Types of Hollow Cheek Treatments and Restoring Volume with Radiesse

My cheeks look too sunken, and I’m worried.

What should I do?

This is one of the questions we often hear during consultations with patients who visit Mutoel Plastic Surgery because of sunken cheeks.

Sunken cheeks are not simply a result of weight loss alone.

They are a change caused by a combination of factors such as a decrease in the fat layer under the skin, weakening of the fascial structure, and a reduction in collagen.

There are various treatment methods that can help reduce the degree of this sunken-cheek change.

Today, I’ll explain the types of procedures, their pros and cons, and when each procedure may be appropriate.

I’ll also introduce the treatment process for Radiesse as a reference.

1. What types of hollow cheek treatments are there?

Shadowing from sunken cheeks below the cheekbones

There are three main ways to improve sunken cheeks.

The first is filler,

the second is fat grafting,

and the third is a collagen booster such as Juvelook or Radiesse.

What these three have in common is that they are all injected directly under the skin to restore volume.

Each material differs in composition, duration, and in its advantages and disadvantages.

Let’s go through fillers first.

2. The pros and cons of fillers and fat grafting, and how they differ

The most commonly used hyaluronic acid filler

The main ingredient in fillers is hyaluronic acid. When injected into the body, it retains water and creates volume, offering the advantage of an immediate effect.

However, because it is not a substance that firmly settles in like flesh, it is more of a way to supplement sunken areas than to restore the lost fat layer itself.

In addition, the wider the area of sunken cheeks, the more material is needed to fill it.

The more filler is injected, the greater the chance that its position may shift after the procedure, and a bluish discoloration under light (the Tyndall effect) may occur.

Fat grafting using your own fat

Fat grafting uses your own fat, so it causes less of a foreign-body sensation and is effective when filling larger hollow areas.

However, because fat is harvested from another part of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs, and then processed before being placed in the face,

it takes longer than filler or a collagen booster, and sedation anesthesia is also required.

In addition, a certain recovery period is needed for the transplanted fat to settle and for swelling to subside.

Most importantly, if your body is currently very lean and there is no fat available to harvest, this can be a difficult treatment to perform for sunken cheeks, and in some cases it may unfortunately not be possible.

3. Collagen booster Radiesse

Authentic Radiesse released by Merz Aesthetics

A collagen booster is not just a treatment that simply fills volume like a filler. It is a procedure that helps your skin create its own elasticity.

The main ingredient in filler is hyaluronic acid,

but

Radiesse contains CaHA (calcium hydroxyapatite), a substance similar to what is found between bone and connective tissue.

Main ingredient of the collagen booster

CaHA stimulates collagen production under the skin, not only supplementing the lacking volume but also bringing about structural restoration and improved elasticity.

Simply put, if filler is like filling a water balloon,

Radiesse is more like rebuilding the framework of a building.

Radiesse during dilution preparation (left) and before dilution (right)

Radiesse has a texture that is not very thin and is somewhat viscous,

so if it is used in its original form, it can cause clumping at the injection site, known as a nodule, so it is always diluted before use.

To prevent nodules, Radiesse is thoroughly mixed until just before the procedure.

Usually, normal saline used for diluting medications is not used at Mutoel at all.

Instead, we use only materials that are not harmful even when injected directly under the skin and that help fill and maintain volume.

We mix them appropriately according to each person’s condition, so please keep that in mind as well.

4. Looking at treatment directions for severe sunken cheeks after rapid weight loss

There seem to be many people who go on rapid diets for various reasons in life.

In particular, when weight is lost quickly after giving birth,

it can lead to unavoidable sunken cheeks.

The shadow below the cheekbones deepens,

and volume is lost in both cheeks,

so even when you are clearly feeling well,

you may hear, “Are you tired today...?” more often.

Especially when the skin is judged to be very thin and stronger structural support is needed,

Radiesse may be chosen as a more reliable way to reduce sunken cheeks.

At Mutoel Plastic Surgery, Radiesse is performed in the following order.

| Design |

Before the hollow cheek procedure, the following items are checked.

Range of the sunken area
Presence of fine wrinkles and reduced elasticity
Thickness of the facial skin and fat layer, and the proportion relative to the bone structure
Left-right asymmetry and differences in volume

Because facial structures differ from person to person, we check them in various expressions such as a neutral face and a smiling face, and design the treatment carefully and accordingly.

| 2. Local anesthesia and disinfection |

If something is inserted under the skin to fill volume, a small opening must be made in the skin.

At this time, local anesthesia with lidocaine is performed for those who may feel pain.

To prevent infection during the anesthesia process, the injection site is thoroughly disinfected with Betadine antiseptic solution.

| 3. Radiesse injection (using a cannula) |

The total amount used in a Radiesse procedure for the face is fixed,

but

for some people the same amount is used on both sides, while for others the amount differs between left and right.

This is because, depending on the individual facial structure, the practitioner adjusts the injection as appropriate so that the balance between both sides can be aligned.

| 4. Shaping (molding) |

Squeezing out the product to prevent nodules (left), then molding it to shape after injection (right)

Because particles may remain clumped in the injected area, it is essential to press and smooth it thoroughly as a final step.

After that, the shape is gently adjusted to match the proportions of the face.

Improved sunken cheeks immediately after Radiesse treatment

After Radiesse treatment, the deep shadow below the cheekbones appears reduced, and the facial line becomes naturally softer, which can help improve a tired-looking impression.

However, you should keep in mind that these effects may vary depending on each individual’s condition.

5. Closing remarks

If your hollow cheeks and sunken cheeks are causing you stress

Sunken cheeks are not simply a problem of volume, but a condition that changes the structure and impression of the face, so it is especially important to be careful when choosing a treatment.

For fillers, fat grafting, and collagen booster procedures, the suitable option differs from person to person.

Therefore, only after a specialist with sufficient experience makes an accurate assessment should the right treatment be selected, which can then lead to natural and long-lasting results.

(The duration of results may vary from person to person.)

If you keep noticing your hollow cheeks every time you look in the mirror and it worries you, feel free to inquire about Radiesse treatment.

Based on each person’s unique facial structure, if treatment is not needed or the expected effect is limited, we will never recommend it excessively,

and Mutoel will kindly help you achieve results that are natural and truly necessary :)