A gleefully wide smile, a peck on the face, a baby's chubby face - the cheeks are magical and underrated part of our face. We often forget just how much these express emotions of love, happiness, adoration and all around cuteness. These are also a part of the face that change quite often, and more frequently than others throughout our life; when we age out of childhood, when we gain or lose weight, and as we progress through more mature stages of life.
While slowing or reversing these changes is possible with diet and exercise, looking after your skin (i.e. sunscreen), or using high-quality skincare to replenish the skin, there is a limit to what can be done, as genetics can sometimes play a dominant role in volume-loss. This is when people may consider injectable treatments such as dermal fillers to add volume, lift and contour the face.
When it comes to dermal fillers, Cheek Filler are what are used to address these concerns, but what exactly does that mean? It is easy enough to just say "Cheek Filler can do that", but for many people that isn't enough information. If only you had a place you could go to for all your Cheek Filler questions (see where we're going with this).
Welcome to Cheek Filler 101, where we discuss what it is, what it treats, how it's performed, what to expect, and how much it costs.
Cheek Fillers are essentially the same as any other type of facial filler; they are an injectable treatment that adds volume to your face. Which filler that is used depends on the practise or clinic you visit, and at 8 West Clinic we use Hyaluronic Acid-based dermal fillers.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is naturally-occurring substance within the body, it is a sugar in our skin that works to help bind water to collagen to keep it hydrated and plump. Dermal fillers that use HA are designed and produced in different densities to emulate different types of volume. For example, the type of filler used for jawline contouring is quite dense so that it takes on the appearance of bone.
Filler for cheeks can vary in terms of density based on desired results and current facial anatomy. This would be a conversation best had with a well-trained injector as they will be able to assess your facial structure and goals, and then provide you with the ideal fillers to achieve these.
Dermal fillers can be used in multiple areas of the face and body, but when it comes to filler placed in the cheek, this can be done in a number of strategic ways. What defines the cheek area is much larger than you think.
Take your finger and place it on the lower part of your eye socket (aka lower orbital bone), then move it towards your nostril and trace the fold between that and the corner of your mouth. From there, move it along your face towards your earlobe, then up towards the top of your cheekbone, then back to where you started. This WHOLE area is considered your cheek (for filler purposes anyway) and cheek filler can be utilized throughout this area for different concerns:
Cheekbones are the most obvious and common use of cheek filler, adding volume to the upper-part of cheekbone, thus contouring the face and to create what is called a 'heart-shaped' face.
The Mid-Cheek often loses volume over time as we age, due to the natural loss of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Those who wish to plump up their cheeks with filler may genetically have less-voluminous cheeks, or lose volume as they age.
Nasolabial Folds are another common treatment area for Cheek Filler. Also referred to as the smile lines, these are the lines that stretch from your nose to your mouth. Loss of skin laxity in this area is a common sign of aging, and filler can be placed in here to restore volume and firmness.
Eye Bags and Dark Circles are another condition that Cheek filler may be utilized for. While filler placed directly under the eyes, in the area known as the "Tear Trough", is usually the way to diminish dark circles, sometimes it isn't the case. As mentioned, a well-trained injector has a deep understanding of facial anatomy and can place filler strategically near the orbital bone to lift and diminish lax skin causing eye-bags and dark circles.
When it comes to your cheeks, while a certain level of contouring can be done to slim your face and cheeks, there are sometimes limitations. Those who have larger, fuller cheeks due to larger Buccal Fat pads (often hereditary) may consider the surgical option known as Buccal Fat Removal.
The cost of Cheek Filler varies depending on the clinic and treatment provider, with most basing their prices per syringe, but 8 West Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Clinic acknowledges quality over quantity.
We set our prices on the area you wish treated, and the desired results discussed in your complimentary pre-treatment consultation - the base rate for Cheek Filler is set at $900, but will be discussed and confirmed during this consult.
When it comes to cosmetic injections, such as dermal filler, it isn't as simple as placing the filler directly into the area you want to add volume. The face and its muscles, arteries, and overall anatomy is complex and varies from person to person. Having an injector who not only understands facial anatomy, but has vast experience with how the face reacts to different injectables is paramount when considering filler. This is why we don't like to charge simply based on syringe, and set our base prices due to the area of the face and the expertise of our injectors.
It would be like selling artwork purely based on the cost of the paint, brushes and canvas used.
Both of our Registered Nurse Injectors, Lisa Roberge and Jenn Sheaves, were hand-picked by dual-board certified facials cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Thomas Buonassisi. We consider injectables not simply a cosmetic treatment, but an artform when in the right hands —to understand and sculpt the face in such a way that it balances the face perfectly, and provides the very best results you could want.
The general process of injecting Cheek Filler is a fairly straightforward one for the patient, and is usually complete within 30-40 minutes. The first step towards receiving Cheek Filler, or any form of injectable, is to have a consultation with an injector. 8 West Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Clinic provides complementary injectable consultations, where your concerns and results are addressed and treatment options are provided. From there, if sufficient time has been scheduled, we can complete treatment.
A topical numbing cream is optional for Cheek Filler, but the dermal fillers we use include lidocaine (a pain numbing agent) which most patients find sufficient for any required pain management during treatment. On top of that, with the extensive experience our injectors have not only with cosmetic injections, but also as Registered Nurses, they are spectacular at ensuring patients feel at ease and experience as little discomfort as possible.
Where exactly the filler will be placed may be different to where you think. For example, someone looking to contour their lower cheek may expect it in this area, but to create the contouring effect, filler may be placed in the upper cheekbone to lift and sculpt the face, creating a contoured heart-shape. Before any filler is placed into your cheek, your injector will explain everything so that you have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the treatment and what to expect.
Once treatment has been performed, you will notice results immediately. This is the beauty and excitement of dermal fillers - instant results. You may experience some bruising or swelling, and the filler may feel hard to begin with. This all diminishes over two weeks, and you may even forget that you even had filler in the first place.
At 8 West Clinic, we will book all patients in for a 2 week follow-up to check in on how they are progressing, and to see if they are happy with their results, and to address and additional concerns they may have.
How long filler lasts tends to vary from person to person, and also depends on the type of filler used. Fillers that are denser (such as ones that mimic bone) tend to last longer, up to 2 years in fact, whereas softer fillers (such as lip filler) typically last around 6 months. As for Cheek Filler, this depends on the specific condition and therefore type used; so can range between 9-18 months. Your injector will explain this to you, and give you a good estimation on how long this will last.
If you wish to schedule your complimentary consultation for Cheek Filler, dermal filler or any other injectable treatment with 8 West Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Clinic, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us. You can call us on 604 733 1669 or complete this form for a call back from one of our lovely Patient Care Managers.
