How to permanently fill sunken cheeks? (Photos)

Question

I am 33 with no cheeks. I have cheekbones and a prominent jawline but I’m talking about actual cheek fat. I have had hallows since I was 14 years old and now that I’m older it just looks so much worse. I have always been thin but I don’t gain weight in the upper half of my body unfortunately. I have a BMI of 20-21. I don’t want fillers because I would need at least 10mL per cheek and that would be like $20000 per year. I want a long term solution to this problem.

David M. Kowalczyk, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Hi! Hollows can be a difficult problem to treat. Since the bone structure is good, an option instead of fillers would be fat transfer. Fat transfer involves harvesting fat from around the abdomen, inner and outer thighs, and flanks if needed. The fat is processed and can be injected similar to filler. The nice part is that it's your own material. The longevity is 5-10 years on average. The process can often be done in clinic and is not terribly painful. The cheeks do need to be overinflated, because 30-50% of the transferred fat may not survive. Final results refine over 1-3 months. In thin patients, I do recommended adding some healthy weight, if possible, to allow for a better harvest. Consulting with a facial plastic surgeon to hear more details would be a great first step. Good luck!

How to permanently fill sunken cheeks? (Photos)

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How to permanently fill sunken cheeks? (Photos)

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