What are Cheek Fillers?

Beautiful, full cheeks with prominent cheekbones enhance your facial contours, providing a refreshed, youthful appearance. Our cheeks descend and lose volume as we age, most commonly causing smile lines (nasolabial folds). With expert knowledge of facial anatomy, the skillful cosmetic dermatologists at St. Louis Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery individualize each treatment to address your concerns and help you look as good as you feel.

What are Cosmetic Fillers?

Dermal cosmetic fillers are a non-surgical option for facial rejuvenation. Cosmetic fillers can soften lines and restore volume and fullness to the face. This technique is also known as soft tissue augmentation. Soft tissue augmentation can enhance facial contours and soften wrinkles, helping you look as good as you feel.

In the hands of skilled, expert cosmetic dermatologists, fillers can restore and enhance natural beauty with subtlety and immediate results. By deeply understanding anatomy and the aging process, we can address the underlying causes of facial aging and wrinkles, giving you a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance. Today’s fillers are safer, longer-lasting, and provide more predictable results than older generations of fillers.

Types of Cheek Filler

• Hyaluronic Acid Fillers (Juvederm or Restylane products)
  • Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are the most popular fillers used today. HA is a natural substance found in your skin. HA fillers can provide an excellent lift, perfect for enhancing your cheeks and jawline. HA fillers are non-permanent, lasting 12 to 24 months, depending on the type of filler and individual patient characteristics. Every day HA products include Juvederm^® and Restylane^®.
• Radiesse (Calcium Hydroxylapatite)
  • Calcium hydroxylapatite is a naturally occurring compound in our bones. It provides excellent correction for deeper creases, such as restoring fullness to the backs of our hands. It can also enhance the fullness of the cheeks and other facial contours. Radiesse^®  lasts from 6 to 12 months.
• Sculptra (Poly-L-lactic Acid [PLLA])
  • Sculptra is an FDA-approved filler for facial aging that helps stimulate collagen production to add a natural lift. After Sculptra^® injection, it takes several weeks to see the maximum effect. Sculptra injections can last up to two years.

Are Cosmetic Injectable Fillers Safe?

All procedures carry some risk. Complications from filler procedures are uncommon when performed by board-certified cosmetic dermatologists. Possible risks and considerations regarding injectable fillers include:

• Mild bleeding, bruising, and swelling
  • Under or over-correction of wrinkles
  • Skin nodules
  • Infection
  • Skin necrosis (rare with proper technique and expert injectors)