Mid-face: cheeks and under the eyes
The most common and the most rewarding area to treat, because restoring the cheek lifts and softens everything below it. Filler or Sculptra®, depending on how gradual a change you want.
Restore the support beneath the skin, in proportion.
Facial volume loss is treated at Wise Aesthetics in Carmel, Indiana by restoring the support beneath the skin, in proportion across the face rather than filling one spot. FDA-approved hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvéderm®, Restylane® and RHA® restore volume immediately and typically last 6 to 18 months; Sculptra®, an FDA-approved biostimulator, rebuilds support gradually by prompting your own collagen over 3 to 4 months, with results that can last up to two years. Which to use, and where, depends on your anatomy and how your face has changed, which your provider assesses at consultation. Individual results vary.
Under the medical direction of Dr. Rajiv Sood, board-certified plastic surgeon.
A young face is supported from within by fat pads, bone and firm skin. From the thirties onward all three change: the fat pads shrink and shift downward, the bones of the cheek, jaw and eye socket lose density, and the skin produces less collagen. The face does not so much wrinkle as deflate, and the signs show in a predictable order: the cheeks flatten, the temples hollow, the folds beside the nose deepen as the cheek above them loses support, and the jawline softens.
That order matters for treatment. A fold beside the nose is usually a symptom of lost support in the cheek above it, so filling the fold alone produces a heavy, unnatural look while restoring the cheek softens the fold and lifts the whole mid-face. This is what we mean by facial balancing: treating the cause and the proportions, not the line.
Significant weight loss, sun damage and genetics all speed the process. Some people also start with less structure than they would like, such as a short chin or flat cheekbones, which is a question of proportion rather than age and is treated the same way.
Under the medical direction of Dr. Rajiv Sood, board-certified plastic surgeon.
Where the volume has gone decides the plan.
The most common and the most rewarding area to treat, because restoring the cheek lifts and softens everything below it. Filler or Sculptra®, depending on how gradual a change you want.
Hollowing that makes the upper face look gaunt and the brow seem to drop. Often treated with Sculptra® or filler in small, careful amounts.
Deeper nasolabial and marionette folds, a receding chin or a soft jawline. Treated after the mid-face, with filler for structure or Sculptra® for gradual support; Kybella® if fullness under the chin is part of the picture.
Thinning on the backs of the hands that shows tendons and veins. Radiesse® is FDA-approved for volume loss in the hands.
Two main tools, which work differently and are often combined.
Dermal fillers such as Juvéderm®, Restylane® and RHA® are FDA-approved gels placed where support has been lost. The result is immediate, can be adjusted at a follow-up, and typically lasts 6 to 18 months depending on the product and area. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved if needed. Appointments take 15 to 30 minutes; mild swelling or bruising for a few days is common.
Best for: cheeks, chin and jawline structure, folds once the cheek is supported, and anyone who wants to see the change the same day.
A softer jawline is sometimes volume loss above and fullness below. Kybella® for under-chin fullness is covered on our Double Chin & Jawline Definition page.
Essentials and Journey members receive 10% off fillers and biostimulators.
Your provider will:
Filler shows immediately and settles over two weeks as swelling resolves. Sculptra® develops over 3 to 4 months as collagen builds, with the series spaced to allow that. Hand treatment with Radiesse® shows within days. Individual results vary.
Most healthy adults bothered by volume loss, with realistic expectations, are candidates for filler, Sculptra® or both. Treatment may not be appropriate, or may need to wait, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active infection or cold sore in the area, have a history of severe allergic reactions or of keloid scarring, take blood-thinning medication, have an autoimmune condition affecting the skin, or have had permanent filler in the area. Each treatment page lists its own considerations, and your provider will review your medical history at consultation. This page is general information and is not medical advice.
Filler is a gel that adds volume where it is placed, immediately, and lasts 6 to 18 months. Sculptra® is a biostimulator that prompts your own collagen, so the change builds over 3 to 4 months, is broader and more subtle, and can last up to two years. Many clients use filler for structure and Sculptra® for overall support. Individual results vary.
Overdone faces come from filling the visible sign rather than restoring the cause, and from too much in one place. Our approach is whole-face assessment, conservative amounts, treating support before folds, and a follow-up review that determines how to proceed. Hyaluronic acid filler can also be dissolved. Individual results vary.
Hyaluronic acid filler typically lasts 6 to 18 months depending on the product and the area; firmer fillers in the cheeks and jawline tend to last longer than softer ones. Sculptra® results can last up to two years. Individual results vary.
Because the folds usually deepen when the cheek above them loses support. Restoring the cheek lifts the tissue that is folding, which softens the line more naturally than filling the line itself, and often needs less product. Your provider will show you where the change is coming from.
Yes. Under-eye hollowing is treated routinely, usually by restoring the cheek first and then placing a small amount of filler or plasma (PRP or PRFM) in the tear trough. It is a delicate area, so amounts are conservative and your provider will assess whether filler, plasma or both suit you. Individual results vary.
Yes. Radiesse® is FDA-approved for volume loss in the backs of the hands, where it restores fullness and softens the look of tendons and veins.
Cost depends on the areas treated and the amount of product. The dermal fillers and Sculptra® pages each describe what a typical client pays, and your provider will give you a written cost at consultation. Essentials and Journey members receive 10% off.
More questions? Read our full FAQs, or call or text 317-569-6448.
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Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville and the greater Indianapolis area.
Individual results vary. This page is general information and is not medical advice. Treatment suitability is determined at consultation. Treatments are provided under the medical direction of Dr. Rajiv Sood, board-certified plastic surgeon.