The mid-face is the support structure everything else sits on. Restoring volume where it has been lost improves the cheeks, the under eye and the jawline at the same time.
Real patient results from our London clinic. Restored mid-face volume that reads as rested rather than filled.
Results shown are 1ml to 3ml · Rated 4.9 / 5 from over 2,000 reviews
“I went in wanting my under eyes done and left having had my cheeks treated instead. My under eyes look better than if I had filled them directly, which I did not expect at all.”
The cheek is not just a feature. It is the shelf the rest of the face rests on, and when it flattens, everything below it descends.
Facial ageing is often described as sagging, which is only part of the story. What actually happens first is loss: the fat pads of the mid-face shrink and slide downwards, and the bone underneath them gradually resorbs. The skin does not shrink to match. So you end up with the same amount of covering over a smaller frame, and it settles downwards.
That single change causes several complaints that look unrelated. The under eye hollows, because the cheek that used to support it has dropped away. The nasolabial fold from nose to mouth deepens, because there is now surplus tissue folding over it. The jawline softens, because the tissue that has descended collects along it. Treating each of those individually is expensive and often disappointing, because none of them is the actual problem.
Rebuilding the mid-face addresses the cause. Filler placed deep on the cheekbone restores the platform that was lost, and the tissue that had slid down is lifted back up onto it. The nasolabial fold softens without anything being injected into it, the under eye shallows, and the jawline tightens slightly. This is why the cheek is very often the first area we recommend, even when it is not the area a patient came in asking about.
It is also the area where restraint matters most. Cheek filler has an unfortunate reputation, earned by results where large volumes were placed too high and too far forward, giving a shelf across the upper cheek that reads instantly as filler. Placed deep and in the right position, the same product simply gives back the structure you used to have.
A deep nasolabial fold can be filled directly or lifted from above. Which is right depends on why it is there.
| Aspect | Cheek Filler | Smile Line Filler |
|---|---|---|
| Where it goes | Deep on the cheekbone and mid-face. | Directly into the fold from nose to mouth. |
| Treats | The cause: the lost mid-face support that let the tissue descend. | The symptom: the fold itself. |
| Also improves | Under-eye hollowing, jawline definition and overall lift. | Only the fold that was treated. |
| Best for | Mid-face volume loss, which is most people over 35. | A deep fold where the cheek is still well supported. |
| Risk if overdone | Widening or a visible shelf across the upper cheek. | Heaviness or a puffy look around the mouth. |
| Price | From £300. | From £300. |
A pattern we see constantly: someone books tear trough filler, or smile line filler, or asks about a thread lift, and the assessment shows the mid-face is the thing that has changed. Treat the cheek and a good proportion of what they came in for improves on its own. Sometimes the second treatment is then unnecessary, and we would rather tell you that than take payment for both.
This is also why we are cautious about treating in the order patients request. Filling a nasolabial fold on a face that has lost mid-face support can make the area look heavier, because you are adding volume below a region that has collapsed above it. Building the support first, seeing where that leaves you, and only then deciding whether anything else is needed is both a better result and usually less filler overall.
Book nowA full facial assessment, not just the cheek. We look at your mid-face support, under eye, folds and jawline together, because they are connected, and agree how much volume is genuinely needed.
Topical numbing cream is applied and left to work fully. Most patients describe the treatment as mild to moderate.
Filler is placed at strategic points across the mid-face, usually deep and onto the bone. It takes around 10 minutes.
Results are visible straight away. You can return to your day without any time off. Mild swelling is normal and marks or bruising are uncommon in this area but possible.
Everything settles over about two weeks. If more is needed, we would rather add it at a second appointment than place too much at once.
It suits people whose face has flattened through the middle, whether from ageing or naturally. It is equally used by younger patients who want more cheekbone definition than they were born with.
It is not right for everyone. If your skin has significant laxity rather than volume loss, filler will add weight to tissue that is already descending and a skin-tightening treatment is the better answer. We will not treat you if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active infection in the area, or have a history of severe allergic reaction to hyaluronic acid.
Filler packages must be used in a single visit. Final pricing is confirmed at your free consultation, with no obligation to proceed.
Pay over 3, 6 or 8 months with Plim on treatments from £500. How our payment plans work
Every treatment is carried out in our Save Face accredited clinic on New Cavendish Street, five minutes from Oxford Street, by a medically qualified team.
Hyaluronic acid filler is injected at strategic points across the mid-face, chosen to suit your anatomy and what you want to achieve. The treatment takes around 10 minutes.
Not when it is placed correctly. Volume goes deep and onto the bone to rebuild the structure you have lost, which lifts rather than widens. Widening is what happens when large volumes are placed too superficially or too far forward on the cheek.
Numbing cream is applied first. Most patients describe the discomfort as mild to moderate.
There is none to speak of. You can return to your normal routine immediately without taking time off work.
Usually not, though it varies between individuals. Mild swelling for a day or two is normal.
Typically 12 to 18 months. The mid-face moves relatively little compared with areas like the lips, so filler tends to last well here.
Most patients have between 1ml and 3ml depending on how much volume has been lost. This is agreed at the consultation after assessing your face, not booked in advance.
At Dermamina it is £300 for 1ml, £500 for 2ml and £700 for 3ml. If you are treating several areas, filler packages start at £860 for 3ml. Your consultation is free.
Often, yes. Both are frequently caused by loss of mid-face support rather than by a problem in the area itself, so rebuilding the cheek can improve them without treating them directly. This is assessed at your consultation.
Yes. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if you are unhappy with the result.
Yes, subject to assessment. Cheeks combine well with chin, jaw and lips, and filler packages are priced for treating multiple areas in one visit.
We are known for natural-looking results and for being honest about suitability. If we think a treatment will not help you, or that a different area would serve you better, we will say so rather than proceed.
Book a consultation and get an honest, expert opinion. No pressure, no obligation, and open seven days a week.
