Cheek Filler

Over time our cheeks can flatten and our original natural cheek curvature can start to soften and appear lower.

Why choose dermal fillers for cheek augmentation?

Ageing changes take place under the surface of the skin where the gradual loss of supportive tissue structures and the long-term effects of gravity means that larger areas of your face lose volume and shape. These changes particularly affect the cheeks and chin.

Treatment at a glance

Why

Restore volume loss; enhance beautification of the face

How

Long-acting Hyaluronic Acid fillers, natural results achieved with the Phi Golden Ratio rule

Safety

Only FDA-approved fillers are used. Our experts use the ‘No-needle cannula technique’

Duration

12-18months (exact duration varies for each individual)

Cost

Depends on quantity. The average quantity of filler is 2-4 vials

Pain

Bespoke topical anaesthesia and the cannula technique result in minimal discomfort

Risks

Mild redness, swelling for 1-4 days, occasional bruising

Recovery

Most patients can resume normal activity the next day

Complementary Techniques

Skin rejuvenation; fillers to chin, lips, skin rejuvenation

Alternative

Long-term surgical enhancement (including fat transfer, implants)

Carefully placed filler treatments add volume to beauty points or replace volume where it has been lost. We use dermal fillers designed to create lift and shape to show instant results that last 6 to 24 months.

Advanced dermal fillers restore ageing volume loss in our cheeks, help replenish hollows, and work to build up cheekbones. Although different HA filler products can be used, some have characteristics that improve the cheeks and work well on areas of larger volume loss. These include Restylane, Juvederm, Voluma and Volbella which create a flattering and refreshed look that lasts.

Cheek Filler, How to avoid "Pillow Face" of Madonna, How to get the best natural looking results?

beautiful woman smiling

What does cheek filler involve?

Our team will use a numbing local anaesthesia cream to reduce discomfort from the procedure. The numbing cream is tailor-made for The Harley Street Face Clinic and. It was designed in Beverly Hills and is manufactured in Germany.

After this, a small anaesthetic injection is applied to the already-numb area. The dermal filler is then administered to augment the cheeks.

At The Centre, we used ‘fast-healing techniques that utilize a cannula to administer the filler for most patients, which results in less swelling and bruising than older, needle-based techniques. Additionally, dermal fillers can be used on other facial areas at the same time to give an enhanced, natural result.

Common areas for fillers include the chin & jawline, nasolabial folds, eye area (tear troughs), the nose, and lip enhancement.

When will I see the results from cheek fillers at The Centre?

At The Centre, you can expect to see relatively ‘Instant Results’ with our filler treatments. There will be minor swelling after treatment that for most patients resolves overnight. More rarely, there can be mild swelling for 5-days (in approximately 5%). There is a small possibility, of a minor bruise, this will resolve over a few days.

We use the latest techniques to enhance recovery such as the ‘no-needle” cannula. Although technically a more difficult technique, in the hands of our experienced practitioners there are more advantages for using this method, including less swelling, bruising and discomfort for patients.

For most patients, the final results of cheek fillers will be evident approximately 5 days after the swelling subsides. With our cannula-based technique, application of filler at deeper levels and filler choice the results may last between 18 – 24 months, although results vary from patient to patient.

Will I look natural with cheek fillers?

We believe in a natural augmentation of the cheek area and at The Harley Street Face Clinic, we are specialists in obtaining the most natural-looking results.

What makes a beautiful face shape?

Our aestheticians have pioneered research in the area of facial beauty. This has been published in the mainstream media and has been featured on multiple TV channels. We have also developed the application of the Phi Golden Ratio (used in many of the most famous Renaissance paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci) to the human face and we have multiple trained specialists that apply the principles of this facial balance and beautification technique.

What is the Phi Golden Ratio?

Using the Phi Golden Radio, we have treated A-listers and celebrities and beautified their face with a natural appearance. Of key importance with filler is avoiding excessive use which doesn’t look natural or beautiful. The application of filler in specific areas of the face differs depending on each individual’s facial characteristics.

For example, the application of eyelid filler is different in masculine and feminine faces. In women, it is focused along the Phi Golden Ratio lines of the eyes. In men, it focuses along the lines of the chin and jawline. If you have already had a treatment that has been excessive it may be necessary to dissolve the existing filler or wait for it to dissolve naturally.

At The Centre, we have pioneered research and understanding into the aesthetics of the face.

Will I experience any discomfort or pain?

At The Centre, we take measures to ensure most patients only experience minor discomfort.

Discomfort is kept to a minimum with the application of our proprietary numbing local anaesthetic cream and no needle cannula technique to administer the filler. The fillers also tend to contain anaesthetic which increases patient comfort.

Additional numbing and vibration devices that use the Nobel Prize-winning research on ‘The Gate Control Theory of Pain” are used at The Centre which also minimises discomfort.

BeforeAfter
beautiful human face an algorithm based on the Phi Golden Ratio

Research completed at The Centre analysed the most beautiful human faces and developed an algorithm based on the Phi Golden Ratio. This can be applied to the human face to improve facial balance and enhance attractive qualities.

Kim Kardashian had the most beautiful eyebrows with a score of 94.85% proportioned to the Phi Golden Ratio.

Are there any risks or complications?

Studies on the safety of fillers have reported they are relatively safe with few side effects when completed by trained specialists. Recorded adverse events are usually minor including temporary injection site redness for less than three days.

Patients may occasionally report temporary symptoms of redness, swelling, discomfort, lumps and bumps, bruising, itching or changes in the colour of the skin. Infection is very rare.

However, it is important that the treatment is performed at a CQC registered site (Care Quality Commission) with sterile precautions. At The Centre, all treatments are carried out in our specialist Facial Centre on Harley Street.

Serious side effects such as damage to the skin (termed Necrosis) or damage to vision have very rarely been reported. Our staff are experts and have been involved in teaching other doctors how to avoid these serious issues at both National and International Conferences.

Fillers are currently lacking regulation, which remains a controversy in the UK. Precautions can be taken with competent practitioners to avoid these serious complications.

What treatments are best avoided in the cheeks?

We use a combination of treatments to focus on natural rejuvenation that is both safe and long-lasting. Fillers have become more and more popular over the last 5-years, as the product has reached new levels of quality, and our techniques and skills at using them have matured with experience.

Our team has been using non-surgical treatments with patients for over ten years. At The Centre, we believe that it is important to avoid potential issues, believing that certain products are associated with higher risks, including permanent and semi-permanent fillers.

In some patients, this can result in long-term issues. In addition, several highly marketed products have been shown to have minimal results, and many patients have come to us disappointed by the lack of changes from treatments including Thermage, Ultherapy and thread lifts. Because of this, we do not offer any of these treatments at The Centre.

Some patients’ facial anatomy is characterised by the marked recession of cheeks and these patients are better suited to a surgical correction including the use of a fat transfer or cheek implants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a cheek filler enhancement last?

This largely depends on the viscosity of the dermal filler that is used and your own individual response to dermal fillers for the cheeks. Here at The Harley Street Face Clinic, we use only clinically proven and approved dermal fillers for longer-lasting results and a natural look. Expect your cheek enhancement results to last between 6 and 12 months, after which, you can return to the clinic for another treatment.

What do dermal fillers for the cheeks do?

Dermal fillers for the cheeks will instantly plump and lift the areas of the skin that need more support. They are injected into the underlying skin tissues and create a ‘scaffold’ for the uppermost layers. When expertly injected into specific areas, they can even perform a face-lifting effect to create a more pleasing and youthful face shape.

We utilise fillers in the area of the cheek in accordance with our research on the Phi golden ratio, to enhance the natural beauty of the cheek, in medical jargon termed the Ogee curve.

How long do dermal fillers for the cheeks take to work?

Results can be seen straight away as the dermal filler will physically plump, lift and support the tissues of the skin. There may be some slight swelling immediately after your treatment which can mask the true results, but this will ease in a day or so.

The product can take up to 2 weeks to fully settle and soften, and this is typically when optimum results can be experienced. After such time, you may wish to return to the clinic for a top-up or balancing which might be required.

How often do you need to get a cheek enhancement using dermal fillers?

The longevity of your results somewhat depends on your individual response to dermal fillers and how quickly your body will metabolise the product injected. Some dermal fillers are longer lasting as they are more viscous and contain a cross-linking agent, which stabilises the product and makes it ‘thicker’.

At The Harley Street Face Clinic, we use products that are proven to provide the highest safety records as well as exceptional performance. Some patients only need to have their cheeks enhanced once a year. However, expect to visit your practitioner every 6 to 12 months for repeat treatments. You will soon get to know your individual responses and the longevity of results.

Is there any downtime or aftercare required with a cheek enhancement using dermal fillers?

You may have some slight swelling, tenderness and in rare cases, bruising following your treatment. However, this will ease in a day or so and will not prevent you from undertaking your normal everyday activities.

Aftercare will include avoiding saunas, hot baths, steam or excessive exercise for 24 hours post-procedure, as well as avoiding rubbing or touching the area for at least 48 hours. It’s important to be careful with your face after any cosmetic treatment and to use facial products that are approved for post-procedure care.

What, if any, are the possible side effects of cheek fillers?

On extremely rare occasions there may be an allergic reaction to the product. This tends to happen however when the treatment has been administered by non-medics using counterfeit or ‘cheap’ dermal fillers.

At The Harley Street Face Clinic, we only use FDA approved, tested and proven dermal fillers, renowned for their safety records, their purity and their stability. Additionally, all our practitioners are medically qualified.

More often, some slight swelling, bruising and tenderness may be experienced for 24 to 48 hours after your dermal filler treatment, but this is very normal and can be treated with ice and arnica gel to speed up the healing process.

Dr. Julian De Silva, Medical Director

About the Author

Dr Julian De Silva is a leading facial plastic surgeon that specialises only in surgical and non-surgical facial procedures. Dr De Silva has considerable experience in cosmetic and reconstructive facial surgery from fellowships in London, Los Angeles, and New York. He is one of a handful of elite surgeons to be recognised with British, European and American qualifications, memberships and board certification.

About Dr De Silva | Dr De Silva's Google Scholar

Contact us to make an appointment

Contact Us

If you cannot find the procedure you are interested in within this list please select "Other".
If you have had any previous surgery to your face or neck area please select the relevant "Revision" option on the list above.

Subscribe to our eNewsletter
Privacy Policy Agreement*

As featured in

logo guardian logo times logo itv logo skynews logo allure logo tatler logo marie-claire