One of the original innovators of Non-Surgical Cheek Enhancement, Dr. Rivkin and his staff rejuvenate and refresh with precision filler injections. Non surgical Cheek Augmentation is a great way to attain fuller, more youthful-looking cheeks without the pain of surgical recovery. The treatment can usually be accomplished in under an hour.
WHAT IS NON-SURGICAL
CHEEK AUGMENTATION?
Non-Surgical Cheek Augmentation is Dr. Rivkin’s signature injectable filler treatment for the cheek volume loss that is so common with aging. Over the last 15 years, Dr. Rivkin has refined and perfected the technique to optimize precision, making sure that results are always transformative and completely natural. He has taught his technique to the providers at RIVKIN Aesthetics so that all of our patients will get the same incredible results, no matter who they see.
By drawing on a wide variety of dermal fillers, Dr. Rivkin is able to give patients fuller, more youthful looking cheeks. Patients leave feeling rejuvenated and renewed after Non-Surgical Cheek Augmentation.
WHY WOULD I GET A NON-SURGICAL
CHEEK AUGMENTATION?
One of the first signs of aging in the face is a loss of volume at the front or “apple” of the cheek and the cheekbones. Depending on genetics, this volume loss can start to become noticeable in a patient’s late 20s, but is usually not significant until the mid 30s. Lack of volume in the cheeks makes one look older and more tired.
The cheeks provide major support to the tissues of the face. When their structure weakens due to volume loss, the facial tissues start to sag and descend. Because people tend to evaluate others by looking into their eyes, the areas of the face just underneath the eyes communicate a lot to the observer.
Shadows falling into hollows caused by volume loss symbolize fatigue and age. A flat cheek also takes the focal point of the face away from the eyes and down to the mouth. This produces the appearance of a droopy face. Since signs of aging are more prevalent around the mouth, we want the face to be well balanced, with the focal point at the eyes.
TRADITIONAL SURGICAL CHEEK AUGMENTATION
AND ITS LIMITATIONS
Replacing the volume of the cheeks has the effect of “lifting” the face. Conventionally, through a cut made inside the mouth, into the cheek, surgeons place a solid silicone implant. This procedure can work well, but is somewhat invasive and carries several days of downtime and discomfort.
Surgical cheek implants are also not very precise, since there is a limit to how much the surgeon can make a silicone block fit to the contours of your face. Solid implants also run the risk of getting infected, in which case they have to be removed and the resulting cosmetic defect can be cosmetically very undesireable.
Alternatively, fat can be extracted from a different area of the body and inserted into the cheek as an injected fat graft. This is also a technique that can yield great results if done by the right doctor for the right patient.
The issue with fat injections is that they remain an inconsistent method of augmentation. The longevity of the fat graft’s impact is contingent on the patient, the proficiency of the physician, and the targeted injection site. The other issue is that it is, like silicone implants, an invasive and expensive procedure.
WHAT FILLER DO WE USE FOR
NON-SURGICAL CHEEK ENHANCEMENT?
Dr. Rivkin’s cheek enhancements are non-surgical, non-invasive, and safe. Rather than using an implant or fat from some other part of your body, Dr. Rivkin uses injectable fillers at his clinic – either Voluma, Lyft or Radiesse or, for select patients who request a permanent effect, Bellafill.
Voluma is a long lasting hyaluronic acid based filler that provides excellent lift and a natural, smooth contour. The effects of Voluma last for up to one and a half years and, like all hyaluronic acid fillers, it is reversible or adjustable at any time.
The area injected feels soft and supple, never lumpy, and when the filler is dissolved by the body it goes away gradually and symmetrically. Bruising may occur after any injections, and some patients are more prone to getting bruises than the others. However, Dr. Rivkin and his team have perfected their technique to minimize bruising during Non-Surgical Cheek Augmentation.
Radiesse is a firm, calcium based, long lasting (9 to 12 months) injectable filler. We use Radiesse for patients with deeper cheek hollows because it lifts skin better than any other filler. It is injected in a very precise manner into the deepest tissues of the cheek.
Dr. Rivkin uses a very small needle and numbs the cheek with a powerful topical cream before he injects, so you do not feel a thing. The Radiesse becomes part of your skin as your own cells grow around the injection “scaffolding” and does not move from the area injected. Radiesse is also known to cause your body to increase production its own collagen in the areas of injection, increasing the duration of effect.
Lyft is another hyaluronic acid based filler that works well to enhance the cheeks. Lyft projects tissue smoothly and lasts for about 10 to 12 months. Like Voluma, it is reversible at any time with a simple enzyme injection.
Bellafill can be injected into the same place, but achieves it’s effect primarily through the stimulation of the patient’s own collagen in the precise area injected. The main component of Bellafill is tiny beads of methyl methacrylate, which is a safe surgical plastic in use for over 50 years.
Bellafill is a great option for patients who need a small to moderate amount of augmentation and were satisfied with the effect of the temporary procedure.
During your initial consultation for your cheek augmentation, Dr. Rivkin will evaluate your unique needs and desired end results, and explain the procedure in detail. You will have the opportunity to view before and after photos, so that you will know exactly what to expect from the treatment.
Dr. Rivkin’s patients know that they can get in touch with him at any time. He is always available for advice, questions and reassurance.
To learn more about Non-surgical Cheek Augmentation, schedule an initial consultation or contact us today!