Cheek Filler Treatments: Back to 30

One of the best things about dermal filler injections is that a patient has plenty of options with what they get as filler material for the treatment area. In our experience, here are the best possible dermal filler injections that can work for cheeks:

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the skin: it’s something that you normally get in food. At the base level, HA is your body’s version of lubricant. It cushions the joints and helps your tissue move freely without any friction, preventing inflammation, injury, or other issues with your skin.

However, HA produced by your body slows down over time – and that causes your skin to start sagging and breaking down. By using hyaluronic acid fillers, you’re able to counteract this and keep your skin looking healthier and younger.

• Highly effective at creating natural-looking results for cheek injections
• Can tighten skin by creating additional volume, erasing lines and wrinkles
• May help with cellular response during injuries and other skin-related trauma
• Hydrates and moisturizes the skin long-term, increasing skin resilience
• Corrects mild cases of skin discoloration and/or skin spotting

At Back to 30, our preferred injectable for cheek filler treatment is Juvederm Voluma. A specialized formula from the Juvederm family of dermal fillers, Juvederm Voluma can give you consistent results for every cheek filler injection, with the most volume possible for natural-looking results.

Poly-L-lactic acid is a synthetic, biocompatible compound that helps increase your skin’s collagen production. Collagen is one of the most important substances in your body, and it’s responsible for keeping your skin in good health throughout the years.

These filler types work somewhat differently compared to most dermal fillers: they don’t exactly “fill” your cheeks, but stimulate your skin’s collagen production to fill in the area itself. As a result, don’t expect to see any changes soon after your treatment – but expect them to last far longer compared to other fillers.

• Can fill in sunken cheeks and other facial planes that have lost plenty of volume
• Expert injection can give you long-lasting and natural-looking results
• Applicable for wider areas of the face with fewer injections and effort
• High value for money depending on how large an area needs filling
• Possible uses on other areas of the body, not just the face

Sculptra is the leading brand of poly-L-lactic acid fillers, but you can always consult with your provider for more details on other brands you can use. Keep in mind that unlike HA fillers, PLLA fillers can be more difficult to reverse if you don’t like the results – so make sure you find an experienced provider.

PMMA fillers use collagen beads to help provide the initial structure for the filler material, which is then absorbed and “filled in” by your skin over time. They’re considered a good middle ground between HA fillers and PLLA fillers in terms of longevity and results, though they may require more applications for the best results.

They’re also one of the few fillers that the American Society of Plastic Surgeons considers “semi-permanent”, which means you’ll need to find a skilled plastic surgeon or injector to make sure your treatment goes well.

• May help with specific cosmetic concerns like acne scarring
• One of the longest-lasting fillers that you can get
• Reduces mild to moderate lines and facial wrinkles
• Particularly effective in other areas aside from the cheeks, like nasolabial folds
• Can smooth over the skin and help improve skin texture overall

The most popular PMMA filler used today is Bellafill, an injectable that uses 80% collagen and 20% PMMA beads. This double-action formula helps provide the structure needed to give your cheeks the volume you’re looking for, while also providing additional collagen support to make results stick long-term.

A: Dermal fillers aren’t permanent – your skin will eventually re-absorb the filler material in itself as the ingredients in most dermal filler injections are biocompatible with the skin. However, depending on the type of filler that you use on the treated area (and the amount injected by your provider) you can expect results to last around 6 months to 2 years.

A: Some patients may think that because cheek fillers are extra material inserted under the skin, the procedure might be painful. However, there are specific tools like blunt-tip cannulas or additions like a topical anesthetic that can make your dermal filler injections almost painless. Consult your provider for more details on what they can do to make the procedure as painless as possible.

A: Unlike plastic surgery, patients don’t need a long downtime after their dermal filler injections are already complete. Your provider will give you the exact details on what aftercare you need to follow after a cheek filler treatment, but in general you should avoid rubbing, massaging, or otherwise jostling the injected area a few days after your treatment.

A: Like all cosmetic treatments, insurance will not offer any assistance for cheek filler injections. However, medical spas and plastic surgeons offer discounts and other promotional prices all the time – all you need to do is to find a provider that’s offering them to get the best possible deals.

A: There’s no study confirming that getting cheek filler injections (or dermal filler treatment) has any negative effect on a pregnant woman or their developing baby. However, doctors, experts, and providers will refuse to administer these fillers to pregnant or breastfeeding women because there are just too many unknown risks.