Sunken Cheeks - Dermal Fillers

Sunken cheeks are a natural, common side-effect of ageing. It can happen to many people and is a natural part of growing old, but it has the potential to make the face look flat and one-dimensional. When we age fat is lost and skin can start to become saggy without this fat to cushion it. This lack of fat causes the development of wrinkles, folds, fat protrusions on the eyelids, eyelid bags and other effects which stain aesthetics.

However, the good news is that this condition can be treated. When treating sunken cheeks the dermal filler options include Juvederm, Radiesse, Perlane and Restylane. All of these are temporary fillers and normally last for a period of six months to around one year. Radiesse is comprised of calcium hydroxylapatite suspended in a water-based gel. The others in this category are made of hyaluronic acid.

One problem to bear in mind about permanent fillers is that they can cause infections long after they have been used for treatment, at a time when everything seems to be going fine. Some of the effects that can crop up include granulomas, which cause inflammation and attempt to fight off the filler as a 'foreign body'. Other side-effects can include scarring of the face.

There are other options of permanent filler which you can explore for sunken cheeks. These include silicone implants and fat injections. The silicone implants can give a long-lasting volume increase and lift the cheeks. The ability of fat injections to remain reasonably permanent depends entirely on the survival of the fat, which depends on several factors including the health of the patient, the technique employed and post-treatment processes.

Whatever kind of treatment you choose to treat sunken cheeks, it is always advisable to consult with a qualified practitioner to ensure the treatment is the best among all available options for your particular case.