Between Christy Teigen and Naomi Campbell, sculpted cheekbones are what dreams are made of. While the majority of us haven’t been blessed with the highest of cheekbones, we are fortunate enough to have doctors who can help achieve this desired look. Haute Beauty sat down with board-certified expert Dr. Smita Ramanadham to discuss cheek augmentations, the ideal candidate for this procedure and how soon results can be seen.

What looks are achieved with a cheek augmentation?

Cheek Augmentation is great for creating that high cheekbone look that is associated with youthful beauty. High, full cheeks that blend with the lower eyelids and a well-defined jawline creates what we call the “triangle of youth.” As we age, we lose volume in our cheeks, our lid-cheek junction becomes defined, and our skin and soft tissues fall toward our jawline creating an inverted triangle or pyramid.  The aging face often looks tired or sad. Cheek augmentation can restore this lost volume, recreating a smooth contour between the lid and cheek, resulting in a refreshed youthful appearance.

Describe the typical patient for this procedure?

We typically see patients that show early signs of aging. Fat is first lost in the midface resulting in a deflated, flattened, and sunken appearance. We may also start seeing the development of nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and jowls as the soft tissues descend.  This can occur as early as our thirties. These early stages of aging are really the best time to target those cheeks and replace that lost volume.  The key here is to replace and restore, we do not want to add extra volume that results in an unnatural “chipmunk cheek” type appearance.

What should patients expect during the process?

Dermal fillers are typically used to augment the cheeks.  There are many types of fillers on the market today but hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are more commonly used and are safe in the right hands. Patients should expect to be seen and evaluated by a well-qualified and trained injector or physician. They should be open about their goals and expectations. If a patient is a good candidate for cheek augmentation, this can usually be done during the same office visit and takes less than 30 minutes.  Numbing cream and cold compresses might be applied, your face will be thoroughly cleaned, and the injections will be performed until the desired look is achieved.  There is minimal pain associated with the process.  Some bruising and swelling will be expected but resolve within several days.

How soon can patients see results?

Patients will see results immediately if HA fillers are used. These HA fillers differ in their affinity for water so can cause varying degrees of swelling during and immediately following the procedure. The swelling resolves in 48-72 hours leaving the patient with youthful full cheeks and a refreshed appearance. Results typically last 6 months to 1 year depending on the type of filler used.