What is this indentation along my left cheekbone. Is filler a good idea? (photo)

Question

I noticed this indentation along my left cheekbone almost a year ago. Since then, it has been getting worse. During the night, I favor sleeping on the left side of my face, but there's nothing my face lays on during my sleep that would cause this indentation. What could be causing it? Would filler fill in this indentation making my left cheekbone area look normal? If so, what kind of filler would work best for this?

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Hello,

Indentations along the cheekbone can be caused by various factors, including natural aging, weight loss, volume loss in the facial tissues, or even trauma to the area. Given that you noticed this indentation nearly a year ago and it has progressively worsened, it’s important to consider these potential causes and possibly consult with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon for a thorough evaluation.

Filler can indeed be an effective solution for correcting indentations and restoring volume to the cheek area. Hyaluronic acid-based fillers, such as Juvederm Voluma or Restylane Lyft, are commonly used for this purpose. These fillers are designed to add volume and can provide a natural-looking enhancement to the cheekbones.

However, it's crucial to have an in-person consultation with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. They can assess the specific characteristics of the indentation and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

If the area appears to disappear when you stretch the skin around it, depending on your examination, injectable fillers may be considered for filling this indentation for a less noticeable appearance. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

If you know of no reason, such as pressure when sleeping that would cause this indentation it is best to first have it evaluated by your dermatologist.  If it is related to skin laxity and volume loss then you can consider treatments.  Fillers can help to soften the appearance of deeper lines.  You can also explore treatments such as Morpheus8 which uses RF technology combined with microneedling to improve overall skin tone and texture.  We always recommend using medical grade skin care products like Transform MD and wearing sunscreen every day.

Stefan Weiss, MD · Answer

If you are having a skin depression and there is no physical cause that is forcing pressure on the area you should see a dermatologist and have it evaluated further to confirm there is not an underlying skin condition.

What is this indentation along my left cheekbone. Is filler a good idea? (photo)

Answers (4)