Cheekbone Filler
What Is It?
Cheekbone filler means placing hyaluronic acid filler at the support points of the midface to put back lost volume. Ageing often shows here first. As the fat pads under the skin shrink and slide down, the cheekbone flattens, a shadow forms beneath it and the face starts to look tired.
The effect of this area goes beyond the area itself. When we add volume with filler to hollowed areas such as the temples, cheeks and cheekbones, they work much like the poles that hold a tent canvas taut. Once the midface is supported, the tissues below it also gather up a little. You may see an indirect softening in the under-eye shadow and in the nasolabial line that runs from beside the nose to the corner of the mouth. What you see is the tissue settling back into place. It isn’t a lift, and it has a limit.
How Is It Done?
First we analyse your face. We look at how much volume has been lost over the cheekbone, how thick the skin is and how the two sides differ. We work out whether the shadow comes from volume loss or from loosening skin. If you inject filler without making that distinction, you can’t carry sagging tissue upward, and you may even weigh it down.
We mark the support points and place the product deep, on the bone. Closer to the surface we use a more fluid product. This area needs care because of its blood vessels, so we mostly work with a cannula. We apply topical anaesthetic cream beforehand. The procedure takes 15-20 minutes on average. At the end we check the symmetry both with your face at rest and while you smile.
Who Is It For?
We offer it to patients who notice flattening and volume loss in the midface, a shadow under the cheekbone, or a face that looks tired even when rested. It usually comes up from the mid-thirties onward. In women the cheekbone faces a little more forward, and in men it sits a little wider. We plan accordingly.
If the real problem is loose skin, filler alone doesn’t meet the expectation, and too much of it can make the face look heavier. In that case we talk about a different approach. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection in the area, bleeding disorders, uncontrolled autoimmune disease and known allergy to the product change the plan. We assess these one by one at the examination.
Process & Recovery
Facial analysis
We look at how much volume has been lost, how thick the skin is and how the two sides differ. We work out whether the shadow comes from volume or from the skin. We take photographs for your record.
Treatment day
After the topical anaesthetic cream, we place the product deep at the support points, mostly with a cannula. The procedure takes 15-20 minutes.
First 48 hours
Swelling and tenderness occur, and bruising is possible. We ask you not to press on the area, not to sleep face down, and to stay away from heat and strenuous exercise.
First 2 weeks
The swelling goes down and the product settles. In the first days the cheekbone may look fuller than it really is. The true look appears during this period.
Review
We ask you back at the end of the second week. We look at the symmetry and the transitions and plan a small top-up if needed.
Results & Duration
You see the volume effect right after the treatment. The final look becomes clear once the swelling settles, in about two weeks on average. Once the midface is supported, you may see an indirect softening in the under-eye shadow and the nasolabial line, though this too has a limit.
How long it lasts depends on the product, the amount and your metabolism. The range generally reported is 12-18 months. The cheekbone moves relatively little, so filler stays longer here than in most areas.
What Is Not Promised
Cheekbone filler doesn’t replace a facelift and doesn’t gather up excess skin in advanced sagging. It doesn’t fill the under-eye hollow directly. Its effect there is indirect and limited. It also has no effect on pigmentation or skin quality.
We don’t promise a particular look or duration. In this area too much volume widens the face and spoils the natural look. So we limit the amount according to the facial analysis and, if needed, complete it in a second session.
Key Benefits
- Young profile
- Midface support
- Sharp face contour
“The most common mistake I see with the cheekbones is widening the face while trying to fill a shadow. Every millilitre you put here changes the whole face. That is why I prefer to use a little here and wait.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Will cheekbone filler widen my face?
Not with measured treatment. The face widens when more volume goes in than the area can carry. That is why we limit the amount according to the facial analysis.
Will it fix my under-eye shadow?
It doesn’t fill it directly. As the cheekbone line and the cheek descend, something like a sagging hammock forms under the eye. When we support the midface, this shadow can soften indirectly. There is a limit to this, and the under-eye area is a separate matter.
Does it lift?
It doesn’t lift the skin. Because the tissue settles back into place, the face looks more gathered, though in advanced sagging this effect falls short.
How long does it take?
15-20 minutes on average. You go back to daily life the same day.
Is it painful?
Most of my patients describe a feeling of pressure. We apply topical anaesthetic cream beforehand, and we mostly work with a cannula.
When will I see the result?
You notice the effect straight away, but in the first days swelling makes the cheekbone look fuller than it is. The true look settles in two weeks.
How long does it last?
The range generally reported is 12-18 months. The cheekbone doesn’t move much, so filler stays longer there.
Is it reversible?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase. If you are unhappy with the result, the area goes back to how it was.