In our 50s, many of us notice our skin becoming thinner and our cheeks beginning to appear more sunken. There are two primary ways we can treat thin or sagging tissues in the cheeks, and these can be used separately or in combination: collagen-boosting skin treatments and dermal fillers.
Collagen-boosting skin treatments
Collagen and elastin are proteins that give skin firmness and allow it to rebound when stretched. Our skin produces fewer of these key proteins as we age, leading to skin laxity. Collagen-promoting skin treatments directly address this concern by creating a precise, controlled injury in the skin, which triggers your body’s healing response in order to increase collagen in the treated area. The natural healing response is what youthifies the tissue.
There are several options that we can help you navigate based on your skin’s needs and your personal preferences:
- CO2 laser skin resurfacing: Best for significant skin laxity or crepe-like skin texture, with the trade-off of several days of social downtime
- Morpheus8 RF microneedling: For moderate-to-significant skin laxity, with a few days of mild redness and swelling
- ResurFX Laser Skin Resurfacing: For mild-to-moderate skin laxity, with a couple days of mild redness
- SkinPen microneedling with PRP: For mild skin laxity with skin texture issues; little-to-no downtime
- IPL photofacial: For mild skin laxity with discoloration (i.e. age spots); minimal downtime
Dermal filler
To increase volume in the cheeks, dermal fillers are injected beneath the skin, with instant effect. Swelling and bruising may occur and typically subside a few days after treatment. Fillers are especially well-suited if you have lost some of the natural fat below the skin in addition to skin thickness, or if you have a narrow face.
For significant cheek volume loss, injections can be phased out over the course of several sessions in incremental doses. Some of our top choices for the cheek area include Sculptra, RHA fillers, Restylane, and Juvéderm. Sculptra and RHA provide volume for up to 2 years, while Restylane and Juvéderm last about 12-15 months. Individual results vary based on location of the injection and your body’s unique metabolism of the product.
If you are interested in personalized anti-aging advice, the highly qualified medical aesthetics team at Kalos Medical Spa is here to help. We have years of experience and work under the active supervision of Fort Worth Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily Kirby. Call or text 817-292-4200 to get started today!