The doctor's commentary] A thorough explanation of cheek moss! 〜Causes, remedies, effective treatments and their characteristics

Hello, I am a doctor at Smart Skin Clinic, a cosmetic dermatology clinic.

Some people may feel this way when their face is no longer round and their facial structure becomes more prominent.

As we age, our face loses its plumpness and volume as fat is reduced and the skin loses its firmness and elasticity. This causes the face to look bony and the cheeks to become hollow.

The root cause of cheek moss is due to changes in the body caused by aging, but many other factors influence each other.

In this article,

• Why are my cheeks cocked?
• Can we somehow fix the cheek moss?
• I want to look as plump and youthful as I used to.

The cosmetic dermatology clinic provides easy-to-understand explanations to help you resolve questions and concerns such as the following.
If you are suffering from cheek lumps, please refer to this page.
(If you want to know more about specific treatments quickly, you can jump directly from the table of contents.)

What is cheek moss?

Cheek moss refers to the loss of volume in the cheeks and the prominence of the cheekbones and facial contours.

Even if the cheeks are not so sunken that they actually have dimples or shadows, if the face as a whole looks thin, tired, or gaunt, you may be aware that you have cheek moss.
Mock cheeks not only make you look skinny and bony, but also make the wrinkles around your mouth and shadows on your face more noticeable, which can make you look older than you actually are.

The main cause of cheek moss is changes in the body due to aging, but lifestyle also has a lot to do with it. First, let's take a closer look at the causes.

Causes of Cocked Cheeks

Causes of cheek cocking include the following

1. Fat loss
2. Aging and sagging skin
3. Muscle wasting
4. Skeletal changes

We will explain each of them.

(1) Fat reduction

Facial volume is created primarily by subcutaneous fat. Therefore, when facial fat is reduced, the cheeks appear mossy.

Causes of facial fat loss include aging, excessive dieting, and lifestyle.

To begin with, as we age, the deep layers of fat in the face gradually atrophy as a natural body change. To this, excessive dieting, unbalanced diets, and excessive drinking and smoking accelerate fat loss.

(2) Skin aging and sagging

The elasticity and firmness of the skin are maintained by fibrous proteins such as collagen and elastin in the dermis layer of the skin.

However, as these proteins decrease or deteriorate due to aging or ultraviolet rays, the skin becomes thinner and gradually sags. This causes the cheeks to appear hollow because what used to be in the cheek area now leans downward under the influence of gravity.

(iii) Muscle wasting

Expression muscles that create facial expressions are located further (deeper) beneath the skin and fat and pull the skin and fat inward.

As the muscles weaken, they lose their pulling power and gradually stretch and gradually sag. This causes the cheeks to sag and the cheeks to cock.

Muscle mass naturally declines with age, but other factors such as muscle atrophy due to lack of use, posture, and habits can also cause one cheek to be more prone to mossy skin.

(4) Skeletal changes

As bones age, bone density decreases and the skeleton atrophies. In simple terms, the bones become thinner and the overall size of the facial bones decreases.

As the size of the underlying bones decreases, the skin, fat, and muscles on top of the bones become excess and sag downward due to gravity.

Some causes of cheek bumps can be improved through lifestyle habits and care that can be taken at home. A well-balanced diet, moderate exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, smoking cessation, and protection against ultraviolet rays are all important for preventing and improving chapped cheeks.
Review home care and lifestyle habits that can be done at home.

Home care to improve cheek moss

Home care and lifestyle practices that can be done at home to improve cheek moss include the following

1. Review of dietary habits
2. Measures against ultraviolet rays
3. Stress Management
4. moderate exercise

I will explain each of them.

(1) Review of dietary habits

An unbalanced diet can accelerate the aging of the skin.
Proteins, vitamins, and minerals are necessary for the production of collagen, elastin, and other components that support skin elasticity and firmness.

• Excessive dieting
• Carbohydrate-centered diet
• Frequent consumption of fast and instant foods

Let's look back and see if we have this type of diet.

(2) Ultraviolet rays

UV rays reach deep into the skin and destroy collagen and elastin, aging the skin. Appropriate UV protection can help maintain skin flexibility and prevent sagging and sunken cheeks.

It is better to use sunscreen, hats and parasols to protect against UV rays, and at the same time consume antioxidant foods to reduce skin damage caused by UV rays.

(iii) Stress management

Chronic stress disrupts hormonal balance and accelerates skin aging and fat loss. Stress management is also important because stress can lead to a vicious cycle of smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and lack of sleep, which further ages the skin.

Try to live a stress-free life by using stress-relieving methods that suit you.

4) Moderate exercise

Moderate exercise promotes blood circulation and maintains and strengthens muscles, which helps improve cheek moss.
Examples include facial exercises, full-body strength training and aerobic exercise, stretching and massage.

However, there are a few points to note.
Exercise that is too strenuous can lead to muscle and fat loss.
Also, stretching and massaging the cheeks can contribute to sagging if done incorrectly.

Be sure to keep up with moderate physical activity and proper massaging techniques.

Overview of the three effective treatments for cheek rhytids｜Fat injections, hyaluronic acid injections, and skin growth products

Effective approaches to improving cheek moss include

1. Direct filling of reduced cheek volume
2. How to restore thickness, firmness, and elasticity to skin that has thinned and lost its firmness and elasticity, and to plump up the skin itself

There are two ways to approach this.

Fat and hyaluronic acid injections fall into the former category and are proven procedures that have been performed for many years.

The latter applies to "skin growth formulations," which have recently become a hot topic on social networking sites.

A skin growth preparation is a preparation that can be injected (injected) to improve the skin texture around the injected area.
The action of skin texture improvement varies with each formulation, though,The common effect of all formulations is to work on the dermal tissue to improve skin texture, firmness, and elasticity.

It will be easier to understand if you have a rough idea of the differences between each procedure, so please refer to this table. Details are described below.

	fat injections	hyaluronic acid injection	skin-care preparations
volume increase effect	high Large volume increases are possible	Middle to High Adjustable injection volume	low (position) Limited volumizing effect
Ease of treatment Down time	not an easy thing to do Liposuction is required and surgery is needed Long downtime	simple Can be performed by injection only Short downtime	simple Can be performed by injection only Short downtime
cost	high Liposuction and injections cost more than the surgery.	medium level Lower one-time cost than fat injections, but requires ongoing procedures	Middle to High Depends on formulation and number of treatments
Time to onset of effect (Immediate effect)	Relatively immediate However, it takes time for the swelling to go down.	Highly effective immediately Effects are felt immediately after the treatment	Gradual effects. Effects are realized in a few days to a few weeks
Duration of effect (Sustainability)	long (time) Fixed fat lasts semi-permanently	medium level Lasts about 6 months to 1 year	medium level Effects last several months
Naturalness of the finished product	Natural but with risk of left-right difference Results vary with fusing rate.	nature Natural finish if the right amount and site are used	Very natural Improved skin texture and natural rejuvenation effect
Importance of the practitioner's skill	Very high Fat harvesting and injection techniques determine results.	high Need to inject at appropriate site and depth	medium level Basic injection techniques required
Skin texture improvement effect	some existence Stem cells in fat may improve skin texture	limited Mainly aimed at increasing volume	high Greatly improves skin texture, including improved moisturizing and firmness
Other Features	- Individual differences in fat retention. -Surgical risk.	- Can be dissolved as needed -There is a vascular injection risk.	-Basically, multiple treatments are recommended.

Effective treatment for improvement of cheek rhytids｜①Fat Injection

What is fat injection?

In the fat injection procedure, excess fat (abdomen, hips, thighs, etc.) is first suctioned out of the body, and then impurities are removed from the extracted fat and injected directly into the area of reduced volume to restore volume.

Because it uses one's own fat, natural-looking results can be expected and the risk of allergic reactions is considered low.

Advantages and disadvantages of fat injections

The advantages of fat injections are that they are natural to the touch and appearance because they use one's own fat, and there is almost no risk of rejection or allergy.
In addition, once the injected fat is established, the effect is semi-permanent.

Liposuction will also be performed in combination with fat injections, allowing for partial body slimming (improvement of the body line).

Since fat cells contain stem cells, stem cells can also be expected to improve the skin quality of the injected area.

The disadvantage of fat injections is that the procedure is a surgery performed under anesthesia.
This means that there is a risk of complications associated with anesthesia, postoperative infection and bleeding, and intravascular embolization (fat embolization: a dangerous condition in which fat enters the blood vessels and obstructs blood flow).

In addition, two processes are required: suctioning (harvesting) and injecting fat. In other words, the downtime is longer and the cost is higher because the body is burdened in two places.

There are individual differences in the retention of injected fat, and even in the same individual, there may be differences in the retention rate in the left and right areas.

The skill of the practitioner and postoperative care are extremely important in fat injections.Because the skill of the practitioner greatly affects the results, it is important to choose a doctor you can trust.

Who is recommended for fat injections

Fat injections, if properly established, can be expected to have long-term effects. Since fat harvesting is a prerequisite, the procedure may be difficult to apply to thin people, but it is recommended if partial weight loss is also desired.

Since the skill of the surgeon has a great deal to do with the results, you may consider fat injections if you choose a doctor you trust and if you are comfortable with the risks and disadvantages after a thorough consultation.

Effective treatment for improving cheek moss｜②Hyaluronic acid injection

What is hyaluronic acid injection?

Hyaluronic acid injections are a procedure in which a hyaluronic acid preparation manufactured for medical use is injected into the cheek area to restore volume to the cheeks.
Since it is simply injected with a syringe into the area where volume is to be added, it is considered a relatively easy procedure.

This is a popular procedure that is injected into various areas of the face, including the lips, forehead, and temples, as well as the cheeks.

Advantages and disadvantages of hyaluronic acid injections

The advantages of hyaluronic acid injections are their immediacy and ease of use.
The effects can be felt immediately after the injection, and the procedure takes only about 30 minutes. There is almost no downtime, and even on the day of treatment, there is no major disruption to daily life.

Additional injections or fine adjustments can be made as needed, and if too much is injected, it can be removed with a dissolving agent.

The disadvantage of hyaluronic acid injections is that the effect lasts from 6 months to 1 year.
Although there are individual differences, injected hyaluronic acid is slowly absorbed.

The cheeks, in particular, are frequently moved, so they are likely to be absorbed at a faster rate.

Periodic injections are required to maintain the effect.

Other times, too much hyaluronic acid injections can result in a condition known as "hyal-face," which is unnatural due to excessive volume.

In addition, if hyaluronic acid is not distributed evenly, lumps and uneven skin may result.
The doctor's design ability is important to achieve a natural result.

Finally,The most important risks includeRisks of intravascular injectionThere areIntravascular infusions may not be as frequent,If it happens, it can cause impaired blood flow and skin necrosis.Because of the,You need to choose a doctor who is experienced and reliable.

People for whom hyaluronic acid injections are recommended

Hyaluronic acid injections are an easy to perform procedure that provides volume enhancement immediately after the procedure, short treatment time and downtime, and minimal pain.

Although the effect is temporary and must be injected regularly to maintain it, it is recommended for skinny people who cannot afford the cost of fat injections and do not have fat that can be suctioned out.

However, it is important to choose a reliable doctor, as the surgeon must have good design skills and the ability to avoid causing risks.

Effective treatment for improvement of cheek moss｜③Skin growth formulation

What is a Skin Growth Formulation?

Skin growth formulations are cosmetic procedures in which the injected formulations promote the production of collagen and elastin inside the skin to restore skin firmness and elasticity.
It specializes in nurturing the skin itself and helps to plump up the cheeks by enhancing skin elasticity from within.

Although the skin growth formulation itself does not directly replenish volume, it is expected to increase volume through collagen production.

There are many different types of skin growth preparations. Among them, those considered effective for cheek moss include PROFILO, RENISNA, and GOURI injection.

Although the basic skin growth formulations share a common action, each formulation has its own characteristics, as the main ingredients and other properties of each formulation are different.

To learn more about PROFILO, RENISNA, and GOURI injections, click here.

Advantages and disadvantages of skin growth formulations

The advantage of skincare formulations is that people around you will not be able to tell that you have "done something.
Since the skin growth formulation is a skin nurturing procedure, rapid volume increase is not expected. But on the contrary,It slowly improves skin texture and provides natural anti-aging care.In addition to cheek moss, those who have multiple problems such as wrinkles, sagging, and dullness can expect to see improvement with a single treatment.

Since the ingredients used in the formulation are often biocompatible, allergic reactions are considered less likely.

In addition, because it is an injectable procedure, downtime is short and easy.

The disadvantage of skin growth formulations is that they are not suitable for deep cheek moss.
Although some skin growth formulations can provide immediate volume enhancement, the concept is basically to nurture and plump up skin that has lost its thinness and firmness.

The injected formulation also becomes ineffective when absorbed.
The appearance and duration of the effect varies from person to person, and regular treatments are required to maintain the effect (the interval between treatments depends on the formulation).

Who is recommended to use skin growth formulations?

Skin growth formulations are,Recommended for those with mild to moderate degree of cheek moss and who wish to improve skin texture and elasticity and restore natural youthfulness.

It is easy to start because there is little downtime, allergy, or risk of side effects.

If the cheek moss is not that serious, it may be a good idea to incorporate the skin growth formulation as the first treatment, and then consider other treatments as the progress is monitored.

Why radiofrequency therapy and thread lifts are not included in effective procedures

The three most effective procedures for cheek moss improvement were fat injections, hyaluronic acid injections, and skin growth products.

For example, if you search for "cheek moss improvement," you may have seen radiofrequency therapy (HIFU) and thread lift as candidates for effective treatments in addition to these three procedures.

I would like to explain why radiofrequency therapy and thread lifts are not candidates for effective procedures in this article.

In conclusion, we believe that radiofrequency treatment and thread lifts are procedures used in the treatment of sagging skin and are unlikely to be the fundamental treatment to improve cheek moss.

First, let me briefly describe each treatment, the radiofrequency treatment and the thread lift.

In radiofrequency therapy, high-frequency energy is irradiated to the skin, and the irradiated energy heats the subcutaneous tissue, tightening sagging skin.
It is the same mechanism that causes the meat to shrink when cooked over heat when cooking raw meat.

The thread lift is a procedure in which special dissolvable threads for medical use are inserted under the skin to physically pull up the skin and improve sagging.

The reason why this radiofrequency treatment and thread lift are candidates for improving cheek moss is that collagen in the dermis layer of the skin is stimulated and increased through this procedure.

However, this effect is not large enough to be expected to improve cheek moss and is considered limited.

In addition, the tightening of the skin may conversely accentuate the lack of volume in the cheeks and increase the impression of a hollow appearance.

For these reasons, this article excludes radiofrequency treatments and thread lifts from effective procedures.

Why does Smart Skin Clinic recommend skin growth products?

So far, we have thoroughly explained "Cocky Cheeks!" and we have explained the causes of cheek moss, how to improve it at home, and effective cosmetic treatments.

The first
'Can't we fix the cheek moss somehow?'
I want to know how to cure cheek moss."
If we were to answer the question, "What is the best way to get rid of this problem?

Skin growth formulations are another valid option."

The reason, as we have told you in the text,

• It is difficult to improve mossy cheeks with home care alone.
• Fat injections and hyaluronic acid injections are risky and require finding a trusted physician.
• Skin growth formulations are relatively low cost.
• Because there are changes that can be felt in the skin growth formulation alone.

Smart Skin Clinic also offers free counseling.

What about me?" Even if you just want to hear a little more detail, you are welcome to join us.

If you are suffering from cheek moss, please feel free to contact us.