Notice that your cheeks seem hollower or less full than they used to be? This condition is called sunken cheeks. It has a major effect on one's appearance by making your face look aged or worn out.
Sunken cheeks can result from aging, genetics, lifestyle choices, or medical disorders. But other variables may also be involved, such as abrupt weight loss, heredity, disease, and lifestyle choices like smoking or extended sun exposure.
The good news? There are efficient procedures to restore cheek volume. Stick around to find out what causes sunken cheeks, various treatments, prevention, and so much more.
What are Sunken Cheeks?
Loss of volume beneath the cheekbones results in sunken cheeks. This means that you lack tissue or flesh between the mandible (the lower jawbone) and the zygoma (the bony arch of the cheek beneath the eye).
This disorder, which can affect both men and women, causes the face to seem emaciated or hollow. Even if you're healthy, this alteration can make your face appear unproportional. For many people, this is a normal aspect of aging, but there are other causes as well.
What Causes Sunken Cheeks?
1. Aging
Aging leads to the production of less collagen, a protein that keeps skin supple and structured. Studies from Plastic and Aesthetics Research show that as you age, collagen production declines by around 1% a year. Concurrently, the cheek area becomes hollow as the fat pads under the skin contract and expand.
2. Sudden Weight Loss
Significant or quick weight loss might cause a discernible decrease in face fat. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who have a decline in their Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 5% may lose noticeable facial volume.
3. Genetics
Some children are born with less cheek fat which gives them a hollowed-out appearance.
4. Illness or Malnutrition
Sunken cheeks can result from malnutrition and illness, particularly from deficits in vitamins A, C, and E, which are essential for healthy skin. Significant loss of facial fat, known as lipoatrophy, has been associated with chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS.
5. Lifestyle Factors
Long-term sun exposure and smoking accelerates the decomposition of collagen and elastin. Smokers are twice as likely as non-smokers to have volume loss and early wrinkles, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
6. Asymmetrical Face Issues
There are times when you unevenly loose volume in your cheeks. It makes your face look asymmetrical as it highlights the irregular features.
Can You Treat Sunken Cheeks?
After learning what causes sunken cheeks, how can we deal with it? Fortunately, sunken cheeks can be treated! Numerous solutions, from cosmetics to minimally invasive surgeries can improve the equilibrium of the face and replenish lost volume.
A) Treatments Without Surgery
Cheeks Fillers
Among the most widely used treatments for sunken cheeks are cheek fillers. These injectable procedures can improve facial features, add volume, and give the face a more youthful appearance.
1. Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Hyaluronic acid fillers like those from Diaminy function by drawing moisture to the treated area, fostering significant improvements. Check your cheeks before and after getting your cheek fillers, you’ll see the magic! A face with hollow cheeks appears more balanced and rounder.
For instance, 1 ml cheek filler for minor adjustments can produce a noticeable improvement without producing extremely dramatic results.
However, you may go through different cheek filler swelling stages. Swelling is a frequent short-term side effect. It often peaks in 24 to 48 hours and then fades in a week, revealing the outcome. The phases of swelling from cheek fillers are as follows:
Day 1: Short-term, mild edema following filler injections.
Days 2-3: During these days, swelling may reach its maximum.
Day 4–7: The final results are revealed when the swelling gradually goes down.
2. Transfer of Fat
Some choose fat transfer as a more natural method. This entails injecting fat into your cheeks from another area of your body. Compared to fillers, this procedure is more intrusive, but the results may last longer.
3. Thread Lifts
PDO and PCL thread lifts can store your volume of faces and make your faces better. Multi threads are suitable for preventing your sunken faces. They will stimulate collagen and make the face plump.
B) Surgical Procedures
1. Implants in the cheeks
A surgical option for people looking to permanently restore facial volume is cheek implants. Custom-made implants, such as silicone implants, are placed across the cheekbones during the surgery to improve symmetry and contouring.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports that the number of cheek augmentation surgeries conducted in the United States has steadily increased. Long-lasting effects are provided by this strategy, which is especially appropriate for people who have experienced severe volume reduction.
2. Facelift
Rhytidectomy, sometimes known as a facelift, is another surgical procedure that can be used to treat drooping skin and lessen the visibility of sunken cheeks. With a facelift, the skin is repositioned and the underlying muscles are tightened, giving the illusion of smoother, younger skin.
Compared to non-surgical alternatives, it is more intrusive and necessitates a longer recovery period. However, the outcomes can endure for ten years or longer.
3. Fat Grafting (Transfer of Autologous Fat)
Fat grafting is a surgical procedure that restores volume to the cheeks by using the patient's own fat, usually taken from places like the thighs or abdomen.
Results from this technique look natural and last for a number of years. Patient satisfaction rates for fat grafting in face rejuvenation are consistently high, according to research published by ResearchGate. In many cases, the results last up to five years.
Aftercare Tips for Treating Sunken Cheeks
1. Stay hydrated to boost your skin’s ability to heal and fight infections.
2. Frequently apply non-comedogenic moisturizers and sunscreen gently on the skin.
3. Avoid smoking and alcohol. It interferes with blood flow and equally elongates the time it takes to heal.
4. Follow the postoperative care advice provided by your surgeon.
5. Avoid making dramatic facial gestures, chewing gum or yawning, or opening your mouth wide for a week after thread lift treatment.
6. Sleep on your back for a week after a thread lift procedure to avoid placing pressure on your cheeks.
7. Put on clothes that will help avoid swelling at the area where fat has been extracted. This also ensures you don’t lose shape.
8. Get an appointment with your practitioner. It will help you understand whether the treatment is working.
Preventing Sunken Cheeks
What causes sunken cheeks depends on many reasons. Although aging and genetics are the two main causes of sunken cheeks, there are strategies to avoid or lessen their appearance. You may preserve a fuller, younger appearance by being proactive. Try the following, observe and find out what else might cause sunken cheeks:
1. Maintain Hydration
Proper hydration is necessary for plumpness and suppleness of the skin. Because properly hydrated skin maintains moisture, your cheeks look healthier and fuller. You must also eat foods high in water, such as watermelon and cucumbers, and try to drink eight glasses of water or more each day.
2. Eat a Well-Balanced Diet
Consuming nutrient-dense foods promotes collagen formation and healthy skin. Make sure that your diet consists of:
● Protein: Helps preserve muscle and skin tissue — found in lean meats, seafood, and legumes.
● Vitamin C: The formation of collagen is encouraged by citrus foods, berries, and leafy greens.
● Flaxseeds, walnuts, and salmon are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to keep skin supple and hydrated.
● Zinc and Biotin: Found in whole grains, nuts, and seeds. They are vital for skin regeneration and healing.
3. How Can Sun Protection Stop Aging?
Collagen and elastin fibers are harmed by prolonged sun exposure and this is what causes sunken cheeks and early aging in most people. You can shield your skin by:
● Putting on sunscreen every day. Ensure you get sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
● When outside, wear a hat with a wide brim.
4. Is Avoiding Smoking Beneficial?
Yes. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and speeds up the breakdown of collagen, which results in volume loss and early aging. These effects can be slowed down and general skin health can be improved by quitting smoking.
5. What Benefits Do Facial Exercises Offer?
Although there is disagreement over the efficacy of facial workouts, some people think they can gradually increase cheek volume and strengthen facial muscles. Try these exercises:
● Cheek Lifts: Use your fingers to push your cheeks upward while grinning as broadly as you can.
● Puffed Cheeks: Inhale deeply, hold for ten seconds, and then exhale.
6. Is It Beneficial to Monitor Weight?
Yes, cheek fat loss can be avoided by avoiding abrupt weight changes. Sunken cheeks are a common result of rapid weight loss because it lowers face fat. With a healthy diet and frequent exercise, try to regulate your weight gradually and steadily.
7. Impacts of Skincare Products
The firmness and softness of the skin can be retained by utilizing high quality cosmetics. Buy products that include:
● Retinoids: Foster skin texture and increase collagen production.
● Hyaluronic Acid: Nourishes and hydrates the skin by attracting moisture to the skin’s surface. There is a noticeable difference when you use hyaluronic filler before and after.
● Peptides are essential in the growth and repair of body tissues, especially in the skin, to improve suppleness.
Asymmetry and Sunken Cheeks
‘Sunken cheeks’ and ‘facial asymmetry’ are two conditions that show up randomly. When two halves of the face are not balanced in terms of shape, size, and positioning, one is said to have an asymmetrical face.
On the other hand, when an individual has no volume or flat cheeks, it is referred to as sunken cheeks. Hollow cheeks mostly result from volume depletion or changes in body weight. So, what do we do about asymmetry?
How to Deal with Asymmetry
1. Dermal Fillers
To provide symmetry for asymmetrical face features, dermal fillers can be administered intentionally. Fillers are also used to balance the face if one cheek is less rounded than the other. Looking at the pictures of how the 1 ml cheek filler looks like before and after will help inform you of what to expect in terms of outcomes.
2. Fat Grafting
Fat grafting is a surgical approach in which fat is moved from one area of your body to the sunken cheeks. It is a perfect long term solution for balancing your cheeks.
3. Botox for Imbalanced Muscles
Do you have muscle overactivity that is causing asymmetry? With Botox injections, you will stabilize the muscles that are overly active, reducing the asymmetry.
4. Custom Jaw or Chin Procedures
Surgeries like chin or jawline correction will go a long way in adjusting facial proportions. They help in treating asymmetry.
Do you have drooping skin? When you undergo facial thread lift procedures, you can realign the skin to create facial uniformity and eliminate asymmetry.
5. Surgical Interventions
To permanently treat extreme asymmetry, surgical procedures like cheek implants or corrective jaw surgery may be necessary.
Are There Risks?
Sunken cheek treatments are typically safe, although there are some dangers involved:
● Fat transfer and dermal fillers are frequently associated with swelling and bruises.
● Even though it is uncommon, infections can occur during any injection or surgery.
● Uneven Results: If a trained practitioner does not administer the treatment, this may occur.
● Filler materials may cause allergic reactions in certain people.
● In rare instances, poorly administered injections may cause damage to the facial nerves, resulting in either severe or long-term problems.
Any cosmetic procedure should only be performed by a qualified and experienced specialist to reduce these dangers. So, carefully follow all aftercare recommendations and discuss any potential issues during your consultation session.
What Is the Price of These Procedures?
The method used will determine the cost of correcting sunken cheeks:
● Dermal Fillers: Depending on the kind and quantity of filler used, sessions might cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per session.
● Fat Transfer: Because it requires surgery, this procedure may cost $5,000 to $10,000.
● The typical pricing range for thread lifts is $1,500 to $4,500.
To enhance safety, it is imperative to invest in a respectable clinic and qualified practitioner.
Selecting the Appropriate Care for You
Seeking advice from a skilled practitioner is essential if you're thinking about getting treatment for sunken cheeks. They are able to evaluate your facial structure, talk about your goals, and suggest the finest solutions.
1. Non-Surgical Choices
For instant results, dermal fillers are a quick and efficient option. In order to improve asymmetry and restore cheek volume, hyaluronic acid fillers such as Diaminy’s are especially well-liked. The average session cost for these treatments is $715.
Another non surgical choice is thread lifts. They can improve contours with little downtime and are best suited for minor sagging.
2. Surgical Choices
Fat transfer and cheek implants are among the best options to look into. However, when do you go for surgical solutions? When non-invasive procedures fail to produce the desired effects or when long-lasting solutions are needed.
Conclusion
So, what causes sunken cheeks? A number of variables, including aging, weight loss, genetics, and lifestyle decisions contribute to this condition.
The good news is that there are numerous procedures that can improve your appearance and restore cheek volume.
See a trained expert if you're thinking about getting treatment for sunken cheeks. You can also try Diaminy’s range of products to improve your skin’s glow. Diaminy provides hyaluronic acid fillers, PDO, PCL, PLLA threads among many other facial rejuvenation solutions.
