Cheek filler patients often rave about the results - plumper cheeks, finely contoured cheekbones, and lifted midface. Dermal fillers are effective at reversing the skin changes due to aging when performed by skilled medical professionals. However, in the hands of inexperienced cosmetic providers, they can cause the opposite.
This article lists the potential unwanted effects of too much cheek filler and explains how to correct them.
Can You Get Too Much Cheek Filler?
Too much cheek filler is one of the potential risks of the treatment. This unwanted result typically occurs when an unqualified practitioner lacking practice and an eye for balance, symmetry, and natural beauty performs the procedure.
Experienced dermal filler providers have deep knowledge of facial anatomy and understand that the right amount of filler depends on the patient’s facial structure and desired goals. Some patients need only one syringe (1 ml) per cheek, while others require three (3 ml).
It is the provider’s job to evaluate the patient and choose the amount that will subtly enhance their appearance without the filler being apparent to other people. It is also their responsibility to explain to patients that a lot of filler does not equal a more lifted and youthful appearance. If the right filler amount is surpassed, the patient can experience undesired effects.
Note: While most brands of dermal fillers work for most injection areas, some are specially formulated for the cheek area and provide optimal results when used correctly. Find out what is the best filler for cheeks.
What Happens If You Get Too Much Cheek Filler
The effects of too much cheek filler range from unnatural or unattractive to potentially harmful.
Overfilled Features
As we age, the amount of collagen and elastin produced in the skin decreases, the fat pads that support the skin and give it a youthful look thin and descend, and facial bones that support the skin, muscles, and fat pads become smaller. Cheek fillers are used to restore this lost volume, reversing the effects of aging. However, when too much filler is injected into the midface, it can cause the area to appear overfilled, puffy, and aged.
Note: Dermal fillers are not the only way to achieve a youthful appearance. Learn how to rejuvenate the skin with quality cosmetic products and treatments.
Filler Fatigue
Filler fatigue is a newer term that refers to the repeated use of dermal fillers over an extended period and typically affects patients in their 40s and 50s. A patient may notice that their cheek fillers are no longer providing the rejuvenating effect they want and ask for more filler with each appointment.
As we age, the skin loses its elasticity and the structure provided by bone and muscle is no longer sufficient. Filler placed in the correct anatomical location in small amounts can mimic bone and fat, but with overuse, it can distort a patient’s features. Eventually, with years of filler use, it will need to be dissolved and replaced. Also, with age comes skin laxity, and eventually more invasive treatments to tighten and remove excess skin will be required.
Filler Migration
Too much filler injected in the cheeks and the midface can migrate to surrounding tissue, causing asymmetries, bumps, and a distorted look.
Note: A common side effect of dermal filler treatment that could potentially be emphasized with excessive filler use is bruising. Find out what causes bruising after cheek fillers and how to prevent it.
Impaired Lymphatic Drainage
Overfilling the under-eye and cheek area can obstruct the lymphatic drainage channels, causing the accumulation of fluids, excessive bloating, swelling, and inflammation. The buildup of toxins and waste can even cause an infection, though the risk is small.
Note: Swelling is a common side effect of dermal fillers, especially with lip injectables. Here’s a detailed list of things to do to reduce swelling after lip fillers.
Signs of Having Too Much Cheek Filler
Too much cheek filler can lead to the following unattractive effects.
Pillow Face
Excess cheek fillers can produce overly round and puffy cheeks. They erase the natural junction between the cheeks and the lower eyelids and make the midface look wider than the eyes. This gives the face an excessively swollen and unnatural look.
Sunset Eyes
When too much volume is added to the cheeks and the midface area, it presses up against the lower eyelids and makes the eyes look smaller and squinted. Some cosmetic professionals call this effect “sunset eyes” because it resembles the setting sun on the horizon.
Chipmunk Cheeks
Expertly done cheek fillers restore youthful plumpness and contour the patient’s cheeks to give them a more appealing shape. Overfilling the midface area can result in the opposite, creating protruding cheekbones and an aged expression.
Bumps and Lumps
When cheek fillers migrate to other areas, they can create uneven features like bumps and lumps in the skin. Aside from being unattractive, they can also cause discomfort.
What to Do If You Have Too Much Cheek Filler?
If you recognize the symptoms of too much cheek filler, contact your medical provider to try to reverse the effects of the treatment. They can offer several solutions:
- Inject more filler to surrounding areas to add balance and proportion to facial features.
- Dissolve the filler with the enzyme hyaluronidase. This solution is possible if the cheek filler is based on hyaluronic acid, such as Juvéderm and Restylane.
- Wait until the filler naturally dissolves, which typically occurs six to 18 months after the treatment.
Conclusion
Dermal fillers provide the best aesthetic results when they are used for small, corrective changes. Qualified medical providers with extensive experience using cheek fillers go by this rule. Proper dermal filler aftercare also plays a vital role.
To maintain a youthful appearance without overusing fillers, consider other non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatments, such as microneedling, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing.
For safe and impressive dermal fillers in Phoenix, contact our cosmetic professionals at Vibrant Skin Bar!
