What Dermal Filler Is Used for Cheek Augmentation?

Cheek Fillers 101: Understanding Your Options for a Natural Lift

When selected properly, dermal fillers can add volume to sunken areas, accentuate the cheekbones, soften facial creases, and give your face an overall lifted appearance. But with the many filler options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for beautifully augmented cheeks.

What Is Cheek Augmentation?

Cheek augmentation is a cosmetic procedure that enhances the size and shape of the cheek area. It aims to:

• Add volume to sunken or flat cheeks
• Create more prominent, sculpted cheekbones
• Improve facial symmetry
• Soften nasolabial folds (lines from nose to mouth)
• Provide an overall lifted appearance

Cheek augmentation can involve surgical placement of solid silicone cheek implants. However, dermal filler injections offer a nonsurgical approach to improving cheek fullness and contour.

Why Do People Get Cheek Augmentation?

There are a few common reasons people seek cheek augmentation, such as:

• Age-related volume loss - As we get older, our faces naturally lose collagen and fat, especially in the cheek area. This leads to a deflated, gaunt appearance.
• Enhancing natural features - Some people simply want to augment their naturally flatter cheeks to achieve more definition.
• Improving facial symmetry - Filler can be precisely injected to even out asymmetry.
• Restoring gauntness from weight loss - Significant weight loss can result in dramatic fat loss in the face. Fillers help restore fullness.
• Refining facial contours - Cheek augmentation helps sharpen overall facial definition.

Dermal Filler Options for Cheeks

Now that we've covered the basics, let's dive into the leading dermal filler choices for spectacular cheek results.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Fillers

Hyaluronic acid fillers are the most popular options for cheek enhancement. HA is a natural substance in the body that provides volume and hydration to the skin. In filler form, it integrates seamlessly into facial tissues. There are several excellent HA options specifically formulated for the cheeks:

Juvederm Voluma XC

Voluma XC is the only HA filler approved by the FDA specifically for cheek augmentation. Reasons it's a top choice include:

• Adds significant lift and volume due to its thick, robust gel formula.
• Effectively volumizes hollows and lifted sagging cheek skin.
• Provides dramatic yet extremely natural-looking results.
• Effects last up to 2 years.

Voluma excels at restoring age-related midface volume loss. It's also the perfect option if you want an intense augmentation result from filler.

Restylane Lyft

Restylane Lyft (previously called Perlane-L) is another leading HA filler choice for cheek enhancement. Benefits include:

• Provides both volumizing and contouring ability.
• Creates a subtle yet noticeable lift.
• Refines cheek hollows while accentuating the cheekbones.
• Lasts approximately 9-12 months.

Lyft is ideal if you want to subtly augment flattened cheeks or add definition to your cheekbones.

Restylane Contour

Another Restylane option, Contour is specially designed for sculpting and definition. It's great for:

• Precise contouring to sharpen cheekbones.
• Adding shape along the cheekbone ridge.
• Enhancing facial definition and structure.
• Results lasting 9-12 months.

If your goals are refining your natural cheek contours, Contour is an optimal HA choice.

Benefits of HA fillers for the cheeks:

• Comprised of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance already in the body.
• Offer smooth, seamless enhancement.
• Instantly restore lost volume.
• Can be easily reversed with hyaluronidase if needed.
• Provide customizable results.

Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) - Radiesse

Radiesse is a unique dermal filler composed of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres suspended in a gel carrier. It provides instant volume through the gel carrier and stimulates long-term natural collagen formation through the CaHA microspheres.

Radiesse is an excellent option for adding projection to the cheekbones and along the upper cheek. Benefits include:

• Provides immediate volume similar to HA fillers.
• Stimulates your body's natural collagen, so results may continue improving over several months.
• Cheek enhancement can last 1-2 years.

Radiesse is ideal if you desire both instant cheek plumping and long-term, natural-looking collagen stimulation for extended results.

Poly-L-lactic Acid (PLLA) - Sculptra Aesthetic

Unlike other dermal fillers, Sculptra Aesthetic doesn't contain any pre-formed hyaluronic acid or collagen. Rather, Sculptra works by stimulating your body's natural collagen production over time via poly-L-lactic acid microparticles.

This makes Sculptra unique in that results are not instant - they develop gradually over a period of several months. It's an excellent option for replacing significant lost cheek volume and hollowing. Benefits include:

• Effectively restores volume loss in sunken cheek areas.
• Provides very natural-looking enhancement over time.
• Results can last up to 2 years.
• Requires a series of treatment sessions over several months.

If you have severe cheek hollowing and want to gradually restore a youthful contour over time through your body's own collagen, Sculptra is an ideal filler.

How to Choose the Best Cheek Filler

Now that we've covered the leading filler options for spectacular cheek enhancement, how do you choose between them? Here are the most important factors to consider when consulting with an experienced injector:

Your Specific Cheek Augmentation Goals

Think about the improvements you want to achieve. Do you primarily want to add volume to hollow cheeks? Refine and contour your cheekbone structure? Sharpen your overall facial definition? Determining your objectives will help guide proper filler selection.

Your Facial Anatomy and Structure

Your underlying bone structure and natural facial contours will influence which filler achieves the most ideal enhancement. An experienced injector will assess your individual anatomy.

Your Age and Skin Quality

The injector will take into account factors like your age, skin laxity, and extent of volume loss when recommending an optimal filler. HA fillers tend to benefit most age groups.

Preferred Longevity of Results

As we discussed, some fillers offer more temporary enhancement while others provide longer-lasting augmentation. Make sure your injector understands your desired longevity.

Your Budget

Some fillers come with a higher price tag than others, so budget is always a consideration when planning facial rejuvenation.

What to Expect During Cheek Filler Treatment

The actual process of receiving filler injections is relatively quick and easy. It typically involves:

• Cleansing and numbing the treatment area. A topical anesthetic is applied to maximize comfort.
• The injector will massage the area and use specialized techniques to contour the cheeks and add volume precisely.
• Injection sites are minimized to strategic areas to provide smooth, even enhancement that looks incredibly natural.
• Minimal to no downtime is required. Some temporary swelling, redness or tenderness may occur.
• Improvement is visible instantly with HA and CaHA fillers, while PLLA fillers develop improvement gradually over several months.
• Most dermal fillers for cheeks provide results lasting from 9 months to 2 years. Maintenance sessions can maintain your beautiful results.

Are You a Candidate for Cheek Fillers?

If you're in overall good health, have noticeable cheek hollowing or volume loss, and want to restore a more youthful facial profile, you're likely an excellent candidate for cheek fillers.

It's important to schedule a consultation with an experienced aesthetic injector. They'll be able to thoroughly assess your anatomy and goals. Together, you can decide on a treatment plan to help you achieve gorgeous, augmented cheeks and the facial balance you desire.

Potential Risks and Side Effects of Cheek Fillers

While dermal fillers are generally considered safe when performed by a qualified injector, it's important to be aware of potential risks and side effects:

• Common Side Effects:
  • Swelling and bruising at the injection site (typically resolves within a few days to weeks)
  • Tenderness and redness
  • Lumps or bumps, which may require massage or additional treatment to resolve
• Less Common but More Serious Side Effects:
  • Infection (requires prompt medical attention)
  • Allergic reactions (rare, but it's essential to disclose any known allergies)
  • Vascular occlusion (filler accidentally injected into a blood vessel, this is rare but requires immediate treatment to prevent tissue damage)
  • Blindness (extremely rare, but can occur if filler is injected into an artery supplying the eye)

How to Mitigate Risks

To minimize the risks and ensure the best possible results, here are key steps to take:

• Choose a Qualified Injector: Select a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or other healthcare professional with extensive experience in dermal filler injections. They should have in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy and specific expertise in cheek augmentation.
• Full Medical History: Before your treatment, provide a complete medical history, including any medications or supplements you're taking.
• Realistic Expectations: Discuss your desired results in detail with your injector and have a realistic understanding of what dermal fillers can and cannot achieve.
• Follow Pre- and Post-Care Instructions: Adhere to your injector's instructions for preparation before your treatment and aftercare to minimize side effects and optimize healing.
• Report Concerns: If you experience any unusual side effects or have concerns after your procedure, contact your injector immediately.

Conclusion

Dermal fillers offer an excellent option for anyone seeking a nonsurgical approach to cheek augmentation.

Whether you're battling age-related volume loss, desire a more sculpted facial profile, or simply want to enhance your natural features, the spectrum of HA, CaHA, and PLLA injectable fillers empowers you with numerous choices.

By understanding the unique advantages of each filler and consulting with a skilled aesthetic professional, you can achieve the naturally beautiful and rejuvenated cheeks you envision.