Cheek augmentation
Dermal filler injections can be used in a variety of areas to add volume to the skin. A popular area being the cheeks. Sometimes the cheeks can look sunken and the face profile looks flat & lacklustre. Fillers help to regain the youthful curve of the cheeks and a strong facial contour. Skin looks tighter and more lifted.
First things first, a discussion with the client on what their desired look they want to achieve from cheek augmentation using dermal fillers. The dermal filler injections will be injected across both sides of the face while focusing on the target areas. The treatment will last about 25 minutes. Your client may experience slight swelling, redness & minor bruising afterwards but this will dissipate within a couple of days.
As with all treatments it is expected that they will experience some slight discomfort throughout the procedure. A numbing cream will be applied pre-procedure to help reduce any discomfort. Most mainstream products that are used to augment these areas contain lidocaine within the syringe, which makes the process even more tolerable. This will also help with pain after the treatment. Ice can also be used to reduce swelling.
Remember each face is unique, and therefore delivery of product should be considered in a bespoke manner. In addition, the cheek is not seen at its best in either a frontal or a profile view, it defies any exact measuring system. The influence of the cheek is best seen in a quarter or oblique profile view which is how most people see the face anyway. It is possible to isolate the most optimal area of cheek enhancement by the intersection of an oblique line drawn from the corner of the mouth to the corner of the eye and a horizontal line drawn outward from the top of the nostrils.
Consultation is key
Clients may arrive at your clinic highlighting a specific aesthetic flaw that they see. Not being experts within the field, they may misinterpret where they require treatment for example, tear trough filler or nasolabial folds, when it actually comes down to the volume loss in the cheeks.
Filling in the cheeks is often a superior alternative solution to filling in the nasolabial folds, although often it can be complimentary to work on both areas.
Identifying the root cause of the problem itself will always ensure a more favourable outcome – ensure you explain your opinions and your professional approach to your client before beginning. Always ascertain their understanding as to how you- the professional, deem it best to proceed for best post results.
Technique
As your own tissues are more mobile & pliable than any product that can be injected it is recommended In the cheek area, to inject deep-to the depth of the bone, just above the periosteum of the zygoma. This will allow the hyaluronic acid to sit below the muscle and hence the patient’s own tissues, resulting in a smooth contour. In addition smiling and laughing will recruit movement of their own muscle and dermal layers without interruption from foreign products. If the product is placed above the muscle, it can create a distortion of the facial features when the client makes an expression.
For subtle contouring as a rule of thumb, use 1ml between both cheeks or to give a cheek bone a subtle highlight. For others with greater volume loss, or who require a more contoured look will need 1ml each cheek, this will be assessed and agreed during consultation.
POINT A IS 0.1ML
POINT B IS 0.2ML
POINT C IS 0.3ML