If you’ve been scouring the internet trying to decide on the best treatment for the signs of ageing, chances are you’ve stumbled across dermal fillers. While we’re all guilty of doing some Dr Googling from time to time, at Laser Clinics New Zealand, we want to make sure that you have access to accurate information about dermal filler treatments.
Recently we’ve had many questions via our Facebook and Instagram pages about our Cheeky Cheeks Dermal Cheek Filler Treatment that in response, we thought we'd answer all your questions about cheek fillers!
What are cheek fillers?
Surprisingly, our cheeks are our secret weapon to help rejuvenate our face. Over time our cheek fat pads start to diminish in volume leaving the skin less supported structurally in the midface, affecting nearby areas including the skin around our eyes and lines around our mouth. Dermal cheek fillers add volume and definition to the face, as well as a big boost of hydration, which is why it’s often called the facelift without the facelift or commonly referred to as the ‘liquid facelift’.
How do cheek fillers work?
As we age, we start to lose volume in certain areas of the face which can make us look tired and sunken. This is caused by fat pad volume loss coupled with the body’s decreased ability to produce collagen and elastin. Some of the first and most noticeable areas to lose volume in our face is in the midface or cheek area under our eyes and around our eyes and cheekbones.
Unlike wrinkles which require muscle relaxants to soften them, facial volume and folds require a dermal filler to help re-volumise and hydrate the area.
Made from hyaluronic gel – a natural sugar already present in the human body – our dermal fillers are an affordable way to replicate the function of this naturally occurring substance and can restore fullness and volume in numerous facial areas.
Our cheeky cheeks treatment may help address the following concerns:
- The appearance of ageing
- Reduce smile lines
- Lift your jowls
- Reduce fine lines around your eyes
- Restore volume to your cheeks
- Creates angles to help slim your face
How much dermal filler will I need?
It’s your looks, it’s your choice. That’s the LCNZ mantra. We believe everyone has the right to look exactly how they want to look, without hesitation or apology. Therefore, we don’t take a one size fits all approach and each dosage is tailored to the individual.
Some patients will be satisfied with 2ml of dermal filler, while others will require a higher dosage to achieve the results they’re after. However, a typical way to plan cheek fillers is to start with a foundation treatment of 2ml (1ml per cheek) and build from there based on the individual’s desired outcome. Patients who have more volume loss prior to treatment generally require higher doses of filler to achieve re-volumisation.
At your initial complimentary consultation, the LCNZ medical team will assess the face and decide on the best dosage after discussing medical history, concerns, treatment goals and more. From there, a personalised treatment plan will be created by your injector to ensure you achieve optimal results.
Do cheek fillers hurt?
The treatment is non-invasive, and topical anaesthetic creams are applied prior to treatment to minimise discomfort. Further to this, all dermal fillers used at LCNZ clinics contain anaesthetic within the product itself which allows for a relatively painless treatment. Recovery time is mostly minimal, and results can be seen instantly.
How long do cheek fillers last?
Once you reach your optimal dose, the results can last approximately 12 months plus.
What are some of the side effects?
Everyone is different, and the majority of people will walk out of the clinic with no blemishes on their skin, perhaps a little irritation or redness. Some of the common things you can expect is bruising, swelling and/or tenderness. However, many people come in their lunch break, have treatments and leave.
How quickly will I see results?
Given hyaluronic fillers are a gel, the results are instant. The degree of change comes down to the dose used and this is based on the desired result requested by the patient i.e. subtle vs more enhanced. It’s also important to allow for skin irritation and any swelling post treatment which will settle.
Book a complimentary consultation with our medical team to discuss your concerns and create your very own treatment plan.
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