Restoring Facial Volume: A Guide to Treating Sunken Face

Sunken face and cheeks can contribute to a tired, aged look, affecting one's overall facial aesthetics. This loss of facial volume can significantly impact confidence and self-esteem. Facial volume is essential for vibrant appearance, contributing to a healthy, balanced facial contour. Restoring this volume can rejuvenate your appearance, making you look more refreshed and lively. This comprehensive guide explores the causes of sunken cheeks and various treatment options to help you achieve a more youthful look.

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5 Sunken Cheeks Causes That You Might Not Expect

Sunken cheeks can be a concern for many, affecting the overall fullness and appearance of the face. While the term might seem straightforward, the underlying causes can be diverse. Here, we'll delve into the factors that contribute to sunken cheeks and explore potential solutions.

1. Ageing and Volume Loss

As we age, the natural processes of collagen and elastin production slow down significantly. These proteins are crucial for maintaining the skin's smooth appearance, providing it with elasticity and firmness. The gradual decline in collagen and elastin levels leads to a loss of skin structure and support, resulting in sagging and drooping skin. This effect is particularly noticeable in areas like the cheeks, where the skin may appear sunken or hollow.

Additionally, the layer of fat beneath the skin, known as subcutaneous fat, also undergoes changes with age. There's a reduction in the volume of this fat layer, which contributes to the sunken appearance of the cheeks. This volume loss not only affects the aesthetic appearance but also impacts facial contours and proportions, leading to a less defined look.

2. Lifestyle Factors that Impact Your Cheeks

Lifestyle choices and habits can significantly influence the appearance of your cheeks. Rapid or significant weight loss, often associated with crash diets or extreme exercise regimens, can result in a gaunt and hollowed appearance in the face, including the cheeks. This is due to the loss of fat deposits in the facial area, which are essential for maintaining facial volume and contours.

Furthermore, the quality of your diet plays a crucial role in the health and appearance of your skin, including the cheeks. A diet lacking essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats can contribute to skin dullness, dryness, and loss of plumpness. Adequate nourishment is essential for supporting collagen production, maintaining skin hydration, and preserving the skin's elasticity and resilience. Without proper nutrition, the cheeks may appear sunken, and the skin may lose its youthful firmness and vitality.

3. Medical Conditions and Their Influence

Certain medical conditions can contribute to sunken cheeks:

• Crohn's Disease: This chronic inflammatory bowel disease can impact nutrient absorption, leading to overall weight loss and potentially affecting facial fat stores.

• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: This group of disorders affects connective tissues, which can impact the skin's structure and elasticity, contributing to a sunken appearance.

• Eating Disorders: Severe or prolonged eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, can lead to significant weight loss and malnutrition. When the body lacks essential nutrients due to inadequate food intake or purging behaviours, it can affect the fat stores in the face, including the cheeks.

4. The Environmental Toll: Sun Damage and Harsh Weather

• Sun Damage: Excessive sun exposure without proper protection accelerates skin ageing. UV rays break down collagen and elastin, leading to a loss of facial volume and the development of wrinkles and lines, including those around the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds).

• Harsh Weather Conditions: Extreme cold, wind, and dry air can strip the skin of its natural moisture and disrupt the skin barrier. This dehydration can worsen the appearance of sunken cheeks and contribute to premature ageing.

5. Other Ageing Process

Sunken cheeks can sometimes be accompanied by other age-related facial changes:

• Loss of Elasticity and Smile Lines: As the skin loses elasticity, smile lines and other facial wrinkles become more prominent.

• Jowls and Bony Arches: With volume loss and sagging skin, the jawline can become less defined, leading to the appearance of jowls. Additionally, the bony structure beneath the skin, particularly the bony arch around the cheekbones, can become more noticeable.

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Addressing Sunken Cheeks with Makeup Tips

First of all, if you're looking to enhance the appearance of sunken cheeks without invasive procedures, makeup can be a powerful tool. Here are some expert makeup tips to help light up your sunken face and add a youthful glow to your cheeks:

1. Use Highlighter Strategically: Apply a luminous highlighter to the high points of your cheeks, such as the cheekbones and temples. This will catch the light and create the illusion of fuller, more lifted cheeks.

2. Choose Cream Blushes: Opt for cream blush formulas instead of powders. Cream blushes blend seamlessly into the skin, giving a natural flush that can make your cheeks appear plumper and more radiant.

3. Blend Well: Blend your makeup products seamlessly to avoid harsh lines or uneven application. A well-blended makeup look can create a more natural and youthful appearance.

4. Focus on Contouring: Use a matte contouring product slightly darker than your skin tone to create shadows and add depth to areas that appear sunken. Blend carefully to achieve a subtle contour that enhances your facial structure.

5. Glow from Within: Incorporate a hydrating primer or illuminating moisturiser into your skincare routine to create a radiant base for your makeup. A healthy glow from within can make your cheeks look naturally fuller and more vibrant.

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Surgical Solutions for Sunken Cheeks: Long-lasting Options for a Defined Look

Surgical procedures can provide significant volume restoration and facial contour improvement for a more defined and youthful appearance. Here's an overview of some surgical options:

1. Cheek Implants

This surgical procedure involves inserting premade implants into the cheeks to augment their structure and definition. Implants are available in various sizes and materials to achieve the desired outcome.

• Benefits: Cheek implants offer a long-lasting and predictable solution for adding volume and enhancing cheek projection. They are typically placed through small incisions with minimal scarring.

2. Fat Grafting

Fat transfer can be a surgical option for sunken cheeks. During the procedure, fat is harvested from another area of the body, processed, and strategically injected into the cheeks for lasting volume restoration.

• Benefits of Surgical Fat Grafting: This approach offers a more permanent solution compared to non-surgical fat transfer, as the body's own fat cells are used. Additionally, it can improve skin quality and texture due to the presence of stem cells in the transferred fat.

3. Eyebrow Lift and Facial Rejuvenation Surgeries

Sunken cheeks can sometimes be part of a broader concern regarding facial ageing. In such cases, complementary surgical procedures can address multiple areas and enhance overall facial harmony.

• Eyebrow Lift: This surgery lifts and repositions the eyebrows, opening up the eye area and creating a more youthful appearance. An eyebrow lift, when combined with cheek augmentation procedures, can significantly improve the balance and definition of the entire mid-face.

• Other Facial Rejuvenation Surgeries: Depending on your individual needs, procedures like a facelift or mid-facelift can be combined with cheek augmentation to address overall sagging skin and restore a more youthful facial contour.

However, surgical procedures for volume restoration and facial contour improvement come with certain risks, as do all surgical interventions. Here are some of the potential risks associated with these procedures:

1. Cheek Implants

• Infection: Like any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection at the implant site.

• Implant Shifting or Malposition: Cheek implants may shift or become malpositioned over time, requiring corrective surgery.

• Scarring: Although incisions for cheek implants are typically small, scarring can occur and may be visible depending on the placement of the implants.

2. Fat Grafting

• Fat Absorption: Not all transferred fat cells may survive, leading to partial absorption of the injected fat and potential unevenness in results.

• Overcorrection or Undercorrection: Achieving the desired volume balance can be challenging, and there is a risk of overcorrection (excessive volume) or undercorrection (insufficient volume).

• Asymmetry: Despite careful planning, there is a risk of asymmetry in the cheeks if the fat distribution is not uniform or if one side absorbs more fat than the other.

Eyebrow Lift and Facial Rejuvenation Surgeries

• Nerve Damage: These surgeries involve manipulation of facial tissues near nerves, which can lead to temporary or permanent nerve damage, resulting in altered sensation or movement in the face.

• Scarring and Healing Issues: All surgical procedures carry a risk of scarring, and the healing process can vary among individuals, affecting the final aesthetic outcome.

• Anaesthesia Risks: General anaesthesia, often used for these surgeries, carries its own set of risks, including allergic reactions, breathing difficulties, and anaesthesia-related complications.

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Thermage FLX 5th Generation Face Lift Treatment for Sunken Cheeks: Restoring Volume and Redefining Your Look

Some people who are worried about the potential side effects and risks that it involves would want to opt for non-ablative treatment. Fortunately, Perfect Medical's Thermage FLX 5th Generation Face Lift Treatment offers a revolutionary non-surgical approach to address sunken cheeks and face.

This treatment harnesses advanced radiofrequency (RF) technology, a non-ablative method that delivers controlled heat deep into the skin's middle layer, known as the dermis. Unlike ablative treatments, this non-surgical option works by stimulating natural collagen production and tightening existing collagen fibres. Here's how it works:

• Collagen Stimulation: The targeted thermal energy from Thermage FLX stimulates the production of new collagen fibres. Collagen is a crucial protein responsible for skin firmness and elasticity.

• Skin Tightening: As collagen production increases, existing collagen fibres also tighten, leading to a lifting and firming effect on the skin.

• Improved Elasticity: Enhanced elasticity helps restore volume and definition to the cheeks, reducing the appearance of sunkenness.

Benefits of Thermage FLX:

• Non-invasive and Minimally Disruptive: Thermage FLX offers a safe and comfortable procedure with minimal downtime.

• Gradual Improvement: Results typically develop over time, providing a natural-looking progression.

• Enhanced Skin Quality: Thermage FLX not only addresses sunken cheeks but also improves overall skin texture and elasticity for a more youthful appearance.

Schedule regular appointments with our skincare professional for skin assessments and advises to your skincare regimen. Early detection and treatment of any skin concerns can help maintain the results of your sunken cheek treatment and contribute to long-term skin health.

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Maintaining the Results with Diet: A Commitment to Long-Term Success

Regardless of whether you choose non-surgical or surgical options to address sunken cheeks, a commitment to healthy habits is key to maintaining your results and promoting overall skin health. When sunken cheeks occur, eating healthy fats can contribute to overall skin health, improve skin laxity and may indirectly help improve the appearance of a sunken face to some extent. Here's how:

1. Hydration and Moisture: Healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts can help maintain skin hydration. Well-hydrated skin tends to look plumper and more youthful, which can reduce the appearance of sunken cheeks.

2. Collagen Production: Some healthy fats, especially those rich in antioxidants like avocados and olive oil, can support collagen production. Collagen is crucial for skin elasticity and firmness, and promoting its production can help improve skin tone and reduce sagging.

3. Nutrient Absorption: Fats play a role in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are essential for skin health, repair, and regeneration. By aiding in nutrient absorption, healthy fats support overall skin vitality.

4. Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Certain healthy fats, particularly those with anti-inflammatory properties like omega-3s, can reduce inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation can contribute to skin ageing and loss of volume, so reducing inflammation may help maintain a fuller facial appearance.

Besides getting the right nutrient, you can complement your treatment with a consistent skincare routine that incorporates high-quality products. Regularly cleansing, moisturising, and using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher helps protect your skin from environmental damage and premature ageing. Additionally, consider incorporating products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which promotes hydration, and retinol, which can stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture.

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Choose Your Way to Get Rid of Hollow Cheeks!

Both non-surgical and surgical treatments can effectively restore facial volume and achieve a youthful appearance. You can find a solution that best fits your needs. Consulting with a skincare or medical professional is essential to determine the most suitable treatment plan tailored to individual needs. With the right approach, you can restore your facial volume, enhance your appearance, and boost your confidence.