Fresh & Cheeky: Cheek Sculpting Treatments to Give Your Look a Lift
For a “face reboot,” let’s talk cheek. Cheeks can affect your appearance in several ways. If your cheeks are sunken, shallow, or very flat, it can throw off the sense of symmetry and overall facial harmony. This imbalance can make other features, such as the nose or chin, appear more prominent. Also, when cheeks lack fullness, it can significantly age you.
There are several ways to add volume and enhance cheek contours to achieve a more youthful, revitalized look. A number of cosmetic procedures can help shape, lift, and plump cheeks to improve facial harmony and also bring balance to your features.
Below are a few treatment options that may help address your cheek concerns—whether you’re looking for just a little ‘tune-up’ or a major overhaul:
Volume augmentation
Fillers can be injected into the face to restore volume deficits in the cheeks and improve contours that may be looking less than perky and defined, as a result of the aging process or just genetics. The filler material of choice is injected in small amounts into the desired location, the most typical areas are the under eye, cheeks, folds or lines around the nose and mouth, and lips.
This type of procedure generally delivers substantial improvements in the appearance of aging in the face. The effects typically set in immediately and there is rarely any need for downtime. However, results are temporary and ongoing treatments are necessary to maintain the desired effect.
Injectable fillers can be a great option for those looking for a quick, effective (and affordable) face-refresher—and without the hassle, pain, or commitment of a lengthy recovery period that comes with more intensive techniques. It’s also ideal for those who may just want a little lift and more fullness.
Fat transfer/Lipo-reinjection
Lipo-reinjection, also called fat grafting or a fat transfer, is a semi-permanent, minimally invasive option to correct volume loss in the cheeks and area around the eyes. This technique uses fat from your own body as a facial filler—it’s injected into the cheeks to simulate natural facial contours.
The procedure is a two-part process that involves extracting fat from one area of your body, such as your abdomen or thighs, then transferring it to areas of the face that have become gaunt or sunken with age.
As fat grafting does not involve incisions generally associated with plastic surgeries, it can be a great middle-ground treatment option for patients who wish to rejuvenate their appearance and achieve lasting results without a full on surgical approach.
Most patients take a few days off work, followed by another week of reduced activity and recuperation. Swelling and bruising gradually fades around 8-14 days after the procedure.
The results from a fat transfer can last for a long time. It’s possible, however, for your body to absorb all the transferred fat over the years; as a result, a second treatment might be needed sometime down the road.
Cheek lift
Cheek lift surgery, also sometimes referred to as a mid-face lift, can be a good option if you want to restore lost volume to the cheek area and to improve the appearance of certain signs of aging, such as drooping or falling cheeks (and can also help decrease deep smile lines).
As the name suggests, it’s a procedure that literally lifts the cheeks back to a more youthful position. Instead of augmenting the cheeks with fat, cheek implants, or fillers, a cheek lift repositions the tissue underneath the cheek area and repositions the skin of the area, to achieve a rejuvenated fuller, and more youthful cheek contour.
The surgery can be accomplished utilizing a minimally invasive technique. It typically involves small incisions behind the hairline and in the mouth, and placement of a small dissolvable hook to support the soft tissues of the cheeks as they heal in their new place.
As a surgical procedure, the risks and recovery period involved can be greater. Bruising and swelling will occur for about 7-10 days. Patients generally take one week off work, and after 2 weeks, may resume full activity.
Want to learn more about how a cheek-enhancing procedure can impact your appearance and give you a major confidence boost?
Contact my office today to schedule a face-to-face consultation. We can discuss your goals to find the best potential treatment options for your unique needs.
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