Sunken Cheeks – Causes & Treatments

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Sunken cheeks — the visible hollowing between the cheekbone and jawline that gives the lower face a flat or gaunt — are one of the most consistent markers of facial ageing, and one of the most amenable to treatment. The right approach depends entirely on the cause: age-related volume loss responds to different interventions than genetic bone or weight-related hollowing.

This guide covers the actual causes of sunken cheeks, the treatments that genuinely work (surgical and non-surgical), who suits each approach, and the lifestyle factors that influence both the appearance and the longevity of treatment .

What causes sunken cheeks

Several distinct factors contribute, often in combination:

Age-related volume loss. The most common cause. The fat compartments of the mid-face progressively thin from the 30s onward — particularly the deep medial cheek fat and the superficial nasolabial fat. As these compartments deflate, the cheek loses its forward projection and the area beneath the cheekbone hollows.

Bone changes. The facial skeleton itself changes with age. The cheekbone (zygoma) can become less prominent through subtle resorption. The maxilla (upper jaw) reduces in height, retracting the mid-face. These bony changes contribute to the overall flattening of the cheek area.

Genetic . Some patients have naturally hollowed cheeks from a young age due to bone structure (less prominent zygomatic arch) or genetically lower fat density in the mid-face. This isn’t ageing — it’s anatomy.

Weight loss. Significant weight loss reduces facial fat substantially. For patients whose face was previously fuller, the post-weight-loss appearance can include pronounced cheek hollowing alongside other facial changes. This is common after substantial weight loss whether from diet, surgery, GLP-1 medications, or illness.

Sun damage and skin quality. Cumulative UV damage thins the skin and accelerates the descent of underlying tissue. The hollowing appearance is partly a consequence of skin support combined with volume loss beneath.

Smoking. Reduces blood supply to facial tissue and accelerates both fat atrophy and skin quality deterioration. Long-term smokers typically show more pronounced cheek hollowing for their age than non-smokers.

Medical conditions. Some conditions produce facial fat loss as a feature — HIV-associated lipoatrophy (historically), medications, severe illness. These require specialist medical assessment cosmetic consideration.

Excessive exercise or restrictive diet. Very lean body composition with low body fat percentage produces facial hollowing. The face is one of the last areas to retain fat — when overall body fat drops below a certain threshold, the cheeks lose volume.

The treatment depends on which factors are dominant in your particular case.

Dermal filler — the first-line non-surgical treatment

For most patients with sunken cheeks, using hyaluronic acid is the most effective non-surgical intervention. Filler placed at strategic anchor points along the cheekbone restores volume and forward projection, lifting the surrounding tissue and reducing the visible hollowing.

Where filler is placed:

The result: restoration of the youthful "ogee curve" — the gentle convexity that defines a cheek — and softening of the visible hollow below. The change is immediate and develops further over 2 weeks as initial swelling resolves.

What to expect:

How long it lasts: months for most patients. Cheek filler typically filler in more mobile areas like the lips.

Cost: from £450 per syringe; typical treatment uses 1-3ml depending on the extent of hollowing.

For comprehensive refreshment combining cheek filler with other anchor points, see our service page. For the broader filler discussion, see our .

Facial fat transfer — the longer-lasting alternative

For patients more substantial or longer-lasting volume restoration, uses the patient’s own fat (harvested by liposuction from the abdomen, thighs, or flanks) and places it into the hollow areas of the face after .

of fat transfer:

Considerations:

What to expect:

Cheek implants — the surgical structural option

For with substantial volume loss where filler or fat would require very large volumes, or for patients whose underlying bone structure is inadequately prominent regardless of soft tissue, cheek implants provide permanent structural augmentation.

The procedure uses solid silicone implants placed through small intra-oral incisions, positioned over the cheekbone, and secured. The result is permanent enhancement of the underlying bony framework. Once placed and healed (typically 6-8 weeks), the implants don’t change with time.

Advantages: permanent, structural, doesn’t require maintenance.

Disadvantages: surgical procedure with associated risks (infection, malposition, palpability), permanent commitment, less natural feel than fat transfer.

Cheek implants are appropriate for a specific subset of patients with genuine bony structural deficiency, not for most patients with age-related cheek hollowing. Most patients are better served by filler or fat transfer.

Mid-face lift

For patients whose cheek hollowing is accompanied by descent of the mid-face — the cheek tissue has both lost volume and slipped downward — a or specific mid-face lifting procedure may be appropriate.

This isn’t a treatment for sunken cheeks alone — it’s a procedure for combined volume loss and tissue descent. The technique repositions descended cheek tissue back to its original anatomical position, restoring fullness through repositioning rather than volume addition.

lift is appropriate for patients with:

For the broader surgical options, see our guides on , , and .

For the head-to-head comparison of when filler vs surgery is appropriate, see our guide on .

Biostimulators for skin quality alongside volume

For patients whose sunken cheek appearance is accompanied by poor skin (crepiness, thin skin, surface ageing), bioremodelling treatments improve dermal quality alongside whatever volume restoration is performed:

— bioremodels skin through high-concentration HA injection at specific anchor points. Improves elasticity, hydration, and overall skin quality. See our .

— DNA-fraction injections that stimulate fibroblast activity and improve dermal quality through different biological mechanisms.

(Redensity 1 and others) — combined HA, amino acid, antioxidant, and mineral injections for surface skin improvement.

These don’t address volume directly but the surrounding skin quality, making the volume look more natural.

Energy-based skin tightening

For patients whose cheek appearance is affected by skin laxity in addition to volume loss, energy-based treatments can tighten and improve the skin alongside other treatments:

— dual-wavelength laser including intra-oral pass. Tightens skin and quality.

— radiofrequency microneedling for deeper skin tightening.

— radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis for more substantial skin tightening with about a week of .

These can be combined with filler or fat transfer for comprehensive non-surgical mid-face rejuvenation — see our for the treatment philosophy.

Who suits which approach?

The right treatment depends on the dominant cause:

Mild to moderate age-related volume loss: cheek filler, often combined with skin .

Substantial volume loss in younger patients: fat transfer for longer-lasting restoration.

Post-weight-loss hollowing: filler or fat transfer depending on extent; cheek implants in selected cases.

Genetic predisposition with otherwise normal facial proportions: filler or cheek implants depending on the patient’s preferences for reversibility vs. .

Combined volume loss and mid-face descent: surgical mid-face lift, possibly combined with fat transfer.

Volume loss with significant skin concerns: combined plan including filler/fat transfer + biostimulators + energy-based treatments.

A consultation establishes which combination matches your specific anatomy and goals.

Lifestyle factors that genuinely matter

For all patients with sunken cheeks, lifestyle factors significantly affect both appearance and treatment longevity:

Body fat percentage. Very lean body composition produces facial hollowing. For patients whose cheek hollowing is partly weight-related, modest weight gain (or moving away from extreme leanness) can produce meaningful improvement.

Stable weight. Avoiding weight cycling — repeated loss and gain — protects facial fat from atrophy. The face is one of the most weight-sensitive areas of the body.

Sun . Daily SPF 30+ on the face protects against the UV damage that accelerates both volume loss and skin quality changes. The single highest-impact preventive measure.

Stop smoking. Smoking accelerates facial volume loss dramatically. smoking doesn’t reverse existing damage but substantially slows deterioration.

Limit alcohol. Chronic high alcohol intake depletes facial fat and damages skin quality. Moderation helps.

Sleep position. Sleeping consistently on one side can produce subtle facial asymmetry over decades, though this is minor compared to other factors.

Stress management. Chronic stress accelerates aging through multiple mechanisms. Genuine stress management produces real long-term benefits.

These habits don’t eliminate sunken cheeks but slow further loss and extend the duration of treatment results.

Cost summary

, including 0% APR, are available across all .

Common questions

For weight-related hollowing, modest weight gain can restore some volume. For age-related or genetic hollowing, no lifestyle intervention restores the underlying volume — only treatment does.

Not when conservatively dosed. The aim is restoration of natural projection, not maximalist enhancement. Overfilled cheeks typically result from years of accumulating filler without appropriate dissolving — the cumulative effect rather than any single treatment.

Immediate visible improvement. Final result at 2 weeks once swelling resolves.

HA cheek filler can be dissolved with within hours. This is one of the safety advantages of HA filler over permanent alternatives.

The donor site (liposuction area) is more uncomfortable than the site for several days. Both heal predictably with appropriate aftercare.

Limited evidence. The muscles in question aren’t easily strengthened by deliberate exercise, and even strengthened muscles wouldn’t significantly restore the missing volume. Facial exercises are a low-impact lifestyle without significant downside, but they’re not a treatment for sunken cheeks.

Topical products work on the outer layers of skin and can improve hydration and surface appearance. They don’t reach the subcutaneous fat compartments where ageing changes actually occur. Topical skincare is a useful adjunct, not a treatment.

Yes — most combinations work well with appropriate sequencing. A typical combined plan might include cheek filler + Profhilo + Morpheus8 over 2-3 months, with approximately annually.

Yes — filler or fat transfer can effectively restore volume lost through weight loss. The treatment effect doesn’t depend on the original cause. However, future weight stability matters — significant subsequent weight loss can affect the result.

Treatment is appropriate whenever the appearance bothers you and your anatomy is suitable. There’s no specific age . Patients in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond all have cheek treatment performed routinely. The technique and product choice are tailored to your specific and goals.

Centre for Surgery · CQC-regulated · GMC specialist-registered surgeons · · · ·

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