Although facial implants offer an excellent long term solution to cheek hollowness, many patients desire a less invasive procedure.  For those patients we recommend a dermal filler.

The goal is to increase volume, and the best way to achieve that is with the patient’s own fat.  Autologous fat transfer involves the harvesting of fat through liposuction of the stomach or buttocks.  The fat is purified and then injected into the subcutaneous area of the cheek. The procedure may be performed in the office or under sedation in the OR.

If liposuction and fat transfer isn’t a desirable option for you, other good choices are wrinkle fillers like Radiesse or Juvederm.  With any of these options, it’s crucial to have a qualified practitioner do the injections.  These treatments seem simple, but a successful cosmetic result often depends on the skilled injection technique of a knowledgeable surgeon.

Researchers associated with the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently gathered information on 687 patients who had received Botox and/or dermal filler treatment. 

While a summary of the full results can be found in this document; some of the noteworthy findings include the following:

Most respondents described themselves as healthy individuals.  95 percent of patients said they incorporated exercise into their lives, and 78 percent cited healthy eating habits.

  • Nearly 70 percent of the respondents who had been treated with Botox also opted for dermal filler treatment.
  • 72 percent of the respondents chose Botox to treat glabellar lines – the vertical lines that appear between your eyebrows.  
  • 63 percent of the respondents chose dermal fillers to treat facial wrinkles and folds, mostly the nasolabial folds or ‘smile lines’ that travel from the nose to each side of the mouth. 
  • Within the respondents, the average or ‘typical’ patient was “a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000.”
  • 66 percent of the respondents said they received Botox treatment 2-3 times per year.
  • 87 percent reported that they discussed their treatments with others, and 70 percent said they received support from the people they told.

Last week, spokespersons from Radiesse and Bioform Medical Inc. reported that 1 million syringes of Radiesse dermal filler have been shipped since ’02.

Radiesse being the staple product of Bioform, is most commonly used to fill nasolabial folds, wrinkles and correct facial lipoatrophy.  The filler has been marketed for cosmetic and therapeutic use in Europe since 2002.  In 2006 FDA approval for aesthetic facial treatments was granted in the United States, expanding Radiesse’ use beyond therapeutic treatments to include subdermal implantation.

At this time, about ten thousand cosmetic surgery and dermatology practices have used Radiesse – a landmark achievement that cements the company’s position as one of the global market leaders in cosmetic surgery products.  The only comparable fillers with such widespread appeal are those made of collagen or hyaluronic acid, both of which have been on the market longer.