Front cheek fillers in Suwon: what we look at when filling the side contour of the face, including the side cheeks and temples

If you are bothered because only your cheekbones stick out and the areas above and below them are hollow, making your face look gaunt, it is worth first checking which area is the most deeply hollowed. Front cheek, side cheek, and temple fillers are treatments that fill hollow areas along the side contour of the face with hyaluronic acid filler to connect the curves smoothly.

The three areas lie on a single line running from the temples past the cheekbones to the cheeks and jaw, so filling only one area can make the neighboring areas look relatively more hollow or more protruding. That is why, before injecting filler, we first look at whether the cheekbones look prominent because of the cheekbones themselves or because the surrounding areas are hollow. At our Suwon clinic, during consultation we look at the front view, the 45-degree view, and the profile in turn to decide where to fill, the type of filler, and the amount.

In this article, we go through why the side contour of the face can look uneven, what we look at in the front cheeks, side cheeks, and temples, the criteria for choosing filler and the treatment process, recovery care, and side effects.

Key points about front cheek fillers

• When the temples and the area below the cheeks become hollow, the cheekbones, which stay the same, look relatively more prominent, making the side contour look uneven.
• For the front cheeks we also look at the connection with the under-eye area, for the side cheeks the slope from the cheekbones to the jawline, and for the temples the curve along the side of the forehead.
• For areas with a lot of movement like the front cheeks we choose a soft filler, and for areas that need support we choose a filler that holds its shape.
• Rather than filling all three areas, we inject small amounts in stages, starting with the most deeply hollowed area.

Why does the side contour of the face look uneven?

With age or weight loss, the fat in the temples and below the cheeks decreases and becomes sunken. The cheekbones between them stay the same, so they look relatively more prominent, and the face appears narrow at the top and bottom and wide in the middle.

When the front cheeks become hollow, a shadow forms along the line from under the eyes to the cheeks and you look tired, and when the side cheeks become hollow, the area below the cheekbones sinks and the face looks gaunt. If your face naturally has large cheekbones, we look at how hollow the temples and side cheeks are and plan where to fill so that the slopes above and below the cheekbones connect gently.

Even at a young age, a similar curve can appear if you naturally have concave temples or high cheekbones. In that case, because it is your natural bone structure, we keep the amount of filler conservative and also look at the overall width-to-length proportions of the face.

What do we look at for front cheek, side cheek, and temple fillers?

Even on the same side contour, each area looks different when it becomes hollow, and the areas to consider together also differ. The table below summarizes the criteria by area.

You do not have to fill all three areas. We first fill the most deeply hollowed area seen in profile and divide the amount while checking the difference in height with neighboring areas. Filling more than necessary can make the face look wider or puffy, so we start with a small amount.

How do we choose front cheek filler, and how is the treatment done?

The principle of choosing filler by area

Each hyaluronic acid product differs in firmness and how much it spreads. For thin-skinned areas with a lot of facial movement, such as the front cheeks and front cheekbones, we inject a product that spreads softly in several layers so the edges do not show, and for areas that need support, such as the side cheeks and below the cheekbones, we choose a product with the strength to hold its shape.

The temples are an area where blood vessels run beneath the skin, so choosing the injection layer is especially important. We avoid blood vessels either by using a blunt-tipped cannula that pushes vessels aside as it goes in, or by injecting small amounts in a deep layer close to the bone. Areas close to the eyes, such as between the eyebrows or the eyelids, are treated with smaller amounts at a shallower depth.

Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic

1. Personalized Consultation
2. Photos (Before Treatment)
3. Numbing Cream / Local Anesthesia
4. Design
5. Disinfection
6. Treatment
7. Photos (After Treatment)

The treatment takes about 10 minutes, you can return to daily life right away, and we take photos again after treatment to compare both sides. You can choose between domestic and imported hyaluronic acid fillers, available in 1cc, 3cc, and 5cc units. Results last 6 to 12 months depending on the treated area, the product, and the individual, and if you want another injection, we decide during consultation after bruising and swelling have subsided.

View Face Filler (domestic) treatment information

View Belotero (imported) treatment information

Recovery and care after front cheek filler

• You can wash your face and wear makeup from 2 to 3 hours after treatment, and the healing tape on the injection sites is removed after 1 to 3 days.
• Depending on the treated area, medication is prescribed to prevent inflammation and relieve pain; take it for 3 days without missing a dose.
• For 3–7 days after treatment, avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas and jjimjilbang, hot baths, and strenuous exercise.
• For 2 to 3 weeks, avoid anything that presses on the treated area, such as wearing hats, sleeping face down or on your side, wearing glasses, ultrasound and radiofrequency treatments, meridian massage, and dental treatment.

The shape may change slightly due to facial expressions or external pressure, so after the swelling goes down we look at the shape again and discuss whether any adjustment is needed. If you are not satisfied with the shape of hyaluronic acid filler, it can be corrected by injecting a dissolving enzyme.

Side effects and precautions for fillers

Bruising, swelling, pain, and a foreign-body sensation may occur depending on skin condition, but most subside within 1 to 2 weeks. The degree and duration of these reactions and how quickly the filler settles vary from person to person.

In rare cases, nerve damage, allergic reactions, inflammation, lumps, or left-right asymmetry may occur. If filler blocks a blood vessel, skin necrosis can occur, and around the area between the eyebrows and the eyes there is a risk of vision loss or blindness, so we treat these areas especially conservatively. If you have a medical history such as an antibiotic allergy, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have an autoimmune disease, please be sure to tell us before treatment.

If pain keeps getting worse even after taking the prescribed medication, if the injection site turns white or the skin color changes, if blisters, itching, or a feeling of heat persist, or if your vision becomes blurry, please contact the clinic right away.

What do we check before front cheek filler?

In these cases, start by checking the hollow areas

• Only my cheekbones look prominent, and the areas above and below them look sunken.
• There is a shadow along the line from my under-eye area to my cheeks, so I look tired.
• The sides of my forehead and my temples look narrow, so I am self-conscious about my face shape.
• People tell me my face looks gaunt after I lost weight.

If two or more of these apply, it is best to first check which part of the side contour is the most deeply hollowed before deciding on the areas to treat. Whether to proceed, the method, and the scope of treatment are decided together during consultation after an examination by our medical staff.

In short, the key to front cheek, side cheek, and temple fillers is to view the side contour as a single line, fill the most hollow area first with small amounts, and choose a filler suited to each area.

FAQ

Q. Can I get front cheek filler and temple filler on the same day?

A. Sometimes both areas are treated on the same day to balance the side contour of the face in one session. However, a larger amount means more swelling, so whether to inject everything at once or split it up is decided together with our medical staff during consultation, based on the degree of hollowing and your schedule.

Q. Will temple filler make my face look bigger?

A. The goal is to fill the temples to match how deeply they are hollowed, and the amount is decided while looking at the line connecting the side of the forehead and the cheekbones. Filling more than necessary can make the face look wider, so we start with a small amount and add more in stages after the swelling goes down.

Q. How long does front cheek filler last?

A. We advise that it lasts about 6 to 12 months, depending on the treated area, the product, and the individual. Areas with a lot of facial movement may absorb filler a little faster, so whether to inject again is decided during consultation by looking at the remaining volume after bruising and swelling have subsided.

Q. Can filler be reversed if I don't like it?

A. Hyaluronic acid filler can be corrected by injecting a dissolving enzyme, or the treatment can be redone. It is hard to judge the shape before the swelling goes down, so once it has settled we look at the front view and the profile again and discuss whether any adjustment is needed.

Q. Can I get a lifting treatment right after filler?

A. Ultrasound and radiofrequency treatments can affect the shape of the injected filler, so they are avoided for 2 to 3 weeks after treatment. If you are planning both, we sometimes schedule the lifting treatment first and fill volume afterward.

Q. How can I find out the cost of front cheek filler?

A. The cost depends on the area, the type of filler, and the volume. We provide the details after deciding during consultation which areas will be treated, whether a domestic or imported filler will be used, and how many cc, and you can also check items by volume on the treatment information page.