Cheek Deflation and Descent
A youthful face can be characterised by a gentle convexity of the upper cheek area. Unfortunately, no one can naturally skip the age-related facial change and have to witness the gradual deflation and descent of their cheeks. However, there are aesthetic treatments that can help restore the lost volume of our cheeks.
What is apple cheek
Apple cheek is the soft tissue and fat located roughly at the cheek region between the lower eyelid (2cm below) and the nose tip, it bulges and appears larger when we smile or make facial expression. It was named apple cheek because of its apple lookalike appearance.
A full and plump cheek will give a convexity of the midface which is one of the key characteristics of a youthful face.
Faces with full apple cheeks are mostly interpreted by others as a sign of happiness, energy, and friendliness, therefore apple cheek is also referred to as a “happy cheek”. In contrast, faces with deflated cheeks give the impression of aging and tiredness. In the natural aging process, the deflated cheek is the most prone aging problem after wrinkles around the eye area.
Causes
Inborn factors: People with sunken cheekbones do not have sufficient facial support. They usually have wide and flat cheekbones, protruded upper jaw and significant sign of tear trough and nasolabial folds. This problem can be inborn or developed during the bone development stage.
Age-related factor: Our apple cheeks are at their fullness and plumped at younger age. However, the cheek fullness is lost gradually as part of the aging process. The loss of collagen, fat and soft tissue leads to the cheek region becoming sagging and sunken, accentuating the appearance of tiredness, tear trough and aging.
Symptoms
The signs of aging at the cheek: deflated and descended
People with descended and deflated cheeks look tired and sallow, their nasolabial folds are usually more prominent. Also, aegyo-sal, the cute under-eye skin, is no longer cute as it droops and becomes an eye bag.
Affected people
People with high cheekbones; people with deficient bone development; people with bite problems; people who have flat and depressed midface.
Treatment
If it is only a mild cheek deflation or small apple cheek, Ai Beauty recommends replenishing the lost volume of the cheek with Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler as it can maintain a natural and youthful look in a scar-less way. On the other hand, if it is about the sagging problem of the full apple cheek, Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler is not recommended as it may overly replenish the cheek, leading to a high cheekbone appearance and formation of nasolabial folds. Instead, thread lift is more appropriate in order to reposition the sagging soft tissue to a higher and more favorable position.
A. Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers at the Apple Cheek
What is it?
Hyaluronic acid (HA), also known as hyaluronate, is naturally found in tissues and cells. In aesthetic treatment, hyaluronic acid can act as a filler and is injected into the dermis layer to fill up the folds/depressions or plump certain areas such as lips, cheeks, nose and chin. The injected hyaluronic acid will smooth and fill lines and wrinkles, and add volume to the face naturally. As hyaluronic acid can be naturally metabolised and will not remain in the body, there are no side effects of injecting HA. Also, having repeated courses of HA injection is safe and effective for long term results.
How does it work?
Restoring the depressed cheek by injecting medium molecular weight hyaluronic acid at the region of depression. Hyaluronic acid will instantly replenish the facial volume at the cheek region, reshaping the flat, aged face into a full, youthful look.
Procedure:
1. Face-to-face consultation: Confirmation of a detailed plan of injection areas and dosage after fully understanding the client’s conditions and desired results.
2. Pre-treatment preparation: Clean and disinfect the injection areas. Confirm the injection solution has not been opened.
3. Injection:Injecting the solution at the apple cheek. Massage the injection areas while injecting in order to reshape the filler into a favorable shape.
4. Post-treatment care.
Duration: 30-45 mins
Who is it for?
√ People who have deflated cheeks and deepened nasolabial folds;
√ People who have deflated cheeks caused by high cheekbones;
√ People who have signs of facial skin sagging or deteriorating cheek deflation caused by early aging or aging process;
√ People who want to restore the convexity/fullness of their cheeks;
B. Facial Thread Lift
What is thread lift:
Thread lift is currently the most effective face lifting technique. By embedding threads (that can be absorbed and degraded in the body) to the dermis, which lifts the face according to the direction and interval of the threads, it stimulates the skin, and further activates fibroblasts to produce collagen. Thread lift is suitable for people who want to restore skin’s lifting ability, reduce signs of sagging, and stimulate regrowth of collagen, perfect for improving sagging soft tissue.
How does it work:
We constantly lose our skin’s elasticity, collagen, and soft tissue when we get older as part of the aging process in adulthood. One of the aging signs is that the skin at the nasolabial region gets thinner while the soft tissue at the cheek descends and droops, which leads to a deeper nasolabial fold. Good news is this unfavorable feature can be eased by performing a facial thread lift and a mild dermal filler (optional and depending on the actual condition). PDO threads will be embedded in the deep fat layer at the cheek region to lift and reposition the fat and soft tissue to a more favorable position. The resulting lifted cheek will also reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds, creating a youthful and refreshed look. Also, the embedded threads stimulate production of collagen at the region, replenishing the facial volume at the cheek areas.
Procedure:
1. Face-to-face consultation: Develop a unique treatment plan based on the client’s condition and desired results.
2. Apply anesthetic: Apply anesthetic externally. Clean and disinfect the areas to be embedded with threads.
3. Pre-treatment: Fully understand the treatment plan. Check the quality and quantity of the threads.
4. During treatment: Proceed with the treatment plan to embed threads.
5. Post-treatment precautions.
Duration: 45-60 mins
Who is it for:
√ People who have deflated cheeks, especially those with severe drooping cheeks;
√ People who have signs of facial skin sagging or deteriorating cheek deflation caused by early aging or aging process;
√ People who are not satisfied with the result from filler treatment;
√ People who want to stimulate the production of collagen and restore the fullness of apple cheeks quickly and naturally;