In recent years, facial rejuvenation has become one of the important directions of medical aesthetic research. The fullness of the apple muscles is considered to be an important factor affecting the beauty of facial contour and sense of age. The apple muscles are located at the most prominent position of the cheekbones and are an important area involved in facial expression activities. Their fullness is closely related to the overall facial contour and expression affinity. With age, problems such as reduction in soft tissue volume and sagging fat distribution cause the apple muscles to collapse, showing fatigue and aging. Therefore, seeking medical methods to improve the morphology of the apple muscles has received widespread attention.
1. Apple muscle structure and aging mechanism
The apple muscles are mainly composed of adipose tissue, muscles and subcutaneous connective tissue , and are covered with the zygomatic major and zygomatic muscles. They are an important area of facial expression. When you are young, the apple muscles are inverted triangle shape, full in shape, and high in position. They can naturally protrude when you smile, reflecting your youthfulness.
As the aging process progresses, the facial supporting structures gradually loosen, bone loss and subcutaneous fat atrophy are obvious, the supporting power of the apple muscles decreases, their position gradually moves downward, the sense of collapse in the middle part of the face increases, and the expression loses its three-dimensionality and affinity.
2. Common medical methods for enlarging apple muscles
At present, the methods used clinically to improve the shape of apple muscles mainly include three categories: injectable fillers, autologous fat transplantation and thread lifting, which are analyzed below.
1. Hyaluronic acid injection filling
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a commonly used dermal filling material . Due to its good biocompatibility and degradability, it is often used for shaping and filling the facial soft tissue contours. For the apple cheek area, hyaluronic acid injection can achieve local volume filling and a slight lifting effect.
advantage:
①. Easy operation and short recovery period;
②. The injection volume can be controlled to facilitate the adjustment of the shaping effect;
③. High safety, adverse reactions can be reversed by lytic enzymes.
limit:
①. The duration of maintenance is limited, generally 6-12 months;
② Repeated injections may lead to mild local tissue fibrosis.
(2) Autologous fat transplantation
Autologous fat transplantation refers to the extraction of fat from other parts of the body, which is purified and then injected into the apple cheek area to achieve long-term filling and contour improvement.
advantage:
①. Autologous, low risk of rejection;
②. The effect is stable after survival, and in some cases it lasts for a long time;
③. At the same time, it can improve the problem of fat accumulation in the donor area.
limit:
① The operation is complicated and requires fat extraction, processing and injection;
② The survival rate of fat is affected by many factors, and there is partial absorption;
③. Transplantation failure may lead to local nodules or unevenness.
(III) Wire lifting technology
The thread-embedded technique inserts absorbable lifting threads under the skin to lift the loose mid-face soft tissue and raise the position of the apple muscles. Commonly used threads include polylactic acid (PLLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), etc.
advantage:
①. Lift loose tissue and reshape the facial axis;
②. The effect is natural, no need to add external volume;
③. The degradation of wire can stimulate collagen production.
limit:
①. The operation is highly dependent on technology and requires evaluation and execution by professional doctors;
② The recovery period is relatively long, and there may be swelling, congestion, etc.;
③. It is not suitable for patients with severe volume loss, and is only suitable for patients with mild to moderate sagging.
3. Factors affecting method selection
The method of augmenting the apple cheeks should be comprehensively evaluated based on individual anatomy, age, skin quality, facial fat distribution and other factors:
Age factor : If young people only have mild depression, they can choose hyaluronic acid injection; middle-aged and elderly people are more suitable for autologous fat transplantation or combined thread embedding.
Skin thickness and elasticity : People with loose skin are more suitable for thread lifting to improve tissue sagging; people with firm skin are more likely to achieve successful body shaping.
Expected maintenance time : If you want long-term maintenance, you can consider autologous fat transplantation; if you prefer a minimally invasive and adjustable method, you can choose hyaluronic acid filling.
Individual aesthetic needs : Some people prefer a three-dimensional, prominent apple cheek effect, so they are more suitable for volume fillers; if you prefer a natural and light effect, thread lift is more suitable for you.
4. Safety and Prevention of Complications
Any cosmetic surgery has its own risks , and attention should be paid to preoperative evaluation and postoperative care:
①. The risks of injectable filling include vascular occlusion, nodules, infection, etc., and must be performed by experienced doctors and with the help of image-guided technology;
②Autologous fat transplantation requires strict aseptic operation, fat purification and injection level are reasonable to avoid fat liquefaction or lump formation;
③. During the wire lifting process, the facial nerve route must be avoided to prevent facial movement disorders.
In addition, postoperative care includes avoiding facial massage, high temperature environment, strenuous exercise and other stimulations, and following the doctor's instructions for rational medication and follow-up examinations.
5. Trends and research directions of combined therapy
At present, the combination of multiple treatment methods is becoming a mainstream trend. For example, on the basis of autologous fat transplantation, wire lifting and strengthening of tissue support are used; or after filling, radio frequency, ultrasound and other energy devices are used to activate collagen synthesis and improve skin quality and contour dimensions.
Future research directions will focus more on the following points:
Biocompatibility and intelligence of filling materials : such as nanostructured fat and HA with adjustable degradation rate;
Introduction of preoperative imaging assessment system : 3D imaging and AI-assisted assessment of individual facial depression areas;
Exploration of the mechanisms of sustained postoperative efficacy : such as regulation of fat survival rate and application of tissue engineering scaffold materials.
Beauty Encyclopedia Tips:
The apple muscles are one of the important manifestations of facial youth. Their morphological improvement involves multiple aspects such as facial structure, fat volume, and tissue tension. When choosing a medical beauty method, one should combine personal basic conditions and expected effects, and have a professional doctor conduct a detailed evaluation and formulate a customized plan to avoid blindly following the trend. A scientific, moderate, and controllable treatment plan will be more helpful in achieving a natural and harmonious improvement of facial contours.