Cosmetic Treatments for Drooping Cheeks
Lines, wrinkles, and sagging are the telltale signs of age. Many patients visit our Philadelphia, PA cosmetic surgery practice looking for ways to combat these problems. We offer a number of facial plastic surgery and rejuvenation options to meet the anti-aging needs of our patients.
While many people think of forehead lines and crow's feet as major signs of age, the cheeks are also a major offender. Plastic surgeons have many options to help tighten the cheeks, reverse the slacking of the lower face, and address prominent jowls.
The Aging Process and its Effect on the Cheeks
As people get older, they lose fat in the face and the collagen in the skin breaks down. This causes lines to deepen and the skin of the face to droop, almost appearing as if the face has deflated. It's especially pronounced along the cheeks and the lower portion of the face. With time, jowls and hollows may form, causing you to look years older than you may be.
Weight loss can similarly lead to drooping and sagging of the cheeks and lower structures of the face. This is particularly true of people who were obese or morbidly obese who've experienced major weight loss.
Skin Tightening Options for Sagging Cheeks
For minor sagging of the cheeks, minimally invasive procedures are recommended. These procedures will target the surface of the mid-face and cheek area, tightening and firming up the skin to reduce drooping. These skin tightening procedures may involve special facials and wraps that rejuvenate the skin or the use of lasers and intense light therapy to promote collagen production and greater suppleness.
Dermal Fillers for Sagging Cheeks
As drooping of the cheek area becomes more pronounced, different options will need to be considered to properly address aesthetic issues. Deeper lines and facial sagging can be addressed through the use of dermal filler injections. Dermal fillers are cosmetic solutions that add volume to the injection sites, filling out wrinkles and drooping parts of the face. Common dermal fillers for sagging cheeks include Sculptra®, JUVÉDERM®, or Restylane®.
Fat Transfer for Sagging Cheeks
Rather than using dermal fillers, a plastic surgeon may recommend fat transfer instead. Also known as microlipoinjection, fat transfer involves the injection of fat from one part of a person's body into another part of the body. In essence, fat transfer works like dermal fillers but uses the patient's own body fat. This fat is typically harvested from the abdominal area, meaning patients experience the benefits of facial rejuvenation with a little bit of fat removal as well.
Facial Plastic Surgery for Sagging Cheeks
For major drooping and sagging of the face that other procedures cannot address, the ideal option is facial lift surgery. A mid-face lift or a lower face lift may be the best way to tighten those sagging cheeks to revitalize your appearance.
The incisions for these facial lift procedures are hidden behind the ear. Through these incisions, a surgeon can adjust various structures of the face and pull the skin tighter. The result is a tighter and younger-looking cheek and jaw line, with no more sagging of the jowls.
Contact Jefferson Plastic Surgery
If you would like more information about anti-aging treatments and how you can look your best, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon today. We will assess your situation and devise a custom treatment plan that can meet your aesthetic goals.