SELFIE ALARM: THE FOCUS IS ON THE CHEEKS

The number of cheek corrections has doubled in the past year.

The cheeks and cheekbones are becoming more and more the focus of attention. The main reason for this is social media, such as Instagram and Facebook, which demand the perfect selfie. In order to optimize facial features, aesthetic dermatology and surgery can help. The goal here is: to create perfectly sculpted cheeks while still maintaining a natural look.

WANT MORE VOLUME.

Fillers can be used to fill flat cheeks or cheeks that have sunken due to the aging process. Highly concentrated hyaluronic acid fillers or fillers containing polycaprolactone (ellansé) – a longer-lasting substance that also degrades – are used for this purpose. Modern fillers are inserted using cannula technology or microfine needles.  Each patient is individual, so it takes a lot of experience to place the filler in the right area, at the right amount.

I WANT TIGHTER FACIAL FEATURES.

A much gentler and scar-free alternative to the conventional facelift, are thread lifts. Drooping cheek areas can be lifted with a thread lift, provided lost volume has been adequately replaced in advance. There are several types of thread lift, with threads of various lengths and strengths being used and applied.

Thread lift with PDO threads

Wrinkles that cannot be treated with hyaluronic acid or botulinum toxin can in many cases be smoothed with PDO threads. The dissolution process, which leads to small scarring in the tissue during degradation, is the same for all common threads. These maintain the lifting effect to a certain degree despite the dissolution of the thread. The insertion of PDO threads also stimulates the body’s own collagen production in a natural way. If we remain realistic, we must say that a result after a PDO thread lift disappears after a few months.

The 1-stitch thread lift

Unlike PDO threads, APTOS threads or Silhouette threads, the inserted threads are fixed in the depth of the tissue through a small incision, there is usually also a small skin removal. This type of lifting is particularly suitable for patients who also have some excess skin. The result of the 1-stitch thread lift lasts significantly longer, namely up to several years.

Thread lift with cones

In this procedure, an absorbable thread with tiny barbs is inserted under the skin along the cheek line by means of a needle and fixed in place. The doctor then tightens the affected area with the help of the thread. A more intense lifting effect is created that lasts up to 18 months. Risk of thread lifting: bruises and swelling may remain. The threads used here are e.g. Silhouette threads made of polylactic acid, or Aptos threads made of polycaprolactone.

I WANT STRONGER CONTOURS.

To improve the elasticity of the skin on the cheeks, the non-invasive Ultherapy® procedure is particularly suitable. This involves highly focused ultrasound that also reaches the lower layers of the skin and stimulates the formation of new collagen. Ultherapy® is an alternative for all patients who do not wish to undergo a surgical face-lift, but would like to have a lifting effect and have little excess skin. The tissue is strengthened from within by means of focused ultrasound, as the formation of its own collagen is stimulated.

Risk: Patients who are sensitive to pain feel the treatment more strongly, swelling may possibly occur.