What You Need to Know About Cheek Filler Placement

One of the best cosmetic treatments for the signs of aging and volume loss in the midface region is cheek fillers. This injectable treatment requires a fairly simple and straightforward procedure that can result in minimal downtime and few side effects. But to guarantee the best possible results, you need to work with an experienced provider who can properly place your cheek filler injections. 

So where do providers typically place cheek filler injections? Injectors can place the dermal fillers in your upper cheek, mid-cheek, or lower cheek depending on your specific facial concerns and desired aesthetic goals. The common conditions that cheek fillers can address are cheek volume loss, low cheekbones, facial wrinkles, and lines, and tear trough deformity.  

Guidelines and Cheek Filler Techniques Used By Injectors for Cheek Treatments  

Cheek fillers are an excellent injectable treatment for complete facial rejuvenation. In fact, it’s one of the most requested cosmetic procedures in many med spas today and is considered a viable alternative to facial plastic surgery or cheek implants. 

If you’d like to know more about this cosmetic treatment, there are several things you need to know before getting the injections. This includes familiarizing yourself with the evaluation process to know if you qualify for the cheek filler placement and identifying which are the best areas that can be treated with the injectables.

How Providers Assess Patients for Cheek Fillers

Just like any aesthetic treatment, a cheek filler patient has to undergo a thorough evaluation prior to receiving their injectables. Individuals are advised to have an initial consultation with their provider to discuss their skin concerns and talk about their possible dermal filler treatment plan. 

Here are some of the key considerations that doctors have to follow during the initial patient assessment: 

• Your age - Most individuals can start getting a cheek filler treatment in their 20s and 30s. This is the normal age when the skin shows signs of age-related volume loss. However, every patient presents facial aging differently and doctors need to evaluate your skin to identify how much cheek volume you’ve lost and which areas will require additional support from fillers. 
• Your sex - There are some differences in the facial anatomy and features of men and women. For example, female patients tend to have naturally high cheekbones with a fuller shape, while males have flatter cheeks. This can affect how injectors plan to place the cheek fillers and how much volume will be added to the face.
• Your ethnicity - The ideal cheek shape and appearance can vary in patients depending on their race and ethnicity. Additionally, your ethnicity may affect your cheekbone structure and other facial features which is why doctors have to assess your appearance so they can determine the right filler placement and injection technique to use. 
• Your complete medical history - Doctors will also ask questions about your medical history to get a comprehensive idea of your current health. For example, they need to know if you have an existing allergy to any of the ingredients in the dermal filler injection. They’ll also examine if you have an active infection, inflammatory condition, or other autoimmune diseases which can affect your dermal filler treatment. 
• Your skin condition - Doctors will also evaluate your facial skin and determine the severity of your volume loss. They’ll also examine if you have other existing issues, such as deep wrinkles, smile lines, and nasolabial folds that can be treated with cheek fillers. 

Where Are Cheek Fillers Placed for Specific Facial Concerns? 

After your assessment, the doctor will come up with a treatment plan that’s tailored to your specific concerns. They’ll also discuss what you can expect from the cosmetic procedure and how you can prepare for the dermal filler injection.

On the day of your cheek filler procedure, they’ll mark the sites where they’ll place the injections. They may use either a blunt-tip cannula or needles to deliver the fillers into the desired area. Here are the common sites for cheek filler treatments: 

1. Upper cheek or above the cheekbones

Injectors can place the cheek filler on the upper face or above your cheekbones if you want to improve your cheek contours and definition. This can also provide a lifting effect if you have drooping cheeks.

2. Lateral cheek   

This refers to the area starting at the jawbone and extending to the front of the ear. It’s normal for people to lose a lot of cheek volume and fat pad in this region, which is why it’s one of the most common areas for dermal filler placement. Ideal candidates for this type of cheek filler injection are those with flat cheeks and who want to achieve a higher and more sculpted appearance. It can also help add definition to the jawline for an improved face shape and profile. 

3. Midcheek region 

If you want to achieve a round or apple cheek appearance, injectors can place the fillers in the middle region of your cheek structure. Adding cheek filler in this area can also provide facial volume to plump and improve the eyelid-cheek junction and reduce the appearance of tear trough deformities, eye bags, and dark circles. 

4. Zygomatic bones or cheekbones

This refers to a pair of bones on the upper side of the face that gives structure and shape to your cheeks. Most cases of sunken or hollow cheeks are a result of lost facial volume and fat pad in this area. Injectors can address the hollowing by placing fillers into the soft tissue above and under the cheekbones. This can result in a rounder and more youthful cheek appearance. 

Best Dermal Fillers That Can Be Used for Cheek Injections 

There are different kinds of dermal filler injectables that can be placed for cheek augmentation. These injections can vary in their formulation and active ingredient but their mechanism of action and placement are the same. Here’s an overview of the cheek filler products that providers use:

• Juvederm Voluma XC - A hyaluronic acid-based filler that’s specifically approved by the FDA for cheek enhancement. It has a thick gel consistency that makes it suitable for adding volume to the cheek area.
• Juvederm Ultra Plus XC - This hyaluronic acid filler also belongs to the Juvederm family. It has gel-like consistency with a thicker and firmer texture that can provide more dramatic results for filling in deep facial wrinkles and hollows in the skin. It can also help plump and sculpt the cheeks.
• Restylane Lyft - This is another HA filler with a viscous consistency and texture for cheek volume restoration. It can also be used for lifting and contouring the overall midface area.
• Restylane Contour - This is a special cheek filler made with Restylane’s XpresHAn Technology. It allows for more dynamic, flexible, and natural facial expressions while improving your cheek contour and volume.
• Radiesse - This cheek filler is made of small calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a gel carrier. It has thick and firm consistency which helps provide long-lasting results for facial volume restoration and cheek contouring.

Why Proper Cheek Filler Placement Is Important 

When you want to get a cheek injection, it’s always the best idea to work with experienced specialists and injectors. Although a dermal filler procedure is non-surgical, there are still some risks that may occur if you receive the injectables from an inexperienced provider. 

It’s important that you choose a cosmetic provider with sufficient training and proven expertise in cheek filler treatments. You should also make sure that they’re knowledgeable about the best techniques for cheek filler placement. Here are some reasons why you should ensure that your provider knows the right methods for cheek filler injections:

• To minimize the potential side effects and complications from the treatment
• To provide the best possible outcomes from your injectable filler
• To avoid the risk of bad cheek filler results, such as over-filling, face puffiness, or visible lumps and bumps
• To effectively achieve ideal facial proportions and provide a youthful and more attractive appearance 

Get the Best Results for Your Cheek Filler Placement With Dr. Lanna Aesthetics

The success of your cheek filler treatments will depend on the proper placement of the injectables. That’s why it’s important to find the right aesthetic provider who has expertise and experience in effectively administering dermal filler procedures. 

Dr. Lanna Aesthetics is a trusted med spa with a competent team of doctors and injectors who can perform safe and effective dermal filler treatments. We can provide a tailored treatment plan to ensure you get your desired cheek filler results. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation or inquire more about our cheek fillers and other services.