Cheek fillers aren’t as commonplace as lip injections, tummy tucks, or breast augmentations, but that could be about to change.
Facial fillers make up the fastest-growing segment of minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures. More than 2.6 million treatments were performed last year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgery. So they’re already widely accepted.
But, for the most part, the cheeks have been excluded from that movement—until recently. Plastic surgeons have long considered the cheekbones to be the most underappreciated feature on the face, and perhaps the entire body. When you realize just how much of the face’s surface area they comprise, not to mention the fact that they’re the heart of the face’s bone structure, a subtle tweak can completely change the face’s architecture.
That sentiment finally seems to be gaining traction as more and more get comfortable with facial fillers. So, how do they work? Read on.
It’s a highly customizable
A high-viscosity hyaluronic acid gel—Juvéderm Voluma is a popular choice— is used to temporarily plump and fill cheekbones that have lost volume due to age, or to create better symmetry. (The human face is naturally asymmetrical, though it’s hard to detect with the naked eye.)
With the right placement—because so much depends on the placement of the injections, it’s critical to seek out a plastic surgeon who’s not only board-certified but who also has an artist’s eye and skill—the filler will help lift and elevate the middle of the face, all while creating a softer, more youthful appearance for the upper portion of the face.
It’s a highly customizable procedure. The aim is really to accentuate the individual’s own facial beauty, not to create some version of universally ideal cheekbones. Someone with a thin face may want plumper cheeks. While someone with a round face may prefer a more angular look.
Immediate results
You’ll discuss your goals with your plastic surgeon. At which point, they’ll take careful measurements of your face to determine just how much filler you’ll need. It’ll take a few minutes for the topical numbing cream to take effect. And the injections themselves should take five to 10 minutes.
How long the filler will last varies from person to person because individual metabolic rates play a big part in it. But it generally takes between a year and a year-and-a-half for it to completely dissolve.
For those who prefer their new look over their natural appearance, you can add more filler after nine or 10 months, which will maintain the same level of structure.
There’s likely to be some mild swelling for a couple of days after the injections, but the recovery, otherwise, is virtually nonexistent. Even more, the results are immediate. Your features will look sharper, but the change will be subtle enough that no one could pinpoint the difference unless you point it out.