| When one thinks of facial aging, they | | | | injections would be the simplest and the most |
| inevitably look to the jowl and neck | | | | versatile, but fat survival remains |
| area.While this lower facial area is of big | | | | unpredictable particularly in the older |
| concern to many and is the foundation of | | | | patient. I currently add PRP (platelet-rich |
| facial rejuvenation surgery (usually through | | | | plasma extract from the patient) to the |
| a facelift-type procedure), the underlooked | | | | injections and isolate the fat through a |
| area is the midface or cheek. As one ages, | | | | unique centrifguation method. Early results |
| the cheek area sinks in and sags for many as | | | | are encouraging but only one year results |
| it loses volume through fat atrophy. This is | | | | count when it comes to fat grafting. Cheek |
| partly why a heavy person with a full face | | | | implants are simple to do, remain stable in |
| may still look somewhat youthful as they age. | | | | volume over time, and come in a few styles to |
| (known as the Santa Claus effect) A gaunter, | | | | add volume to some different areas around the |
| thinner face, while interesting when one is | | | | cheek. Unfortunately, the more lateral cheek |
| young, can really show age when one is older. | | | | area, which is not over bone is not affected |
| | | | by the introduction of an implant. And there |
| Adding volume to the cheek has been recently | | | | is always the risk of infection or |
| shown to to help make a more youthful face. | | | | malpositioning. Injectable fillers are as |
| Based on cadaver work by Dr.Joel Pessa at the | | | | versatile as fat injections and don't involve |
| University of Texas at Southwestern, a deep | | | | an operating room experience. But their |
| fat compartment was identified in the cheek. | | | | effects are only temporary and, when adding |
| When this fat compartment was enhanced | | | | up the cost per volume injected, can |
| through implants or fillers, there was an | | | | potentially rival surgery fees if a large |
| immediate improvement in the hollowing of the | | | | cheek area needs to be treated. |
| face. Not only does restoring volume to this | | | | |
| cheek compartment make the cheek/midface area | | | | Not every aging face patient needs cheek |
| more youthful,it also helps improves the look | | | | enhancement nor is it the mainstay treatment |
| under the eyes as well as around the nose and | | | | of most aging faces. But it can be a good |
| upper lip area. | | | | complement to more conventional facelifting |
| | | | procedures and is a 'missing component' of |
| The jury is still out, however, on the best | | | | some patient's treatment plans whether they |
| method to do this cheek volume addition. Fat | | | | are young or old. |