Cheek Filler in Cornelius, NC

Why the midface can make you look tired

Most people don't walk in asking for cheeks. They say they look worn out, or that coworkers keep asking if they slept. When I look closely, the cause often sits higher than they expect. As the cheeks lose volume, the skin under the eyes and beside the nose loses some of its support, and the whole face reads as tired.

So I check the cheeks before I talk about anything else in the midface. Putting support back where it faded can soften the shadows below it. It doesn't work that way for everyone, and if your under-eyes need their own plan I'll tell you. That's on my under-eye filler page.

What cheek filler costs

Cheek filler is priced per syringe and quoted at your free consult. How much you need depends on how much volume is gone and whether one side needs more than the other. I won't guess at a number online. You get an exact quote before anything is booked, and the pricing page explains how filler is priced. Financing through Cherry and CareCredit is available for treatment plans.

Does it hurt?

You'll feel pressure and a few brief stings. Some fillers contain lidocaine, a numbing medicine, so it gets more comfortable as I work. Say the word and we pause.

How long does cheek filler last?

The FDA says how long a filler lasts depends on the filler material and where it's injected, and that absorbable fillers break down over time, so the treatment may need repeating. I don't promise a number of months. HA fillers are reversible, which is one reason I like starting with them.

Downtime

Plan for an appointment of under an hour. Your cheeks may look a bit full or puffy for a few days while swelling settles, and a bruise can show up. You can usually go back to work after. Anything with photos should be at least two weeks out.

Your first visit

Tell me what you see in the mirror first, and when it started bothering you. Then I study your midface at rest, while you talk, and while you smile. If the cheeks are the right place to start, I tell you how much I'd use and what it costs before I pick up a needle. If they aren't, I say so.

I place conservatively. Your included two-week follow-up is when we check the settled result and decide together whether anything needs refining.

Is cheek filler safe?

Before you book anywhere, read the FDA's page on dermal fillers. These are the reasons I'd ask you to wait or talk it through first:

• Under 22: the FDA approves dermal fillers for adults 22 and older.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding: the FDA says filler safety is unknown during both.
• Acne, a rash, hives, or infection where we'd inject.
• A bleeding disorder, severe allergies, past anaphylaxis, or a lidocaine allergy.
• A history of keloids or raised scars.

Common side effects on the FDA's list are bruising, redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, and itching, and many clear up within days to weeks. The serious one is filler entering a blood vessel. The FDA calls that chance low, but it can cause tissue damage, vision problems including blindness, or stroke. If you notice unusual pain, any change in your vision, or skin near the injection site turning white, gray, or blue, get care right away.

What I can't tell you from a webpage

I can't tell from a photo whether cheeks alone will fix the tired look. Sometimes the bigger factor is the jawline, the under-eyes, or frown lines. If more than one area is involved, facial balancing in Cornelius covers how I plan the whole face. Everything else is on the services page.