Cheek Augmentation using Dermal Fillers

Restylane SubQ is the brand name for an injectable form of hyaluronic acid specially formulated for facial contouring. Hyaluronic Acid is a sugar that is found in the connective tissue of our skin and along with collagen forms the building blocks of healthy tissues. Restylane is the most popular facial filler in the world today and has bee used in over 3 million treatments. It has a proven safety record. The result from the treatment is immediate and will last about 9 to 12 months.

Is the Procedure Painful?
There is some discomfort but this is limited to the injection of the local anaesthetic. Before treatment, your cheeks will be marked in the standing position to get a good idea where is the best place for enhancement. The area is then treated with a local anaesthetic injection to make the actual treatment comfortable. Restylane SubQ is then injected into the cheek area to sculpt your midface for rejuvenation or enhancement.

What is the recovery time and when can I go back to work?
Due to the effects of the injection of local anaeasthetic it is be better to rest until the next day and return to work after 36 to 48 hours. The anaesthetic wears off about 6 hours after the procedure and you are advised to take some pain killers at about that time to prevent any discomfort. Please avoid using aspirin or non steroidal pain killers such as Brufen or Neurofen as these can cause more bruising. These medications are also best avoided for 1-2 weeks before the procedure in order to minimise bruising.

Due to the immediate swelling from the procedure the final result will not be seen for about 3-4 days. During that time if there is any asymmetry this is usually due to the recovery from the procedure which will look normal by 4 days or so. You will be asked to sleep on your back and not on our side for 3-4 days in order to prevent the position of the Restylane SubQ from moving before it finally settles. During that time please avoid touching or massaging the cheek as this can also move the product from the desired position.

What are the risks?
As with any sort of injection there can be some bruising and minor swelling although this is not severe and usually settles within 2-3 days. As Restylane is not derived from animals there is little chance of any allergic reaction which means no skin test is needed before treatment. Despite this very rarely there can be an allergic response in 1 in 2000 patients which may require treatment with anti inflammatory medication.