The Causes of Projected Upper Cheeks (Malar Edema) and How to Improve this Difficult Issue

Описание: A woman has puffiness around her lower eyelids and cheekbones. The bags look like there's fluid or fat that hangs over and stops at the cheekbone. She wants to know the treatment for her case.

Dr. Amiya Prasad, an oculofacial plastic surgeon explain that chronic elevation in the cheek area is referred to as malar edema or malar festoons. Based on the woman's photos, she doesn't have festoons. Festoons are like bags that hang over the cheeks. Mostly likely, that area in her cheek has edema or swelling wherein there's fluid within the tissue. This is mostly caused by smoking, allergies, sinus problems and genetics. The first three causes area manageable. Unfortunately, the type of swelling which is caused by genetics is difficult to address surgically. As a facial plastic surgeon practicing for 20 years, Dr. Prasad has seen many methods that have been tried such as CO2 laser and cauterization under the skin. However, a lot of those methods can worsen the problem.

There are selected patients where Dr. Prasad tries different things to shift the focus away from those lines by a strategic use of various fillers. He also uses platelet-rich plasma which is drawn from the patient's own blood, then spun down to concentrate the vascular growth factors. These factors improve circulation of the skin in that area.

Ultimately, it is a matter of how to improve the appearance but not definitively removing the swelling in that area. Surgeons are all constantly looking for solutions for this. If one has any of the mentioned risk factors, then they should personally address them. Until then, Dr. Prasad would advise to avoid surgery and meet with some doctors to get some opinions. The thing that he can't do with photos alone is a 3-dimensional appreciation of the volume and projection of this area and how it impacts on the patient. So he suggests a good assessment through physical examination to know how to address their situation.

For more information, visit our website:

http://prasadcosmeticsurgery.com/dr-p...