The cheekbones are one of the most striking parts of the face, but it is true that they are also one of those that most accuses the passage of time. Factors such as the law of gravity or weight gain can have a very negative effect on the facial oval, causing the cheeks to increase in size and even to sag a little.
Although there are very beautiful rounded faces, the truth is that, in most cases, it can be an aesthetic problem since a round face always conveys the feeling that the person is above their weight.
Bichat bags
The balls or bags of Bichat are fat deposits that are located just below the cheekbones. Its main function is to provide support and structure to the face. But, as we pointed out before, the passage of time and the appearance of flaccidity typical of the age or weight gain can make these bags or balls get bigger and give rise to a face with poorly defined angles.
A surgical intervention called bichectomy removes the excess volume of the bags and achieves a longer and narrower face. But for a few years now, there has been a tendency to bet on aesthetic treatments that are as less invasive as possible, so that surgery is only considered a last option in most cases.
Reduce cheeks without surgery
Every step through the operating room (no matter how mild the intervention) involves the use of general or local anesthesia and a recovery process that can be more or less long and that involves absence from work at least a few days. For this reason, most people prefer treatments that are not invasive and that allow them to return to their daily activities immediately.
Non-surgical treatments that seek to reduce the cheeks’ volume focus on dissolving fat accumulations so that the body eliminates them naturally. Thus the facial oval is more marked.
The most used technique in these cases is facial mesotherapy, which involves using vitamins, minerals, and hyaluronic acid to revitalize the skin and improve its appearance. When reducing the cheeks, different injectable products can be used. Some of the substances used are lipolytic; They are responsible for helping the body dissolve fat and turn it into water to be expelled through urine.
Another alternative that is also widely used is carboxytherapy. In this case, CO2 is infiltrated, which is responsible for liquefying the fat and allowing the body to expel it through the urine.
The use of one product or another depends, in many cases, on the personal conditions of the patient, but both treatments are equally effective.
How many mesotherapy sessions does it take to reduce the volume of the cheeks?
That depends on each patient, hence the specialists must constantly make a personalized follow-up of the person treated. You have to take into account that old fat (the one that has been on the body the longest) is always more difficult to remove since it is more embedded.
The normal thing is that 3 to 10 sessions are necessary, which can be carried out once or twice a week.
Recovery and care
Facial mesotherapy on the cheeks is indicated for people aged 25-30 years. The recovery phase lasts between 2 and 4 hours, being necessary 4 to 7 days for the effects to begin to be noticed.
Typically, this type of treatment does not have any side effects, but minor bruises may appear in the treated area, which will disappear in a few days.
As for care, it is recommended not to sunbathe until 24-48 hours after the mesotherapy session and apply a good sunscreen. It is also advisable to use moisturizers that contain vitamin K1.
These treatments have no contraindications or rebound effect. However, it must be taken into account that the cheeks often have a greater volume than normal due to not taking care of the diet. Hence, patients are always recommended to follow a healthy diet after undergoing mesotherapy in the cheek area to prevent the problem from reappearing.
However, in the event of an increase in the cheeks, the treatment can be repeated without any problem.
What effects are achieved?
Throughout the treatment, and once it is finished, the patient will notice that the fat on the cheeks gradually disappears and that the facial oval is more defined. The technique’s objective is to eliminate fat and retract the skin, which is why mesotherapy is usually combined with creams that have a toning and firming effect.
Since the fat is expelled through the urine, the patient must drink at least two liters of water a day throughout the treatment.
Combination of treatments
In some cases, it may be convenient to combine different treatments to achieve better results. It is quite common to combine the use of mesotherapy with other techniques such as radiofrequency or laser, significantly if the area is affected by flaccidity. An improvement in both volume and smoothness is desired.
These techniques achieve good results quickly and safely, avoiding patients having to go through the operating room without pain and complicated care. Hence their use is increasingly widespread. But yes, when it comes to undergoing dermo-aesthetic treatments, we must always try to put ourselves in the hands of duly qualified professionals who work in centers prepared to carry out this type of intervention.
