How would I achieve hollow cheeks? Would I need lipo, Kybella, or fillers?

Kybella has serious side effects including temporary and permanent nerve damage. For this reason, injection of this inflammatory medication is limited to the submental area.  Kybella is a bit disappointing as a fat sculpting product even if the advertisements are amusing. Removal of buccal fat does hollow the lower cheek.  Your model probably has also had her back teeth removed and may have a chin implant. She is likely 3 percent body fat.  In fact, someone desperately needs to feed this person a nice meal. Honestly this is not a health look and I caution you in trying to achieve it.  Under eye filler could help you but you need to see someone who understands something about the rheology of these fillers.  Runny fillers like Voluma and Juvederm tend to drift after placement.  Avoid permanent or semi-permanent fillers that can't be removed.  That includes products like grafted fat, sculptra, and Bellafill.  Bellafill is the new name for Artefil which leaves plastic beads in the body that scar in place.  That is bad if there is a problem with the product after placement.  Stay with products that can be removed without surgery no matter what you are promised by your potential injector. Don't harm yourself in an effort to look your best.

Buccal fat excision is an appropriate surgical procedure for patients that of overly full and wide cheek areas. In common terms, it is good for patients who have chipmunk cheeks. In reviewing your pictures, is difficult to tell if you're a good candidate because your cheek area is slightly full but not overly full. Facial liposuction can be used to slim the face. You are a patient that would need and in person consultation for a complete evaluation and explanation of the positives and negatives of each procedure in your situation.
I hope this helps.

Typically, fillers do a nice job of recontouring the face. Cheekbones can be enhanced which will create a more hollowed appearance. I would be cautious about removing fat from your cheeks since loss of fat from the face contributes to the aging process when you are older. Please consult a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon experienced in facial aesthetics. Best wishes.

Cheek volume and contour can be improved with well-placed fillers (Voluma, Radiesse, Bellafill) and Sculptra. Implants or fat are alternatives. Buccal fat removal and liposuction can slim the face. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Dear NDancer25,it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, buccal fat removal might give you slimmer face. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

I think what you are looking for is improved cheekbone definition which can be achieved using a dermal filler such as Restylane Lyft. This could be combined with Botox/Dysport into the masseters to slim the lower face as needed if you are a good candidate for this treatment. 

Kybella is not actually approved for the cheek area, though I suspect some injectors may try to use it there. Buccal fat pad excision can provide some hollowing in this area. It may need to be combined with some judicious filler use in the upper cheeks to help give that more sculpted look.

Thank you for your photo. Lipo and Kybella are used to remove fat from an area. They are not recommended for the cheek area due to the important nerve and blood vessels in the area and the high risk of contour abnormalities. Fillers can help build your jaw and cheek bones to give you the illusion that your cheeks are more hollow. Buccal fat pad removal can surgically remove the fatty layer of the cheeks through an incision in the mouth. It is best to have an in-office examination to determine what treatment plan is the most appropriate to achieve the look you are going for. Hope this helps!Johnson C. Lee, MD Plastic Surgery@Drjohnsonlee

Thank you for the opportunity to assist you with some possible solutions to your concerns.  I have been injecting for the past 15 years.  While I agree that the most important and first step for you would be a consultation, I would like to contribute that Kybella is not FDA cleared for treatment of buccal fat.  The photos that you provided are somewhat limiting in that when I do an in-person consultation I evaluate your concerns from several directions.  In other words, your evaluation is from a front, side, oblique, and tilted view of your face.  This gives us a much clearer view of your personal profile.  During the consultation, I listen to your concerns and together we discuss the possible approaches to these concerns. From the limited photo, the model has very high cheek bones and a long, triangular face.  In your photo, you do have slight lower and middle face heaviness.  While a plastic surgeon may be able to help you, it may be that you would achieve best results from building up your cheeks and mid face a bit with fillers.  The important thing is that you seek consultation from an experienced injector and someone who knows facial anatomy.  Fillers would be the least aggressive approach to a possible solution.  

I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck on your journey. 

Hi NDdancer25, Buccal fat reduction could help you achieve the look you want. What is worrisome is that you are relatively young and as you get older, there will be fat and collagen loss. This will require you to add more fillers than what you would have needed. Regardless, Kybella is not a good option for this area. It has not been FDA cleared for use for cheeks. The swelling and pain are considerable.All the best,Justin Harper, M.D.