When practicing face yoga, sit upright, open up your chest, and lower your shoulders to release the tension in your body. Similar exercises include puffing up your cheeks into a fish-face and pretending you’re blowing balloons. If you follow this technique, no extra fat or skin will actually develop in your cheeks. However, the gentle facial exercise will stimulate circulation in your cheeks which might make your skin look more radiant and full.
Brighter, rosier cheeks look more youthful and healthy compared to colorless ones. The rosiness might only last a few minutes, but it’s a great trick to use before taking a photo or when making a first impression.
Try an emollient cream containing glycerin or petroleum jelly. These creams are specially formulated to soothe dry and damaged skin. [4] X Research source While moisturizers won’t add volume to your cheeks, they will make dry skin soft and dewy, giving you an overall healthier, more youthful appearance.
After about a week, you’ll start to notice softer, plumper skin around your cheek area. Glycerin keeps the skin hydrated and helps repair damaged collagen, while rosewater can help hydrate and calm irritated or dry skin.
Alternatively, you could drink an 8 oz (250 ml) glass of food-grade aloe vera juice each morning. Try this for about a month and see if you notice any change in your complexion. The Vitamin E and antioxidants in aloe vera help reduce inflammation and may help tighten up sagging skin.
Try cream or yogurt instead for even softer skin. [8] X Research source When used topically, honey acts as a humectant, attracting and trapping moisture in the skin. Milk provides nourishing proteins and helps boost skin cell and collagen repair. As a result, your skin may look healthier and plumper after a milk and honey face mask. Try drinking a glass of milk every day, too, so your body benefits from its nutrients. [9] X Research source
The sugar is a gentle exfoliant, so it can scrub away dead skin cells on your cheeks that would otherwise make the skin look dull. Shea butter is high in fatty acids and vitamins, so it can help soften your skin. You can just apply plain shea butter if you want to nourish your cheeks without exfoliating. As an alternative, substitute the shea butter for milk, yogurt, or cream for another nourishing sugar scrub.
Apples are full of antioxidants as well as vitamins A, B, and C, which can help prevent tissue damage and wrinkles. They also contain collagen and elastin, which keep your skin looking soft and plump. You can also drink fresh apple juice and snack on apples on a daily basis to add the fruit’s benefits in your diet.
Although your skin naturally produces its own oils, applying natural oils topically can keep your skin looking dewy and perky. [13] X Research source Work healthy fats and oils into your diet, too. Cook with olive oil, eat plenty of fish, and eat nuts as a snack.
Apply the lighter concealer to any areas around your face featuring dark shadows that draw your cheeks downward. Try eliminating dark undereye circles or dark lines around your mouth with a color-correcting concealer to make sure the upper parts of your cheeks really stand out. [15] X Research source
Pinch your cheeks to see what color your cheeks turn when they’re naturally flushed, then choose a blush in a similar hue. Avoid extending the blush below the apples of your cheeks or your cheekbones; this will only make your face look more sunken in. [18] X Research source
The shimmer will catch the light and deceive the onlooking eye into seeing plumper, more youthful cheeks. Avoid anything too sparkly or glittery; it will appear more artificial and might draw attention to your sunken cheeks.
Follow up by rinsing off your face with warm water, then apply a hydrating moisturizer to keep your skin plump. Every once in a while, don’t wear makeup for a day or 2 to give your skin a chance to breathe.
Focus on strength training rather than cardio training while you attempt to gain weight. Consider working with a nutritionist during this process, and be sure to talk to your doctor before making lifestyle changes. Keep in mind that the fat may not appear immediately around your face. Depending on your body type, you may notice weight gain in other parts of your body first.
Communicate your specific ideas about your desired cheek contours to the surgeon with reference images so you can discuss all of your options in detail. Keep in mind that the average cost of facial implants is around $3,000 US.
Dermal injections can last from 6 months to a few years.
