific facial region tends to cause fillers to fade faster than those injected in other people. Aside from that, other cosmetic procedures may be more suitable to enhance a given face shape.
• How the filler is placed in the treatment area. This aspect heavily relies on the expertise of the injector because the way that a filler is injected beneath the skin affects filler longevity. If the cheek filler is placed closer to the skin surface, it may cause discoloration and other adverse effects, which will have to be reversed by dissolving or removing the filler placed. In other instances, this factor may also affect the metabolism of dermal fillers.
• How much filler is placed in the treatment area. The amount of filler placed in the treatment site also affects its lasting effect. More filler means a longer-lasting effect of the cheek filler injection. However, injecting too much filler in the cheeks may cause overfilling, which leads to the patient looking unnaturally puffy with cat-like eyes.
• Lifestyle factors. Unhealthy lifestyle and diet practices can cause cheek fillers to fade faster. Specifically, smoking also leads to unfavorable skin conditions which may contribute to the cheek fillers fading away faster than expected.

What To Know About Cheek Filler Treatments

Cheek fillers are great for people who aren’t blessed with a well-defined cheek region, but even for individuals who have it, picturesque cheekbones aren’t meant to last for a long time. With dermal fillers, you can enhance your facial contour and reduce signs of skin aging on the cheeks without undergoing facial plastic surgery or Botox cosmetic treatment.

This injectable treatment may carry risks and side effects, which vary based on a number of factors, but choosing the right aesthetic provider reduces this likelihood. Some cheek fillers are temporary, and they eventually fade away. For this, maintenance treatment sessions are required to touch up the results of the injectable filler treatment.

Dermal Fillers Used For The Cheeks

Dermal filler substances differ in purpose, usage, and filler longevity. What the aesthetic provider will also recommend depends on the severity of the condition of the treatment area.

• Hyaluronic Acid Fillers. HA filler treatments use hyaluronic acid substances to bind hydrogen into the skin tissues to keep the skin looking hydrated, thus causing it to be plumper and volumized. Although this cheek filler for cheek augmentation may produce temporary results, it also assures the non-permanent effect of any adverse effect that may be caused by the dermal filler procedure.
• Calcium Hydroxyapatite. Radiesse fillers shape and contour the cheek for a period longer than HA fillers, but not as long as other kinds of cheek fillers using other dermal filler substances. Aside from that, these fillers tend to stay in the intended injection site only so any cases of filler migration, if not preferred, would be avoided.
• Poly-L Lactic Acid. Sculptra fillers initially don’t have immediate results after the treatment session. Instead, it gradually develops over time. Thus, this dermal filler produces a semi-permanent result that lasts for a longer period than other filler injections using other dermal filler substances.
• Polymethylmethacrylate. PMMA fillers stimulate collagen production better than other dermal fillers. Aside from injecting collagen, this filler treatment involves building a matrix that allows the production of new collagen beneath the skin.

Benefits of Dermal Fillers For The Cheeks

Over time, collagen production in the facial regions will decline. Good thing, dermal fillers for the cheek area can help enhance the midface by defining contours and plumping up the skin. Additionally, these fillers have the following benefits:

• Restore lost facial volume on both cheeks
• Eliminate nasolabial folds, fine lines, and other applicable facial folds
• Improve wrinkle areas
• Cheek enhancement
• Under eye enhancement
• Fast recovery period without downtime from facial plastic surgery
• Instant results without the associated risks and side effects of alternative treatments

Procedure for Cheek Filler Treatments

Choosing an aesthetic provider who is qualified and experienced is the best way to achieve your beauty goals. Expertise in the application of cheek filler treatments involves having a doctor understand the facial anatomy of the patient to identify the right injection sites. Aside from that, expertise also involves knowing the right cheek filler dosage to achieve the desired volume and facial contour in the cheek area.

In addition, the following are the danger zones in the facial region that expert aesthetic providers know best to avoid:

• Nasal area
• Infraorbital area
• Temporal region
• Lip and perioral area
• Glabellar area

Upon the first consultation, the aesthetic provider will create a treatment plan that suits your aesthetic needs and medical history.

Other treatments may be combined with cheek filler treatments, as needed. The severity of the condition of the problem areas will also be evaluated on whether dermal filler injection is a sufficient treatment for it or other procedures such as facial plastic surgery and Botox cosmetic treatment is more suitable.

After the creation of the treatment plan, the treatment session will be scheduled. Cheek filler treatments are done in the office of the aesthetic procedure, which usually takes less than an hour to be administered.

Aesthetic providers use a long 22-gauge cannula for minimized damage inflicted in the treatment area. Using a fanning technique, the cheek fillers are then injected into the deep medial cheek fat, lateral to the nasolabial fat. For a strong definition of the midface, the cheek filler injection is injected right above the cheekbones.

Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers such as Juvederm already have an anesthetic component called lidocaine to reduce any pain and discomfort felt during the treatment procedure. However, if you prefer to eliminate any uncomfortable sensation during the treatment session, you can choose to have a topical numbing cream applied to the injection site.

Who Can Have Cheek Filler Treatments

Cheek filler treatments still have their limits, so it’s important to consult with an aesthetic provider who’ll evaluate whether you’re a suitable candidate for the treatment. The following will be considered when deciding if cheek filler treatment is a sufficient treatment option for you:

• Age at the time of the treatment
• Severity of wrinkles
• Severity of fine line areas
• Severity of acne scars
• Medical history and allergic reactions to dermal filler substances, various dermal filler ingredients, and lidocaine
• Bleeding and blood clot disorders
• Skin infection around the cheek area
• Acne and acne scars around the cheek area

For severe wrinkles, fine lines, and acne scars, dermal filler alternatives such as cheek implants and facial plastic surgery or reconstructive surgery performed by plastic surgeons may be more suited to address these cases.

Consequently, if a person has plans to undergo cosmetic surgery or other cosmetic procedures that aren’t compatible with dermal filler treatments, it may also be best to consider other alternatives.

Expected Risks and Side Effects of Cheek Filler Treatments

Risks and side effects are the costs of having cosmetic treatments. However, for cheek filler treatments, the side effects are mostly minimal and they tend to go away after a few weeks up to a month. Some of the adverse effects that may be experienced after cheek filler injections are:

• Minimal pain
• Redness or discoloration
• Itchiness, hives, or nodules
• Bleeding or blood clotting
• Swelling or tenderness
• Bruising

Aesthetic providers usually provide instructions on how to manage the mentioned side effects. In case after a month and there are no improvements to the side effects experienced following the treatment session, it’s important to consult with your dermatologist immediately.

Additionally, each kind of dermal filler substance has its own adverse effect. This is why hyaluronic acid filler, despite its temporary effect, is most commonly preferred and recommended by dermal filler injectors. For a thorough discussion on the such subject matter, consult with your aesthetic provider.

How Long Do Cheek Fillers Take to Heal?

Dermal filler treatment doesn’t usually require a long period of recovery, and there’s little to no downtime as well. This is one of the reasons why it’s growing in popularity as an alternative to facial plastic surgery.

But the entire duration estimated for the dermal fillers to have fully settled within the skin surface takes about 2 weeks. So during the span of 2 weeks, it’s important to take note of aftercare and post-treatment instructions to let the body fully absorb the cheek filler injected and recover faster from the minimally invasive procedure.

Aftercare Tips for Long-lasting Cheek Fillers

In most cases, the side effects of cheek filler treatments will disappear after a few days. The treated area will recover within two weeks at the most. In order to speed up the recovery process, here are some cheek filler aftercare instructions:

• Quit smoking
• Avoid intense exercise
• Avoid touching the treatment area
• Avoid putting on makeup
• Stay away from extreme heat or cold
• Sleep on your back to avoid putting pressure on the cheek filler

Long-lasting Cheek Fillers at Dr. Lanna Aesthetics

Cheek filler treatments are effective minimally invasive treatment solutions in defining the contours of the face and enhancing your face shape to restore your youthful look. The lasting effect of cheek fillers for facial rejuvenation depends on many factors, but choosing the right aesthetic provider for cheek filler treatment can boost the guarantee that facial fillers will not fade away quickly.

A trusted New York City plastic surgeon, Dr. Lanna offers different aesthetic services to help patients achieve their beauty goals such as cheek augmentation, lip filler injection, chin filler injectable treatment, and laser treatment. Begin your journey to achieving your beauty goals and schedule your consultation with Dr. Lanna Aesthetics today.