However, a sunken cheek can also be indicative of an underlying health problem or its treatment. Ageing is another fact that can make the bony structure of cheeks more prominent. Both men and women can have sunken cheeks.
What Causes Sunken Cheeks?
You may have a sunken cheek due to one or more of the following reasons:
Ageing
As mentioned above, ageing is one of the most common causes of sunken cheeks. According to Scientific American, after you turn 20, you’ll produce 1% less collagen each year. And collagen is the protein that gives the skin its characteristic firmness, plumpness, and elasticity.
Older people are also not able to get enough protein in their diet because it is difficult for their bodies to process it. This collagen depletion is one reason for a sunken appearance. However, with age, the fat pads beneath the skin also degrade or migrate downwards, leaving you with sagging and hollow cheeks.
Illnesses
There are certain health conditions that can directly or indirectly give you a sunken cheek. These are as follows:
- Digestive Disorder – Some gastrointestinal dysfunctions (celiac disease, cirrhosis, Crohn’s) can damage the organs in the digestive system, affecting their normal functioning. This can make it difficult for the body to process certain nutrients, resulting in weight loss and hollow cheeks.
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – It is a rare genetic disorder that causes abnormal production of collagen. This condition is characterised by specific facial features, such as a small chin, large eyes, prominent cheekbones, and sunken cheeks.
- Facial Lipoatrophy – Lipoatrophy refers to the loss of fat. It can happen due to HIV infection or certain autoimmune conditions (scleroderma, lupus). However, it has also been reported in patients who were on antiretroviral therapy for HIV. According to the NHS, the old anti-HIV drugs “d4T and AZT” were primarily responsible for this. Although their long-term use is not recommended anymore, there are people who suffer from “facial wasting” because of it.
- Eating Disorders – Patients with bulimia or anorexia nervosa may also have sunken cheeks because they’re not getting adequate amounts of required nutrients through their diet.
- Tuberculosis – This infection can cause significant weight loss in its sufferers, which can give them a sunken cheek. This happens because of loss of appetite, nausea and pain in the abdomen. It also creates a vicious cycle where poor nutrition worsens the body’s ability to fight off the infection.
- Depression – People who’re experiencing depression may lose their appetite, which can cause them to lose weight.
- Cancer – Unexplained weight loss can occur following the diagnosis of cancer. Its treatment can also cause nausea and loss of appetite, which results in further weight loss. This can also give you a sunken cheek.
Poor Diet
Malnutrition can be one reason why you have sunken cheeks. The body burns down fat if there are no carbohydrate reserves in the body. This can happen in case of starvation. Other than that, the kind of food you eat also matters. Sugar can age you. It can result in the deterioration of collagen and elastin in the skin, which can also cause hollowing of the cheeks.
Lifestyle
Certain things that you do can also leave you with a sunken cheek. Smoking, for instance, breaks down collagen in the skin, leaving the skin wrinkled and sagging. The motions involved in the smoking of a cigarette further exacerbate this problem.
If you exercise too much, you can end up with what’s known as a “gym face.” It is marked by sunken cheeks and hollows underneath the eyes. Sleep deprivation can also give you gaunt, hollow cheeks.
Environmental Factors
If the weather conditions are too harsh, your skin might not be able to retain moisture in it. The skin also becomes dry and less elastic, which can make the cheeks look more sunken.
One of the biggest environmental factors that affect the skin is the sun. Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can break down the collagen in the skin quicker than normal. It also impacts how quickly the facial fat degrades. Therefore, your face can look much thinner as a result of sun damage.
How To Get Rid of Sunken Cheeks Without Surgery?
You can undergo the following procedures to get rid of a sunken cheek, but without surgery:
Dermal Fillers
Hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers are popularly used for plumping the cheeks and getting rid of different signs of ageing. The filler also helps stimulate collagen production by the body, which can further help the cheeks look fuller. The procedure takes less than 20 minutes. However, keep in mind that its results are temporary. They can last from anywhere between 6 months to 2 years.
Vampire Facial
A vampire facelift uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and micro-needling to boost collagen production and make the skin plumper. The blood will be drawn from your arm, which is then put into a centrifuge to obtain the PRP. It is also possible to combine PRP with hyaluronic acid fillers for a vampire facelift. Both can help make the cheeks look less sunken.
Profhilo
Profhilo is another non-surgical procedure that uses hyaluronic acid for plumping up the skin. And it stimulates collagen production. It is injected around the whole face, unlike a dermal filler which specifically targets a particular area of the face for a greater volumizing effect. Its results are not as dramatic as fillers, but they can help in mild cases.
Aloe Vera
According to a study published in the Annals of Dermatology, the oral intake of aloe vera gel can improve the elasticity of the skin, increase the production of collagen, and make wrinkles less prominent. The participants in the study took aloe vera supplements for 90 days to see results. By stimulating the production of collagen, aloe vera can make the skin firmer by restoring volume. This can also help make the cheeks look less gaunt.
Facial Exercise
Research shows that facial exercise can improve the appearance of the skin. The most common exercise involves filling the mouth with air. This can help tone the facial muscles, which can give more volume to your cheeks. However, keep in mind that these exercises can also burn fat. You can end up with the “gym face” mentioned above. So, you should be more careful about doing this.
How To Get Rid of Sunken Cheeks With Surgery?
You can undergo the following surgical procedures for plumper cheeks:
Fat Grafting/Lipofilling
It is a surgical procedure in which fat is taken from different parts of the body such as the abdomen, thighs or buttocks through liposuction. This fat is then purified, processed, and then transferred to the face.
General anaesthesia is used for this procedure so that you do not experience any pain. Some of the fat will be absorbed by the body, but the surgeon will take that into account before transferring it so you can get your desired result. Keep in mind that you’ll have swelling, bruising, pain and redness temporarily. But it will subside, and you can enjoy the results for years.
Cheek Implants
Cheek implants are another way through which you can get rid of sunken cheeks. Silicon implants are inserted into the face through incisions either inside the mouth or beneath the lower eyelids.
Through this surgery, you’ll notice a significant increase in the volume of the cheeks. These implants are permanent and can last for a lifetime. However, if you’re not satisfied with the results, you can get them replaced or removed. This surgery will also leave you with temporary swelling and bruising, but it will go away.
How You Can Prevent Sunken Cheeks?
You can prevent a sunken cheek from developing by doing the following:
- Eat healthily
- Get adequate rest
- Wear sunscreen and use hydrating moisturisers
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid over-exercising
Doing these things will help you maintain facial volume even as you age.
Conclusion
Sunken cheeks can make you look older than you really are. There are different reasons why that can happen. You can get surgical and nonsurgical treatments to get rid of them. However, if you have them, it’s best to first consult a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.In some people, a sunken cheek can make a face look sculpted and slimmer. It is considered attractive. However, the effect isn’t always the same. A sunken cheek can make a person look aged and ill. That’s why many people look for ways to make their cheeks plumper and fuller through surgical or non-surgical measures.
It should be noted that a sunken cheek is an inevitable part of ageing. Because of the anatomical changes in the skin, it will become gaunt. But there are other factors that can make the underlying bone structure more prominent, making the cheeks look more hollow. But before that, you should understand what’s characterised as a “sunken” cheek.
What Does Sunken Cheeks Mean?
A sunken cheek lacks enough tissue between the zygoma (bony arch of cheek) and mandible (lower jaw). It can make the sides of the face appear hollow and gaunt. Most commonly, it is a result of the ageing process, where the degradation of collagen and fat pads causes the cheeks to sink.
