As we age, it is incredibly normal to experience volume loss in the face. Over time, the natural fat pads in our face that help to bring volume and support lessen. This is seen in areas like the cheeks, temples, under eyes, and jawlines.
For some individuals, this natural aging process is something they choose to embrace, while for others, they may want options to help with the lack of volume in their face.
Either way, the decision to add or not add volume back to the face is entirely up to YOU! The team at The Lett Center in Nashville, Tennessee, is here to bring you all the options as to how you can restore volume back to the face.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these options, and if one is right for you!
How Do I Add Volume To My Face Naturally?
Looking your best doesn’t always mean losing volume from your face. In fact, some of the more popular treatments from cosmetic treatment centers are dermal fillers and other facial rejuvenation procedures. As people age, they produce less collagen, losing youthful volume in the process. This leads many to ask, “How can I restore volume to my face naturally?”
In the past decade, cosmetic specialists have continued to discover surgical and nonsurgical ways to address the loss of volume, especially in the face and neck areas.
Why Your Cheeks Look “Sunken In”
The cheeks tend to look sunken in as we age for various reasons. First, the skin loses elasticity and begins to sag. Second, fatty tissues below the skin diminish, causing volume loss. Third, the bones of the face change shape as they lose density, resulting in a hollowed-out appearance. All of these factors combine to give an aging face a sunken-in look.
However, there are ways to combat this problem.
Facial exercises can help to tone the muscles and improve skin elasticity, while fillers can plump up the skin and restore lost volume.
In addition, treatments such as laser resurfacing can help to smooth out wrinkles and give the face a more youthful appearance. Taking action early on makes it possible to keep your cheeks looking full and healthy for years to come.
Fat Grafting To The Face
Fat grafting or volumetric restoration to the face is a popular facial volume restoration treatment. Volumetric restoration enables reorganizing elastic fibers underneath the facial skin, creating a more rejuvenated appearance. This procedure can also be combined with a facelift for an overall refreshed appearance and to add volume to the skin.
Dermal Fillers For Facial Volume
What is a Facial Filler Treatment?
Facial fillers are a series of injectable dermal fillers that fill out areas of lost volume in your face. Dermal fillers can be combined with sterile gels, hyaluronic acid, and other helpful chemicals to round out areas where you’ve lost skin volume.
One type of dermal filler that can improve facial volume is Restylane. Available at The Lett Center, Restylane is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler that replenishes volume loss. This volume loss can leave the face appearing skinnier and older, as well as causing wrinkles to form.
Restylane is particularly effective for addressing facial wrinkles and folds, especially around the nose and mouth. Additionally, it can be used for lip or cheek enhancement, making it a versatile choice for various cosmetic needs.
How Restylane Works
Restylane utilizes hyaluronic acid (HA) to achieve its effects. HA works by filling the skin and attracting water, increasing hydration to give the skin a plumper, more youthful appearance. The results can last up to a year, although more mobile areas like the lips may require more frequent touch-ups initially.
For this type of treatment, repeat treatments are necessary to maintain results. These are usually conducted in six to 12-month intervals.
Dermal fillers provide a more natural appearance than a facelift. Fillers are also less invasive and create results that can be noticed after your appointment. Dermal fillers can correct many facial issues, including eliminating visible wrinkles, raising scar depressions, and enhancing other body areas such as the lips.
PDO Threading
PDO threading has become one of the most popular treatments for adding volume and lifting the face and neck areas. This non-surgical treatment gives instant results with continued progress over time. With PDO threads, patients see significant results for plumping areas like the cheekbones, similar to 1-2 syringes of dermal filler. Many patients looking to lift and tighten certain areas like the cheeks, jowls, or neckline opt for this aesthetic option, often in combination with other aesthetic treatments.
How Do I Know If Fillers Are Right For Me?
There are many factors a patient should consider before undergoing any type of cosmetic facial change. Some of these include:
- Age, overall health, and desired outcome
- The pre-care and recovery process
- The type of filler you would like to try
- Determine what exactly you would like to change about your face
The Lett Center has a range of procedures available for you to choose from based on your desires.
What Other Options Are There For Facial Rejuvenation?
Facial rejuvenation can also be achieved through many different procedures and forms of treatment. In the past, this type of change was only possible through a select few procedures, such as skin resurfacing with lasers and peels, as well as soft tissue repositioning.
But now, treatment options have expanded tremendously. At The Lett Center, we provide many options for facial rejuvenation, including cosmetic surgery.
We’ve already spoken about the benefits of dermal fillers for enhancing appearance, but there are more options.
Fat Grafting
Fat grafting is another type of filler material used to restore volume. By harvesting fat from other areas of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs, fat can then be administered to the face, filling in hollow areas or plumping cheekbones and lips. Unlike fillers, fat from the patient’s body is used during this procedure, creating an effective, endless supply.
Understanding Facial Fat Transfer
Facial fat transfer, also known as fat grafting, is a surgical procedure that leverages the body’s natural resources to enhance facial volume. This technique involves several key steps:
Fat Extraction: The procedure begins with extracting fat from donor areas of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs. Liposuction is used for this purpose, which can also offer the added benefit of body contouring.
Purification: Once the fat is collected, it undergoes a purification process to ensure only the healthiest fat cells are used for transfer.
Precise Injection: The purified fat is meticulously injected into target facial areas, such as the temples, cheeks, and lips, to achieve the desired volume enhancement.
It has also been found that peripheral stem cells can have a great effect on cellular differentiation, leading to improved tissue quality. This means the benefits of fat grafting extend beyond mere volume restoration, contributing to skin health and rejuvenation.
Through this detailed and natural approach, facial fat transfer stands out as a reliable and sustainable option for those seeking to enhance their facial aesthetics.
Microneedling
One of the things that causes us to look older is how the collagen begins to break down as we age. Collagen is responsible for helping the skin stay elastic and full. Without as much collagen in the skin, more wrinkles will begin to form. In order to stimulate collagen production again, one of the best ways cosmetic surgeons and aestheticians have found is by combining radiofrequency (RF) energy with microneedling.
At The Lett Center, we offer RF microneedling treatments with the Fractora device from InMode.
Benefits include:
- Decreasing wrinkles
- Improving complexion
- Helps with hyperpigmentation
- Reduces the appearance of stretch marks
FaceTite
For improving facial volume, and adding to fat loss, FaceTite is a procedure that melts fat and sculpts your jawline. Results aren’t quite as focused on adding volume to the face, but patients enjoy their results. FaceTite also helps reduce sagging skin around the neck.
This is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed quickly at one of our local offices in Lebanon or Mt. Juliet.
Diet, Sleep, and Exercise
It’s easy to forget that some of the best secrets to voluminous, youthful skin aren’t only found in a syringe or a treatment room—but in your daily routine.
A well-balanced diet, quality sleep, and consistent exercise can all play important roles in preserving facial volume and promoting glowing skin.
Consuming plenty of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains helps skin cells repair and produce vital proteins like collagen and elastin. These are the structural elements that keep your face looking plump, firm, and smooth. And don’t forget to drink enough water throughout your day to keep skin supple and glowy!
Sleep isn’t just beauty sleep—it’s structural support. When you get a full night’s rest, your body has time to regenerate skin cells and produce collagen. Skimping on sleep, on the other hand, may elevate stress hormones that break down the very fibers you want to keep intact.
Exercise does wonders. Moving your body improves blood flow, delivers nutrients to skin cells, and boosts collagen production. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate activity can make a visible difference over time.
These healthy habits can help slow down the effects of aging, making your facial features appear more naturally youthful between—or even instead of—cosmetic treatments.
Which Facial Rejuvenation Treatment Is Right For Me?
If you’re not sure whether dermal fillers or another facial treatment is right for you, use these tips:
- Do your research: You won’t be capable of making a choice if you’re unsure of what each outcome entails. Take some time to research each kind of filler or technique for fat grafting. With knowledge, both you and your surgeon can reach the best decision possible.
- Know what your desired outcome is: How much do you want to change or enhance your appearance? Having an idea in mind of your ultimate outcome is essential, as it may point to the best form of treatment possible.
- Take your time: This isn’t a decision that must be made overnight. Take the time and energy to decide which is best for you on your terms and your timeline.
Finally, the best thing you can do is book a consultation with a plastic surgeon or aesthetician. They can educate you about all of the different options available to you.
Can Weight Loss Affect Volume in the Face?
Shedding pounds can be great for your overall health, but it often brings some surprising changes to your face. When you lose weight quickly, your body may also shed the fat pads that once gave your cheeks a fuller, more youthful look. As a result, your skin can appear looser and less plump, making facial hollowness and sagging more noticeable.
This is especially true if the weight loss happens rapidly, since the skin doesn’t always have enough time to adjust and tighten naturally. While achieving your fitness goals is something to celebrate, keep in mind that facial volume might be affected along the way, similar to the changes brought on by aging or reduced collagen production.
Can Skincare Restore Volume Loss in the Face?
Not ready for injections just yet? Skincare products can lend a helping hand in your quest for fuller, more youthful cheeks. Certain ingredients have been shown to support the skin’s structure, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and encourage a plumper look.
- Hyaluronic Acid: This powerhouse hydrator attracts and retains water in the skin, making it look instantly fuller and smoother. It’s a mainstay in serums and moisturizers designed for volume restoration.
- Peptides: By supporting collagen production, peptides contribute to improved skin thickness and resilience.
- Vitamin C: These fight off environmental damage while supporting collagen for a more lifted, revitalized complexion.
Look for these actives when choosing your skincare, and you may notice a firmer, more contoured appearance with consistent use. While topical treatments aren’t as dramatic as in-office procedures, they’re an excellent option for subtle plumping and maintaining youthful volume.
Schedule A Consultation At The Lett Center
Dr. Lett is a double-board-certified plastic surgeon with practices in Mt. Juliet and Lebanon, just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Lett and his staff will provide you with excellent care and help you find the perfect treatment to reach your aesthetic goals.