About 1 in 5,000 people have a rare condition that makes their cheeks look sunken. This is called vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS). It’s a genetic disorder that can make people look old before their time.
Many things can cause cheeks to look hollow. These include aging, genetics, losing weight, and some health issues. It’s important to know why this happens and what can be done to fix it.
There are ways to make your cheeks look fuller without surgery. Things like dermal fillers and taking good care of your skin can help. These methods can make you look younger and more beautiful.
If you want a longer-lasting fix, surgery might be an option. Facial fat transfer is a surgery that can make your cheeks look fuller. It’s a way to restore the natural look of your face.
Combining different treatments can work even better. Changing your lifestyle and using skincare products can help too. Talking to a doctor is key to finding the best treatment for you.
Key Takeaways
- Hollowing cheeks can be caused by natural aging, genetics, weight loss, and certain medical conditions.
- Non-surgical solutions like dermal fillers and skincare routines can help address sunken cheeks.
- Surgical options, such as facial fat transfer, offer a more permanent solution for restoring facial volume.
- Combination treatments, including lifestyle changes, can enhance the effectiveness of cheek rejuvenation procedures.
- Consulting with a qualified medical professional is essential to determine the most suitable treatment plan for individual needs.
What Are Hollowing Cheeks?
Hollowing cheeks mean there’s less tissue or fat between the cheekbone and jawbone. This makes the cheek area look indented. It gives the face a thin and old look. Both women and men can get hollow cheeks, mainly because of aging and losing facial fat.
Definition and Appearance
Hollowing cheeks show as a dip in the cheek area. As we get older, our cheeks lose fat, showing the bone more. This makes the face look older, thinner, and less lively.
The loss of fat makes the zygoma and mandible stand out more. This gives a more defined bone look.
“Hollowing cheeks can be a significant concern for individuals, as it can make the face appear aged, tired, and unhealthy. Addressing this issue can help restore a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance.”
Genetics, fast weight loss, and some health issues can also cause hollowing cheeks. Knowing why and how to fix it is important for those who want to improve their look.
| Causes of Hollowing Cheeks | Potential Solutions |
|---|---|
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Causes of Hollowing Cheeks
Many things can make cheeks look hollow. These include getting older, your genes, your bone shape, losing weight, and some health issues.
Natural Aging Process
As we get older, our skin loses its bounce and plumpness. This happens because we lose collagen and fat under the skin. This makes our cheeks look sunken.
Genetics and Bone Structure
Some people are born with cheekbones that stick out more. They might also have a thinner face. This is because of their genes and bone shape.
Weight Loss and Medical Conditions
Losing a lot of weight or having certain health issues can make cheeks look hollow. Conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, lipoatrophy, eating disorders, and tuberculosis can cause this.
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Aging | Loss of collagen and subcutaneous fat leads to skin sagging and a hollowed cheek appearance. |
| Genetics | Inherent bone structure and fat distribution can result in naturally sunken cheeks. |
| Weight Loss | Significant weight loss can reduce facial fat, contributing to a hollow-cheeked look. |
| Medical Conditions | Illnesses like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, lipoatrophy, tuberculosis, and eating disorders can lead to sunken cheeks. |
“Sunken cheeks can be a result of various factors beyond aging, including illness such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, lipoatrophy, tuberculosis, and eating disorders.”
Symptoms of Hollowing Cheeks
The main signs of hollowing cheeks are sunken or flat cheeks. They look gaunt and old. Shadows or hollows show under the eyes. The skin looks stretched or thin. There’s a loss of volume in the cheeks, and wrinkles or creases form.
These signs mean there’s less fat in the cheeks. This fat used to make the cheeks full and defined.
Sunken cheeks often happen as we get older. This is because our body loses fat in the face over time. Things like less tissue between the jaw and cheekbones, skin drooping, muscle shrinkage, sun damage, and genes play a part.
Some illnesses like eating disorders, vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and lipoatrophy can also cause sunken cheeks.
Stress can make the mid-face lose fat, making the face look gaunter. But, there are ways to fix this. Both non-surgical and surgical treatments can help.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Sunken or Flat Cheeks | A noticeable loss of volume and definition in the cheek area, resulting in a flat or sunken appearance. |
| Gaunt Facial Appearance | The overall facial features appear more angular and aged due to the lack of facial fat and volume. |
| Shadows Under the Eyes | The loss of fat and volume in the cheek area can create shadows or hollows under the eyes, making them appear more pronounced. |
| Thin or Stretched Skin | The skin may appear thinner and more stretched as a result of the underlying volume loss, leading to a aged appearance. |
| Cheek Wrinkles | The lack of facial fat can cause the skin to become more wrinkled and creased in the cheek area. |
These signs show we need to do something to make the face look younger and fuller. Things like dermal fillers and facial massage can help. Or, surgery like facial fat transfer can also fix this problem.
Non-Surgical Solutions for Hollowing Cheeks
For those looking for non-surgical ways to fix hollow cheeks, dermal fillers and a good skincare routine with facial massage work well. Dermal fillers, like those with hyaluronic acid (in Juvederm and Restylane), can be put into the cheek to make it fuller and lift the skin. Also, a hydrating skincare routine and regular facial massage can boost collagen production and make sunken cheeks look better.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are a top choice for fixing hollow cheeks without surgery. These treatments, often with hyaluronic acid, quickly add volume and lift to the cheeks, giving a younger look. The effects of fillers start right away and can last 9 to 18 months. This makes them a great, easy option for a quick fix.
Skincare Routine and Facial Massage
Along with fillers, a good skincare routine and facial massage can help with hollow cheeks. Using hydrating and collagen-boosting products, like serums and creams, can make the skin fuller and younger. Facial massage also helps blood flow and makes more collagen, which can make the cheeks look fuller and more youthful.
“Incorporating a combination of dermal fillers and a dedicated skincare routine with facial massage can provide a comprehensive non-surgical approach to addressing hollowing cheeks.”
These non-surgical methods can make your face look more refreshed and shaped without surgery. Whether it’s the quick results from fillers or the ongoing benefits of skincare and massage, there are ways to fix hollow cheeks without surgery.
Surgical Solutions for Hollowing Cheeks
Facial Fat Transfer
Surgical options like facial fat transfer (also known as fat grafting or lipofilling) can help with hollow cheeks. This method takes fat from another body part, like the stomach or thighs, through liposuction. Then, it injects the fat into the cheeks to add volume and shape. Facial fat transfer gives natural-looking results that last a long time. It’s often used with other treatments for a full refresh.
A recent report on plastic surgery shows more people want buccal fat removal. This is because of social media and more video calls at home during the pandemic. Now, young people in their 20s and 30s are getting this surgery, especially if they have a lot of fat in their cheeks.
But, doctors warn about the risks of fat removal or grafting on the face. It can make you look older by making your cheeks hollow. They suggest using dermal fillers or cheek augmentation instead. These methods add volume and make you look younger without changing your look too much.
About 60% of the fat in fat injection stays for a long time. This makes it a good choice to fill in lost cheek volume. Cheeklift procedures are best for people with very flat cheeks or deep lines. Using fillers or fat injections with a cheeklift can make your cheeks fuller and your face look more youthful.
Hollowing Cheeks and Weight Loss
Significant weight loss can make your cheeks look hollow. This happens due to dieting, medical issues, or some medicines. Conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, lipoatrophy (often linked to HIV), and anorexia and bulimia can cause weight loss. Crohn’s disease and hyperthyroidism can also lead to a sunken look.
Addressing the cause of weight loss is key to fixing hollow cheeks. Healthy cheeks make you look younger. But, getting older is the main reason for sunken cheeks. Smoking, extreme exercise, and not sleeping well can also make your cheeks look sunken.
Illnesses like anorexia, tuberculosis, vascular EDS, and lipoatrophy can cause fat loss in the face. This leads to hollow cheeks.
- Harsh weather can make your cheeks look sunken by affecting skin elasticity.
- Dehydration and not eating well can cause fat loss, including in the face.
- Genetics play a big role in how fat is spread in our bodies, including our faces.
- Getting older and less collagen can make skin sag.
- Extreme dieting can harm our health and change how we look.
Crash diets or extreme weight loss can quickly deplete subcutaneous fat. A slow and steady weight loss plan is best to avoid losing too much fat and skin sagging.
Doing facial exercises can help with muscle tone and circulation. This might help with skin sagging by keeping muscle support. But, be careful as these exercises can also burn fat, making cheeks look even more hollow.
Combination Treatments for Optimal Results
To get the best results for hollow cheeks, try different ways. This includes surgery or non-surgery, skincare, staying hydrated, exercise, and facial massage. These can make your cheeks look younger and more shaped.
Dermal fillers are a big part of this plan. They are injected to add volume and smooth out wrinkles. At The Cosmetic Skin Clinic, they use hyaluronic acid fillers. These fillers break down in 9 to 18 months, so you’ll need more treatments to keep looking good.
Good skincare is also key. Use products with vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid. These help make your skin elastic and bright, which makes your face look better.
Exercise that works your face and neck muscles helps make more collagen. This is good for young, healthy skin. Facial massages can also help by improving blood flow and making your skin look tighter.
Using a mix of treatments can really help with hollow cheeks. This way, you get a natural look that makes you feel better about yourself.
“Combination treatments that address both the underlying structural issues and the skin’s health can lead to the most transformative and long-lasting results in addressing hollowing cheeks.”
Conclusion
Hollow or sunken cheeks can make you look older and thinner. It’s important to know why this happens, like aging or health issues. Then, you can pick the right way to fix it.
There are many ways to fill in the cheeks, like fillers and skincare. Or, you could try surgery like a facial fat transfer. These can make your cheeks look fuller and more even.
For the best results, mixing different treatments might work best. This depends on what you need and want. Fixing the real reasons behind sunken cheeks can make you look younger and more balanced.
Keeping your skin healthy is also key. Eating well, drinking water, and protecting your skin from the sun helps. This keeps your face looking good, along with treatments.
There are many ways to fix sunken cheeks in the beauty world. You can choose from simple treatments or bigger surgeries. The aim is to make your cheeks look natural and full again. This makes your whole face look better and younger.
