I'm Asian. Would Injectable Filler Give Me 'Apple' Cheeks or Would I Have to Get Implants? (photo)

  I certainly believe that facial fillers would be better than using a surgical implant for the facial areas you are most concerned with.  I like Restylane and radiesse in these facial areas.

Volume and contouring of the cheeks can be created with well-placed fillers (Voluma, Radiesse, Bellafill, Contour) and Sculptra. Implants or fat are alternatives. Botox and radiofrequency can help slim and contour the jawline. Liposuction can help slim the face. Ultherapy, J Plasma and rf treatments can provide skin tightening and lift. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Thank you for the question and the picture. The area you are interested in is a combination of the tear trough region (hollow area under the eyes) and the pyriform aperture (the area of the cheek next to the base of the nose).  Each of these areas can be treated with fillers (Restylane for the tear troughs; Juvederm, Perlane, or Radiesse for the pyriform aperture).  An alternative would be pyriform implants.  These are placed through a small incision under the lip, and recovery is generally pretty quick.

Hello ;

you have a moderate amount of deficiency in the "premalar" region which gives you the flatness that you are concerned about.

this can be easily treated with either fat grafting or with an excellent injectable hyaluronic acid filler "Ultimate from Teosyal"

 

Thanks for your question and for your photos.  Based on your photos, I think that you are an excellent candidate for fillers.  My fillers of choice in the cheeks are Juvaderm Ultra Plus or Perlane.  I think that the area you are hoping to augment is better augmented with fillers rather than implants. 

With fillers such as Voluma which lasts 18 months before you will need a refill, you can design your cheek and augment exactly were you want the augmentation. Mid-cheek augmentation is what I coming done for Asians as it makes the front of the cheeks fuller whereas augmenting the cheek bone area makes the face more angular as seen in younger Caucasians.

Implants are permanent and I have used them for years.. 

A facial filler such as Radiesse may be a good, first-line option for this situation.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Andy Shah MD

I usually recommend to my patient to try fillers first if in doubt about a more permanent procedures such as fat transfer or implants.

What you are seeking is more fullness in the anterior submalar area which is hollow due to your high and strong cheekbones. That area can be augmented with either fat injections or a submalar style of cheek implant that needs to be precisely placed. While there are well known advantages or disadvantages to fat or implants, it would be wise to first try some temporary injectable fillers to ensure the precise location of the area of midface augmentation and to see if soft tissue filling can be effective. That will help you better select the more definitive final solution.

This is a common request from Asian patients who are looking to achieve an enhanced appearance but addressing the flat cheeks.  It depends what you are looking to achieve.  Both fillers or implants will give a fuller result and both have their pros and cons.  A popular alternative for our Asian patients is fat grafting where you own fat is used to give fullness in the face.  Please consult with a board certified specialist who sees a lot of Asian patients who can assist you with achieving the results you seek.