What to Expect After Getting Cheek Fillers

Cheek filler treatments are effective non-surgical alternatives to reverse the signs of skin aging and restore lost facial volume. The results will depend on the kind of filler used as well as the expertise of the aesthetic provider who will assist in the procedure. Other than results, there are also side effects to be expected after undergoing the treatment.

So what can individuals expect after cheek filler treatments? After the injectable filler treatment session, immediate results would be visible, which will gradually improve and be more obvious as the dermal fillers fully settle within the skin. Additionally, patients can expect some slight swelling and tenderness in the treated area, along with other side effects.

What You Should Expect After Cheek Filler Treatments

Cheek filler treatments involve the injection of dermal fillers to stimulate new collagen production and rejuvenate the skin for overall cheek enhancement. The following are the expected immediate results after the cheek filler treatment session:

• Plumper, volumized skin
• Improved face shape or facial contour
• More defined cheekbones
• Acne treatment of acne scars
• Effective under-eye and tear trough filler treatment

Each kind of dermal filler substance may have different kinds of expected results. For instance, hyaluronic acid filler treatments such as Restylane Lyft and Juvéderm Voluma may produce temporary results. Cheek filler migration may also be expected in these kinds of facial filler substances.

All cosmetic procedure treatments such as lip filler and cheek filler injections have side effects. For cheek filler treatments, especially HA filler treatments, these side effects are usually minimal. Other than immediate results, the side effects that can be normally expected after the cheek filler treatment session are the following:

• Cold sores
• Bruising, swelling, or tenderness
• Slight pain around the treatment site
• Hives or nodules
• Bleeding or blood clotting
• Itchiness that won’t go away

Additionally, there are also risks of mishaps that are common when having dermal filler treatments. Although these are common to injectable treatment procedures, they are also reversible and are shown to have a minimal effect on the patient. The following are the risks associated with cheek filler treatments:

• Filler overfilling in the cheekbones
• Filler migration
• Lumps and bumps
• Injection of fillers in blood vessels

All of the expected risks and side effects of injectable fillers are generally minimal and reversible. These usually happen as a result of the body’s reaction to the treatment, which is in no way controlled by anyone involved in the treatment session. However, going to an aesthetic provider who’s also a dermal filler expert can help minimize the risk of these unfavorable adverse effects.

What Does It Mean If Cheek Filler Barely Shows?

There are instances when cheek fillers barely show sometime after the cheek filler treatment. One of the possible causes of this is that cheek filler treatments usually create a swelling reaction once it’s injected into the skin, which leads to underfilling of the treatment area. Aesthetic providers tend to overfill treatment areas so that when swelling subsides, then the intended results would be achieved.

However, there are instances when initial swelling occurs before the treatment if the patient failed to take note of the pre-treatment instructions. The amount of inflammation as a reaction to the dermal filler ingredients may also vary per patient.

So once the swelling subsides or the cheek fillers fully settle within the skin, the cheek filler results would barely show. For cases like this, it’s best to consult with an aesthetic provider who performs cheek filler injections.

Will Cheek Filler Make My Face Look Fat?

Cheek fillers are used to make the skin look plump and volumized to eliminate wrinkles, fine lines, and acne scars around the treatment site. So face fillers are intended to make the treatment area appear fuller, but not to the extent of a pillow face syndrome.

A pillow face syndrome is when the face looks puffy and bloated as a result of cheek overfilling. This overdone facial fullness often makes that area of the face look like it’s literally a pillow, which can even extend to other facial areas in cases of facial migration.

Should Cheek Fillers Feel Hard?

After the cheek filler treatment, it’s normal to feel tenderness around the treatment area. This may also come with the swelling caused by the dermal filler treatment procedure. Depending on the kind of dermal filler substance you had, lumps and bumps are also initially normal after cheek filler, and it generally subsides after the cheek fillers have settled in the skin.

If lumps and bumps tend to grow in size or show no improvements after a month following the treatment session, consult an aesthetic provider or a plastic surgeon for the best treatment of this side effect.

Cheek Filler Healing Process: Do Cheek Fillers Hurt Afterwards?

Before the procedure, a patient and their aesthetic provider will choose the best dermal filler that suits their needs. Some injectable dermal fillers already contain anesthetic substances in the injection per se, while some don’t. Although that’s the case, the patient can still choose to have a topical anesthetic cream applied to the injection site before the cheek filler treatment.

After the procedure, mild pain is a usual side effect of cheek filler treatments. This may be a result of the mild tenderness, bruising, and swelling that are also expected side effects of cheek filler treatments. However, most patients generally don’t feel any pain after their cheek filler treatment session.

Why It Hurts to Smile After a Cheek Filler Treatment

Aside from the normal side effect of swelling after cheek fillers, it may hurt to smile after cheek fillers because of the displacement caused by the injected dermal filler substance to the skin tissues inside the cheeks.

The expected level of pain when smiling after the cheek filler treatment session is only moderate, and it would only last until the dermal filler substance has fully settled within the skin. For cases of severe pain that lasts for more than a month in the treatment site, consult your aesthetic doctor.

When Does Cheek Filler Settle?

Patients generally experience no downtime and a short recovery period after cheek fillers, which are influenced by how well cheek filler substances settle within the skin. It takes at least 2 weeks for dermal filler substances to settle into the cheeks, which may take up to a month. The longevity of the results of cheek fillers depends on many factors including the following:

• Type of cheek filler applied
• Individual’s metabolic processing of dermal fillers
• Patient’s facial structure
• How much filler is injected into the treatment site
• Location of the cheek filler in the treatment site
• Aftercare and skincare regimen
• Lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, exercise, balanced diet)

Why Get Cheek Fillers

As people age, collagen production also declines. This decline in collagen causes skin laxity, fine lines, and wrinkle areas. Aging can also affect facial contour and the skin’s capacity to heal from acne scars. Below are the following benefits of cheek filler treatments:

• Wrinkle area improvement
• Youthful skin rejuvenation
• Facial volume restoration
• Cheek augmentation
• Eliminate facial folds (e.g, nasolabial fold, smile lines)
• Under eye or tear trough enhancement
• Instant recovery with minimal downtime
• Fast results with minimal risks and side effects

Cheek filler treatments are good nonsurgical alternatives, however, these treatments aren’t always sufficient to treat problem areas. Consult an aesthetic provider for the best facial rejuvenation treatment for you. Additionally, your aesthetic doctor will evaluate your eligibility to have the cheek filler procedure based on the following factors:

• Age and current skin condition
• The severity of wrinkle area and fine lines
• The severity of acne and acne scars around the cheek area
• Individual and family medical history
• Skin infection, allergic reactions, bleeding, and blood clot disorders

If you’re not eligible to have cheek dermal filler treatment, there are also other non-surgical alternatives that may be more suited to your needs such as laser treatment (e.g, laser skin resurfacing) and reconstructive surgery (e.g, eyelid surgery).

Benefits of Getting Voluma Cheek Fillers at a Young Age

Dermal fillers at a young age aren’t really necessary for wrinkle and fine-line elimination, which is why many people also think that young people aren’t eligible for cheek filler treatments. However, cheek fillers such as Juvéderm Voluma, are still better alternatives to facial plastic surgery for young people who are interested in improving their facial contour.

Cheek filler treatments would help the skin store collagen and stimulate new collagen production to maintain the skin’s rejuvenated look. But dermal filler treatments still have limitations, so it’s essential to consult with your aesthetic provider for your eligibility to have cheek fillers.

Achieve Your Beauty Goals at Dr. Lanna Aesthetics

Cheek filler treatments are good non-surgical alternatives, but it’s essential to brief yourself with expectations on this treatment to achieve your desired result. One of the most important factors affecting the expected results and side effects after the treatment session is the aesthetic provider’s expertise, so it’s important to only seek the services of an aesthetic doctor who’s an expert in dermal filler injection treatments.

Dr. Lanna is a trusted board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City with expertise in effective aesthetic treatments such as injectable fillers and laser hair removal. With decades of experience and over 10,000 successful aesthetic treatments, Dr. Lanna and her team of expert injectors will help you achieve your beauty goals.

Reach out to us for a consultation today.