Best Dermatologist for Cheek Injections in San Francisco
At the California Center for Dermatologic Surgery, we offer expertly administered cheek filler injections that can give you lifted, contoured, and volume restored cheeks. With an artistic eye for enhancing your own natural features, our board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Carlson you can expect all your injectable treatments in our San Francisco Bay Area office to deliver beautiful, balanced, and natural-looking results that complement your unique facial structure. Schedule an Appointment for Consultation Today.
What to Expect
The natural aging process contributes to gradual changes in the appearance of our facial features, its structure and youthfulness over time. These signs of aging are primarily due to gradual loss of volume due to depletion of collagen and elastin in the skin (which are responsible for providing structure, firmness and suppleness to our facial tissue), gradual depletion and redistribution of fat pads in the cheeks, and gradual loss of bone density in the cheekbones. All of these changes result in a hollowed or sunken appearance of the cheeks with loss of cheekbone definition. In addition to volume loss, repetitive facial expressions over decades of our lives also contribute to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and deepening of the natural smile and laugh lines that extend from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth (called the nasolabial folds) and from the corners of the mouth to the chin (called Marionette lines), all contributing to an aged look.
Fortunately, there are many types of treatments to help address these areas of concern. These treatments range from more invasive plastic surgery procedures such as facelifts and fat injections, to minimally invasive cosmetic treatments such as facial fillers. Fat injections are surgical procedures where ones fat is removed from an area of the body using a technique called liposuction, then transferred into another area where there is volume loss. Fat injections are a form of an injectable treatment, however, it is considered invasive surgery due to the need to harvest the fat. Facial fillers are substances that contain specific ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, which when injected under the skin into specific areas of the face, can plump up areas of volume loss. In contrast to fat injections, facial fillers are an excellent way to improve the aged appearance of the face safely, without the need for more invasive cosmetic surgery.
Cheek filler, also known as cheek augmentation or cheek enhancement, is a popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure that can help you achieve the desired fullness, contour, and lift in your cheeks. This procedure involves injection of dermal fillers into areas of the cheeks to help correct areas of volume loss, enhance cheek definition or contour, and to improve the overall shape of the face for a more youthful appearance. These fillers provide a safe and effective way to address age-related volume loss, asymmetry, or naturally flat cheeks.
In this procedure, a topical numbing cream is applied to the skin for several minutes to ensure patient comfort. An injectable filler, usually pre-mixed with a lidocaine anesthetic to further minimize injection pain or discomfort, is then administered and strategically placed in precise locations in the cheek tissues to ensure even distribution of the filler material and its seamless integration into the natural tissue for optimal and natural results. Depending on the filler type and placement under the skin, the results may either be immediate, or more gradual as the filler settles into place.
After the procedure, you may experience mild swelling, redness, tenderness of the injection site, or bruising, all of which are temporary, improve with ice applied to the treatment area, and typically resolve within a few days of the recovery period. Makeup to bruised areas may be applied on the day of treatment if needed. There is minimal downtime or recovery associated with this treatment, and you can generally expect to be able to resume your normal daily activities soon after the procedure. You will be provided with aftercare instructions to ensure optimal healing and results. This may include avoiding strenuous activity such as vigorous exercise, avoiding excessive heat or sun exposure, and gentle facial massages as directed. How long your filler treatment will last will vary depending on the specific filler used. Unlike other injectable treatments such as fat injections, the results from injectable fillers are temporary and last several months to over a year. Periodic touch-up treatments can help maintain improved cheek volume and contour long-term without the need for more invasive surgery such as a facelift or fat injections. Fillers to the cheek area in some cases may be combined with other non-surgical procedures, such as Botox or Dysport treatments, lip augmentation with lip fillers, filler injection into the tear troughs, temples, the vertical lines on the upper lips, smile lines, the jawline (a popular treatment in men), Marionette lines (lines that extend from corners of your mouth down to the chin) and other similar creases on the lower face, for a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation to achieve harmony with your other facial features without the need for more invasive surgical procedures.
Types of Cheek Dermal Fillers
There are many different fillers available for cheek augmentation, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. Cheek fillers generally fall into two groups: hyaluronic acid-based, and biostimulators. The most popular dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, which is a substance that occurs naturally in the skin, attracts and holds on to water, and has the consistency of a smooth gel. HA fillers are popular due to their versatility- they come in many different formulas, which can be used in many different areas of the face. Biostimulator cheek fillers such as Radiesse and Sculptra, contain substances that when injected into the skin, are able to stimulate your own body to make new collagen in the treated areas. Your doctor or aesthetic practitioner will select the most appropriate filler based on your individual needs, considering factors such as desired longevity, consistency, and compatibility with your skin. At the California Center for Dermatologic Surgery, the injectable dermal fillers offered at our practice meet the highest levels of patient safety and are FDA-approved for use in cosmetic procedures. Read on to find out more details about the individual dermal filler products offered at our clinic.
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The RHA collection of hyaluronic acid fillers includes RHA2, RHA3 and RHA4, which are used for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. This collection of dermal fillers is designed to be resilient enough to adapt to the movement of facial muscles, an innovation in hyaluronic acid filler technology that allows for a more natural look both when the face is at rest and in motion. RHA2, RHA3 and RHA4 are great options for safe and effective cheek augmentation with natural results.
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Belotero is a hyaluronic acid injectable filler that is versatile enough to help smooth moderate-to-severe etched-in lines and wrinkles such as the nasolabial folds (smile lines), but also an ideal option for treating delicate fine lines.
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Juvéderm Voluma XC is thick hyaluronic acid-based filler used to add volume to the cheeks and cheekbone for lift, better projection and improved contour, which results in an overall improvement in the facial profile. This is one of the longest lasting hyaluronic acid products, with results that last between 18 months and 2 years.
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Juvederm Ultra Plus XC is a medium-thickness hyaluronic acid-based filler most commonly used for the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles and folds in the cheeks and around laugh lines (called nasolabial folds). Results last for up to 12 months.
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Juvéderm Vollure XC is used to add volume for a smoother appearance to moderate and severe wrinkles and folds in the face, such as the deep wrinkles around the nose and mouth called nasolabial folds (“laugh lines”), and Marionette lines. Results last for up to 12 months.
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Juvederm Volbella is a light weight hyaluronic acid product used to soften fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and in the cheeks.
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Juvederm Ultra XC is used to correct moderate facial wrinkles and folds. Results last between 6-12 months.
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Restylane silk is a thinner formulation of hyaluronic acid that can be used to soften fine lines on the cheeks. Results last for up to 6 months.
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Restylane and Restylane-L are hyaluronic acid-based fillers used to correct medium-depth wrinkles and folds on the face and cheeks. Results from one injection typically lasts 6-12 months.
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Restylane Lyft is a thicker hyaluronic acid product compared to others within the Restylane collection. Restylane Lyft is best used to used for correction of deeper areas of volume loss where there is need for improved structure, such as for improvement of the contour of the cheekbones. Results last 6-12 months.
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These hyaluronic acid fillers are best used for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, especially on the parts of the cheeks that surround the nose, in the nasolabial folds. Restylane defyne may also be used to restore definition to the cheekbones. Results last 6-12 months.
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Restylane Contour is used for augmentation of the cheekbones to improve volume and contour. Results last 6-12 months.
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Radiesse is made of microscopic particles of calcium hydroxylapatite, a substance similar to the calcium in bone, suspended in a gel product. Radiesse may be used to plump up areas of moderate to severe volume loss in the cheek area. Side note, it is also the only filler approved by the FDA for hand rejuvenation, and produces beautiful results in this area. In addition to its role as an immediate filler to injected areas, this product also functions as a biostimulator, which means that it stimulates new production of your body’s own collagen.
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Sculptra is a dermal filler made of a compound called poly-L-lactic acid. Unlike other fillers used to treat wrinkles, sculptra is a biostimulator, which means that when injected into the skin, it stimulates your own body to produce new collagen in the skin, which creates a gradual, subtle, more natural correction of wrinkles and deep folds, and improvement in the appearance of sagging skin and laxity. It is an especially fantastic treatment for gradual correction of volume loss in the cheeks, where it can help restore soft tissue fullness of the cheek by stimulating the production of long-lasting collagen. It is important to know that because Sculptra is a bio-stimulator and not an immediate filler, it may take multiple treatment sessions to achieve final results although subtle results are seen after each treatment. Treatment is usually performed once a month until the desired correction or outcome is achieved. Once results are achieved however, they last longer than those achieved with most hyaluronic acid fillers.
Is Non-surgical Cheek Augmentation with Fillers Right for Me?
To find out if you are an ideal candidate for cheek augmentation, it is crucial to schedule a consultation with a qualified aesthetic physician specialist and experienced injector, such as a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon. During your initial consultation, your dermatologist will review your medical history, discuss your aesthetic goals, evaluate your facial anatomy, symmetry, bone structure, and your skin quality, and will create a custom treatment plan for you that is tailored to your specific needs and health history. This specialist is the best person to decide if dermal fillers are a good option for you.
Before and After Photos
Check out our gallery to discover results that can be achieved with cheek augmentation with dermal fillers.
Our Office Serves the Entire San Francisco Bay Area Including Oakland, Berkeley, Marin County, the Peninsula and Beyond
Our office is proud to serve the entire San Francisco Bay Area, offering a comprehensive range of cosmetic procedures to enhance your natural beauty. Regardless of where you call home in the Bay Area or beyond, we are committed to providing you with exceptional aesthetic services.