Cheek and midface filler uses dermal filler to help restore volume the face loses with age. At Sensational Skin in Scottsdale, the first step is not choosing a product: it is an evaluation of the whole face by S. Kent Brown, M.D., who performs filler treatments at the practice. Whether filler belongs in the cheeks or midface, and how it fits with the rest of the face, is decided at a consultation.
What is cheek and midface filler?
Cheek and midface filler is the placement of a dermal filler beneath the skin of the cheek and midface area to help restore lost volume. Dermal fillers are gels, and hyaluronic acid fillers are one common type. Cheek and midface volume is one of the areas a personalized filler plan at Sensational Skin may address.
The midface is the central part of the face, roughly the area between the lower eyelids and the corners of the mouth, including the cheeks. Because it sits in the middle, changes there can be noticed across the face as a whole.
Why the cheeks and midface change with age
Over time, the face loses elastin, fat and collagen. That loss of volume can change facial contours. The cheeks may look flatter than they once did, and folds around the mouth may look deeper.
This is a gradual, normal part of aging, and it looks different from one person to the next. Some people notice it first in the cheeks. Others notice it first around the mouth or in the lower face. That variety is one reason the practice does not start with a fixed treatment for a fixed area.
Volume is just one part of the picture. The texture, tone and condition of the skin also change, and in a sunny place like Scottsdale, years of sun exposure can affect the skin's surface as well. A good evaluation looks at both volume and skin quality.
How volume loss is evaluated at a consultation
Dr. Brown's approach is to evaluate the entire face rather than treat one isolated line or area, with a focus on facial balance. For someone asking about cheek filler, that means looking at the cheeks in the context of everything around them.
Questions that may come up during the evaluation include:
- Where volume loss is showing across the face, not only in the cheeks
- How the cheeks and midface relate to the areas below them, such as the smile lines and facial folds
- How the cheeks relate to the lips, chin and lower face
- The condition of the skin itself, and whether skin quality should be addressed first
- Your own goals, and what you would like to change and keep
The answers shape the plan. Sometimes the conversation that starts with the cheeks ends up including other areas, and sometimes it leads to a skin quality treatment before any filler is considered.
Dr. Brown has been Medical Director of Sensational Skin since 1998 and has more than 25 years of cosmetic injection experience. He is an anesthesiologist with more than 40 years of surgical experience, and over his career he has worked alongside surgeons in many specialties. That background informs his understanding of facial anatomy. Susan Brown, his clinical assistant, also conducts consultations and builds treatment plans together with Dr. Brown.
Which fillers does Sensational Skin offer?
Sensational Skin offers two hyaluronic acid fillers from Obagi Medical: Obagi Saypha ChIQ and Obagi Saypha MagIQ. The practice also offers other dermal fillers and collagen stimulators, including Juvederm Volux, Voluma XC, Volift, Vollure, Volbella, Volite, Restylane, Restylane Lift, Radiesse and Sculptra.
Each product has its own characteristics. The specific use for each one is discussed at the consultation rather than decided in advance, and a plan may use more than one product in different areas. You can see the full list on the facial fillers and injectables page, and our article on facial balancing with dermal fillers explains the whole-face approach in more detail.
Skin quality first, then volume
The practice's stated philosophy for filler is to improve skin quality first, then place filler. Filler is intended to address volume, which is one part of facial aging. The surface of the skin is another part, and it is planned separately.
Depending on the person, improving skin quality may involve medical-grade skin care such as ZO Skin Health, a chemical peel or a laser treatment. Once the skin is in better condition, filler can be added where volume is part of the goal. Not every patient needs every step, and the order is worked out at the consultation.
Comfort and health questions
Nerve-block options are available for comfort during injections at Sensational Skin, and they can be discussed at the consultation.
Filler is a medical treatment, so your health history belongs in the conversation. If you have a skin condition, an active concern in the area you want treated, or any question about your health and injections, talk with a qualified medical provider before going ahead. This article is general education and is not medical advice for your situation.
Seeing filler results
The practice keeps a before and after gallery for injectables. Results vary from person to person, and photos of other patients are not a prediction of your own outcome. The consultation is the place to talk through your goals and what a realistic plan looks like for your face.
Book a cheek filler consultation in Scottsdale
Sensational Skin is in Scottsdale, convenient to patients from North Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Arcadia. The practice offers a complimentary consultation, where Dr. Brown evaluates the whole face and talks through whether cheek and midface filler, a skin quality treatment or a combination fits your goals.
The practice is at 11111 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 115, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Call or text (480) 596-9111 to schedule, or request a consultation online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who performs cheek filler at Sensational Skin?
S. Kent Brown, M.D., Medical Director since 1998, performs filler treatments at the practice. He has more than 25 years of cosmetic injection experience.
How is cheek and midface volume loss evaluated?
Dr. Brown evaluates the entire face rather than one isolated line or area, with a focus on facial balance. The plan is decided at a consultation.
Does skin quality matter before filler?
Yes. The practice's stated philosophy is to improve skin quality first, with ZO skin care, laser or peels when needed, and then place filler.
Book a consultation. Every plan starts with a consultation at our Scottsdale office, 11111 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 115. Call or text (480) 596-9111, or request a consultation online.
Individual results vary. This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have symptoms or a medical condition, please see a qualified medical provider.