Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

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.

Until only recently, rhinoplasty was the only means to make a nose smaller, straighter, or smoother. The surgery’s effective and the results, permanent, but it requires anesthesia and considerable healing time because of the bruising and swelling.

With the rise of injectable fillers, a second option emerged a few years ago: the nonsurgical nose job. It’s an off-label use for fillers that’s capable of transforming your entire profile in under 15 minutes. Using the same hyaluronic acid gels used for lips and cheeks, a board-certified plastic surgeon can correct the nose’s contour and even make it appear smaller.

Sounds almost too good to be true, right? It’s not. But it’s still important to know exactly what you’re asking for. So, to help with that, here’s a primer that covers all the essential details about the procedure.

Who’s a good candidate?

It’s someone who has a pronounced bump on their nose. By filling the area around the bump, the plastic surgeon can create the illusion of a perfectly straight nose. Filler can also lift up a droopy tip and correct a slightly crooked nose.

A plastic surgeon can also make it appear smaller, even though they’re actually adding volume to the nose. And that’s because they’re creating symmetry. (The human face is naturally asymmetrical, or imbalanced, though it’s more noticeable in some.)

How long does it last?

It depends on the cosmetic filler that’s used. Often, plastic surgeons will start a patient off with a temporary filler, such as Voluma, which is natural-looking and lasts for up to a year-and-a-half. If they’re happy with the results, they’ll move on to a permanent filler, like Bellafill, once the temporary one dissolves.

The Voluma requires one 15-minute session, while the Bellafill, a collagen-based injectable that’s typically used to treat acne scars, takes three separate sessions, though the final result will last for years. Another important distinction: The temporary fillers, because they’re made from hyaluronic acid, can be dissolved if you don’t like the result. The Bellafill cannot.

Why is an experienced surgeon important?

All injections come with some amount of risk for swelling, bruising, and bleeding. But the nose is an especially delicate area of the face because its blood supply is quite weak. Put too much filler into the tip or a nostril and it can cut off the blood supply.

Important as it is to be aware of such complications, take it with a grain of salt because they’re rare—as long as the procedure is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in facial fillers, and nonsurgical nose jobs in particular. This isn’t a procedure you want to shop around for the deepest discount.

In the right hands, the nonsurgical nose job is nearly painless. (Some topical cream to numb the area and ice afterward helps.) It’s a true “lunchtime procedure.” You may be a little red or bruised for a few days, but even that can be helped with a laser treatment.