Cheek Filling

What is Cheek Filling?

Cheek filling is a method used to deliver the desired form to face in the case of age-related volume loss in cheekbones and remedy congenital deformations or any losses caused by accidents or traumas. The doctor injects hyaluronic acid fillers, fat fillers or stem cell-based fat fillers to deliver the desired form and volume to cheekbone.

Which materials are used for filling?

Cheek filling can be performed in 3 ways: 1. Hyaluronic acid, a moisturizing agent in our body, is injected. 2. Fat removed from a patient's hips or abdominal region is injected to the face of that patient. 3. Fat removed a patient by liposuction is sent to a stem cell laboratory approved by Ministry of Health for replication of stem cells, and the adequate number of stem cells in conjunction with that patient's own fat are injected into the face.

Is it a painful application?

Before cheek filling with hyaluronic acid is performed, an anesthetic cream is applied to the patient to minimize the pain to be caused by introduction of the needle.

Cheek filling by fat injection requires liposuction.

What are the most common deformities seen on cheeks?

The most common deformities seen on cheeks are ageing-related volume losses.

Filling application is useful when:

Filling applications are used to remedy all volume losses in the body and address the effects of aging.

How is Cheek Filling performed?

If the cheek filling is performed with hyaluronic acid, an anesthetic cream is applied to the patient before the procedure; in about half an hour, the cream shows its effect and then the procedure is applied to the patient.

If the cheek filling is performed with fat fillers, prior to that, fat should be isolated from the patient by liposuction and the fat should be rendered injectable.

If the cheek filling is performed with stem cell-based fat fillers, fat removed from a patient by liposuction is sent to a stem cell laboratory approved by Ministry of Health for replication of stem cells, which are then injected.

Who should apply cheek filling?

If the cheek filling is performed using hyaluronic acid, it is performed by a Plastic Surgeon, or a Dermatologist or doctors specializing in Medical Aesthetic procedures.

If the cheek filling is performed by fat injection or stem cell-based fat injection, it can only be performed by a plastic surgeon.

Duration of application

The cheek filling performed using hyaluronic acid takes about 1 hour at most. An anesthetic cream is applied to the patient before the procedure; the cheek filling procedure takes about a total of 1 hour, including half an hour, which is the time for the anesthetic cream to show its effect, and a maximum period of half an hour for filling application by the doctor.

In cheek filling performed by fat injection, first, fat should be removed from the patient by liposuction method, which takes a minimum of 1 hr, and the operation takes about 2 hours, including the time spent for subsequent filling procedure by injection.

In cheek filling performed by stem-cell based fat injection, fat is removed from the patient by liposuction method. Fat removed is then sent to a stem cell laboratory approved by Ministry of Health. It takes 3-4 weeks for the cells to reach the desired number, then they are injected into the patient.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of filling procedure compared to conventional surgery?

A cheek filling procedure performed using hyaluronic acid is performed in a doctor's office. It does not require anesthesia. It is painless. The patient can resume normal daily activities immediately after the procedure.

If the cheek filling is performed by fat injection or stem cell-based fat injection, it can only be performed surgically because fat should be removed from the patient by liposuction.

How long does the effect of cheek filling last?

The effects of the cheek filling performed using hyaluronic acid last for 6 months- 1 year, of that performed by fat injection last for 2-3 years and of that performed by stem cell-based fat injection for about 5 years.

Side effects of cheek filling

Cheek filling has no side effect.

How is the healing process of cheek filling?

The cheek filling performed using hyaluronic acid does not require recovery period. In rare cases, it may cause mild edema or bruising, which can be resolved with cold compression and creams applied externally.

The recovery process may take 1-2 weeks in fat injection or stem cell-based filling applications.

Who cannot have cheekbone filling?

Patients for whom filling application is not indicated by physicians cannot have this procedure.

Do edema and swelling occur after cheek filling?

A cheek filling procedure performed using hyaluronic acid may cause mild swelling and bruising due to needle insertion, which can be easily resolved with cold application and creams applied externally.

Filling procedure fat injection and stem-cell based fat injection

Is cheekbone filling a safe procedure?

Cheek filling is a safe procedure as long as it is performed by specialists.

Is Cheek Filling permanent?

The effects of the cheek filling performed using hyaluronic acid last for 6 months - 1 year. The effects of the cheek filling performed by fat injection last for 2-3 years and of that performed by stem cell-based fat injection for about 5 years.