Paint bags on the cheekbones in women: causes and treatment

Looking at themselves in the mirror or in a photo, women sometimes discover the appearance of swelling on their face, which is difficult to disguise with cosmetics. Sufas most often occur after age 35 due to changes in facial structure caused by aging. But a cosmetic defect can be noticeable at an early age.

Swelling under the eyes or on the cheekbones makes you look older and gives your face a tired look. To solve the problem, conventional care is not enough; the defect can be eliminated using cosmetic procedures or surgical methods.

What are sufas, what do they look like?

Sufas (painting bags) are an aesthetic issue that causes concern for many women. In the photo, such a defect looks like a small swelling under the eyes or in the cheekbones in the form of a semicircle with a clear boundary. At the same time, the face becomes painful and gloomy, the person seems older than he actually is.

Blood circulation is often impaired in the area of ​​the paint bags, which can cause other symptoms:

• general fading or discoloration of the problem area;
• increased swelling;
• inflammation of fatty tissue.

How to get rid of cheekbone bags

Remember the list of root causes? It is they who need to be influenced. Naturally, factors such as diseases of the eyes or internal organs should not be eliminated on their own. And this definitely requires the help of a specialist. But we will work with other reasons carefully.

Lymphatic drainage to get rid of excess fluid in tissues

This is where you should start. Because only after all the excess liquid has left the problem area will the picture become clearer. And if the sufas were formed only by stagnant “water,” then only prevention will be needed.

What does lymphatic drainage self-massage give:

• Removes swelling and swelling (not hernias!)
• Improves metabolism and microcirculation in tissues. This leads to increased skin elasticity and improved color.
• Helps shape a youthful oval face.

Lymphatic drainage massage deals with two root causes of the formation of sufs at once:

• stops gravitational ptosis;
• eliminates stagnant fluid in tissues.

Classic lymphatic drainage self-massage is primarily the Japanese Asahi technique.

Attention! Lymphatic drainage massage has contraindications! Consult a specialist!

I do not use the full range of Asahi lymphatic drainage massage. I mainly do only the main technique, which I call for myself “Triangle”. Morning and evening when washing.

Very important: never do a lymphatic drainage massage (even just one on the face) if you feel like you are starting to get sick. The fact is that these techniques are designed to disperse lymph. Namely, it is responsible for immunity. And with an acute inflammatory process in the body, an infection can easily spread, causing even more pronounced swelling on the face. This is especially true when you have a runny nose: a couple of movements and in the morning you can wake up with a swollen face. Do massage only when you are healthy!

I also ask you to pay attention to this point: if you previously had a puffy face in general, then after a couple of weeks of lymphatic drainage massage it may seem as if the skin has become more flabby. In fact, excess fluid has left the face, but the tissue has not yet had time to shrink in area. Usually in such cases it is recommended to take a break and wait until the skin catches up with the change in facial volume.

Relaxation of the orbicularis oculi muscle

If you go back to one of the first pictures, you will see how much the orbicularis oculi muscle shortens with age. And this cannot but lead to the appearance of a pronounced pouch exactly along the line of the suspensory ligament. Consisting of skin and fat packet.

Do you think that it is enough to remove fat in the problem area in this case? But this will only lead to a temporary effect. Subcutaneous fat is our MOST important asset for maintaining a youthful face. The loss of this fiber is practically irreplaceable. Moreover, if this fat was lost as a result of too active gymnastics for the face (this is why I am categorically against “exercises for the facial muscles”), then to some extent it can still be restored. It is very difficult and very insignificant, but still possible. Because the fat cells have simply lost their content and will be able to increase in volume again. But if the fat is removed surgically or in some other radical way, then where will new fat cells come from? A rhetorical question.

How to relax a spasmed eye muscle? First, look at the muscle itself:

As you can see, the orbicularis oculi muscle consists of several parts. Therefore, the techniques for relaxing this muscle are different.

Reasons for the appearance of sufs

Bags on the cheekbones can be a temporary phenomenon caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, insufficient facial skin care, bad habits, intestinal dysfunction or kidney pathologies.

What sufas look like on the face: anatomical photo.

But most often other factors contribute to the problem:

• genetic predisposition. The likelihood of a defect increases if close relatives had such a problem;
• unstable body weight. With sudden changes in weight, the skin sags not only on the stomach or thighs, but also in the face;
• age-related changes. Biological aging contributes to the sagging of the soft tissues of the face, the skin sags, and sores appear;

Under the eyes

In addition to the reasons listed above, myopia can contribute to the appearance of bags under the eyes. The disease is characterized by weakness of the eye muscles and connective tissues, which are unable to retain fat packets. The problem is aggravated by impaired lymph flow.

On the cheekbones

Swelling in the cheekbone area most often appears with age. In youth, the defect is invisible, since the skin is toned and hides bags filled with fatty tissue. With age, the skin becomes thinner, muscles become less elastic, which leads to lowering and sagging of adipose tissue.

Home methods for getting rid of suf

These methods will be effective as a prevention or treatment for newly formed paint bags, but are available to every woman.

If you cannot remove the sufas using home methods, you will have to contact a cosmetologist or plastic surgeon, who will solve the problem using professional techniques.

Lotions and compresses

To ensure that the skin remains tight and elastic for a long time, it is recommended to use various lotions and compresses. Herbal decoctions (chamomile, sage, calendula, oak bark and others) are suitable for this. You need to moisten a cotton pad in the strained mixture and apply it to the paint bags for 20 minutes. The results can be assessed already in the second week.

You can use regular black tea as a face lotion.

The same decoctions can be frozen in an ice tray. Every morning and/or evening you should take out 2-3 cubes and wipe your entire face with them, paying special attention to problem areas. The effect will be noticeable already in the second week of regular use.

Salt is a known remedy for reducing swelling. A small amount of the substance should be placed in a canvas bag and lightly moistened with warm water. The wet bag should be kept in the suf area for 15-20 minutes.

Masks

Cosmetic masks help to absorb fat on the cheekbones and tighten the skin. Popular recipes:

Massage and gymnastics

Daily massage and gymnastics will not help to completely get rid of sufa, but will significantly improve the appearance without surgical intervention. Massage is performed in two ways - using spoons and hands.

Spoon technique:

1. Dip 2 metal spoons in cold water or place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
2. Perform light stroking movements from the cheekbones to the temples.
3. When the spoons are hot, cool them again.

If the cause of the suf is fluid stagnation, then lymphatic drainage massage should be performed:

1. To warm up the skin, make 10 pinch movements from the nose to the cheekbones, then to the temples.
2. Perform patting circular movements from the cheekbones to the corners of the mouth.
3. Press your index and middle fingers to your cheekbones and lift them towards the corners of your eyes.

To get rid of bags, massage must be performed daily for a month.

Gymnastics can be performed both for prevention and to eliminate swelling. Exercises tighten the skin and also improve vision by relaxing the main muscles:

• Close your eyes actively 5-6 times. Open and fix your gaze at one point for several seconds.
• Stand or sit straight. Move your gaze to the right or left as much as possible without turning your head. Slowly count to 5 and return to the starting position. Repeat 3-5 times.
• Blink as quickly as possible for 10 seconds. Close your eyes (without squinting) for 5 seconds. Open them and focus your gaze on a distant object.
• Rotate your eyes left and right, up and down. Repeat 10 times.

Indications for removal and contraindications

Before choosing a way to solve the problem, you need to visit a cosmetologist and determine the causes of the defect.

Correction is recommended for:

• loss of tissue elasticity during aging;
• pronounced swelling that worsens the appearance;
• age triad - sufs on the cheekbones, bags under the eyes, pronounced nasolabial and nasolabial folds.

General contraindications to the procedures are:

• blood clotting disorder;
• inflammatory and infectious diseases in the acute stage;
• oncology and autoimmune diseases;
• periods of pregnancy and lactation.

Methods for removing sufs depending on their type

The most effective solution to the problem is surgery, which helps remove both fat deposits and stretched skin. But the procedure is traumatic, specific preparation is required before it is performed, and the result can be assessed after a recovery period, therefore, for minor defects, it is recommended to first try non-surgical techniques.

Non-surgical methods for removing sufas:

• hardware cosmetology. The procedures will not remove fat, but will help strengthen and improve skin tone, smooth out small swellings and prevent sagging tissue;
• injection methods. This method hides bags by adding volume to surrounding tissues or breaks down fatty deposits. The procedure is carried out using dense fillers, lipofilling, lipolytics, Diprospan.

If minimally invasive methods do not help solve the problem, then surgical intervention is resorted to. If necessary, during the operation, accompanying defects are also corrected - drooping eyelids and other changes that appear with age.

Methods of surgical correction

Sufas on the face (photos before and after surgery are significantly different), especially pronounced ones, are often eliminated surgically. This is a radical method of solving the problem; the operation must be performed by a plastic surgeon.

Women after 40 years usually resort to this method of eliminating the defect. Young girls can try more gentle ways to deal with paint bags.

Liposuction

This is a rather traumatic intervention, which has a number of contraindications. But thanks to the change in the subcutaneous structure, in which the accumulation of excess fluid stops, it provides the necessary effect.

Intervention is contraindicated if:

• diabetes mellitus, cancer;
• blood clotting disorders;
• tendency to form keloid scars;
• acute infectious processes;
• severe chronic pathologies;
• pregnancy, lactation.

Liposuction is performed under local anesthesia; in some cases, general anesthesia is recommended.

Carrying out the procedure:

1. Disinfect the affected area and apply markings.
2. Microscopic incisions are made in the fatty tissue and thin tubes are inserted into them.
3. Using radio waves, laser or ultrasound, tissue is exposed to liquefy. Remove fat using a vacuum.
4. Stitches are applied and a compression bandage is worn for 2 days.

There is no need to stay in the clinic after the procedure. Only after general anesthesia the patient is left in the ward for no more than a day. You can return to work in a week, when the swelling and bruising have gone down. After the intervention, you will have to adjust your lifestyle. You should refrain from heavy physical activity.

Also not recommended:

• visit the bathhouse, solarium;
• intensively affect the face;
• drink alcoholic beverages.

Lifting

Check-lifting also helps solve the problem. The procedure is rarely performed separately; most often it is part of blepharoplasty. During the operation, local anesthesia is used, but most often it is not necessary. An incision is made in the lower eyelid along the eyelash growth line, through which excess skin and hernial sacs are removed.

Surgery is contraindicated if:

• dermatological diseases;
• cardiovascular pathologies;
• endocrine disorders;
• critical days;
• viral and bacterial diseases.

The swelling on the face (the photo immediately after the intervention can be unpleasant) will disappear as a result of the operation, but the patient needs at least 3 months for a complete recovery. You can go back to work after 2 weeks, when the skin takes on a normal appearance. There may be minor pain that goes away after taking painkillers. The result of the procedure lasts about 10 years.

Blepharoplasty

During surgery, excess fatty tissue is removed, tissue is tightened and fixed. Women over 35 years old can have not only fatty tissue removed, but also part of the muscle.

Sufas on the face (photos before and after will show positive changes) after blepharoplasty are eliminated for a long time if you adhere to the right lifestyle. The effect can be seen immediately: the contours of the face become clearer and smoother, the woman looks refreshed and rested.

Contraindications to surgical intervention are:

• cardiovascular, pulmonary diseases;
• oncology.

If you have eye diseases, you should consult an ophthalmologist. Also, the operation is not performed during pregnancy and breastfeeding, during critical days, and in case of infectious diseases in the acute stage.

Depending on the patient’s condition, the presence of allergies, and the expected duration of the procedure, local or general anesthesia is used. The doctor makes a mark on the lower eyelid, along which, using a scalpel or laser, he makes an incision and removes fatty tissue, excess skin, fixes the muscles and applies sutures.

The patient is left in the hospital for a day. If necessary, antibiotics, decongestants, and painkillers are prescribed. For 2 months after the intervention, you cannot go to the sauna, bathhouse, swimming pool, or go to the gym.

Surgical intervention

The surgical method is a radical way to remove the defect. It is used in the absence of effect from other procedures and in cases of pronounced changes. Surgical methods for correcting paint bags compared to injection and hardware cosmetology are more traumatic and have a long rehabilitation period.

The effect after their implementation lasts 7-10 years.

Check lift

Check-lifting is a surgical method that corrects the volume of the cheekbones and tightens the soft tissues of the middle part of the face using endontins (plates). They have several sharp teeth, which are necessary for their fixation to the cheekbone. The operation is performed under general anesthesia using an endoscope, due to which there are no scars or scars left on the skin. The final result can be assessed after 2 weeks.

Often this procedure is combined with injection liposuction, during which drugs are injected under the skin to break down fat cells.

Lipofilling

Lipofilling is a procedure based on the injection of one’s own fat into the area of ​​the zygomatic arch. The surgeon first takes fat tissue from the inner thigh or abdomen. Using a special syringe, purified fat is injected into the targeted area of ​​the zygomatic arch, which slightly lifts the cheekbones and removes the paint bags.

The result is noticeable immediately, and its duration depends on the characteristics of the body.

What methods of removing sufs are considered the safest, most effective, and inexpensive?

Sufas on the face (photos before and after will show how effective certain methods are) can be removed using various methods. The choice depends on the severity of the defect, the presence of contraindications, and the financial capabilities of the patient.

Comparative characteristics of various methods:

Non-surgical methods

Non-surgical methods are divided into injection and hardware, which are distinguished by their effectiveness and short rehabilitation period. They are also suitable for those who are contraindicated for surgery.

But to achieve a lasting result, you will have to undergo a course of procedures, the effect of which does not last as long as after surgery.

Diprospan injections

Diprospan is a hormonal agent that is used in plastic surgery to reduce postoperative scars. When treating paint bags, the drug reduces the volume of adipose tissue, due to which the swelling disappears and the relief is smoothed.

This method can only be used at a young age, since the volume of tissue decreases on its own over time.

Device "Darsonval"

The action of the Darsonval device is based on the influence of microcurrents, which promote the removal of excess fluid and the breakdown of fatty deposits under the skin. To get results you need to undergo 15 procedures lasting 10 minutes. Darsonval increases blood circulation, enriches the epidermis with oxygen, and activates the synthesis of collagen and elastin.

The device can be purchased and used at home. When choosing a device, it is recommended to pay attention to the presence of a special attachment for the face (“fungus”).

Injection blepharoplasty

Non-surgical blepharoplasty is the most affordable procedure that any cosmetologist can perform. This method is based on the introduction of special preparations that contain natural peptides. These substances reduce adipose tissue in volume and tighten the skin. Even after the first procedure, the effect is noticeable, but it is recommended to take a course of injections to consolidate the result. Blepharoplasty, despite its simplicity, has a large number of contraindications:

• inflammatory processes on the skin or in the body;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• hemophilia;
• herpes;
• presence of fillers in the body.

Dermaheal injections

These are a variety of Korean-made mesotherapy cocktails that perform several functions:

• reduce the amount of fat in soufs;
• provoke the production of collagen and elastin;
• reduce the amount of fluid under the skin;
• improve skin condition and smooth out small wrinkles.

Even after the first procedure, the effect is noticeable, but it is recommended to do 2 injections.

The drug does not contain lipolytics (they burn subcutaneous fat, turning it into acids), so sessions with Dermaheal are absolutely safe.

Contour plastic

This is an effective method for correcting suf, which involves introducing a dense gel (filler) through injections into the deep layers of the dermis. The basis of these drugs is calcium hydroxyapatite and hyaluronic acid. They are designed for volumetric modeling of the cheekbones and filling the nasolacrimal groove. This creates a frame that prevents the skin from sagging and blurs the boundary between the cheekbones and cheekbones.

The effect after contouring is noticeable immediately and lasts from 8 to 18 months . This depends on the rate of biodegradation of components in the tissue.

Ultrasonic lift

Ultrasonic lifting (or SMAS lifting) is a procedure that involves the impact of ultrasonic waves on the problem area. This hardware technique strengthens the dermal frame and prevents sagging. At the beginning of the procedure, the cosmetologist applies a special gel to the skin, and then treats the required area with ultrasound. In this case, heating and contraction of the connective tissue fibers occur.

The result is noticeable immediately and lasts on average about 2-3 years. SMAS lifting has no contraindications and can be used at any age.

Thermolifting

Thermolifting is a simple and safe method without a recovery period and contraindications. Using a special device, the soft tissues of the face are tightened under the influence of intense heating with high-frequency radio energy. As a result, the compacted fibers create a dermal framework that improves skin tone and prevents sagging. This method will be effective only for mild defects.

The results can be assessed immediately, but it is recommended to undergo 6-12 sessions for a longer lasting effect (1.5-2 years).

Fractional skin resurfacing

This method refers to hardware cosmetology. Fractional resurfacing is based on local destruction of the epidermis with laser beams. Under their influence, the skin is heated, which improves the tone of muscle fibers, activates the process of cell regeneration, and increases the elasticity of the epidermis.

Fractional resurfacing is recommended to be carried out with contouring of the cheekbones at an interval of 2-3 weeks.

Possible consequences of removing sufs

After surgical correction of the defect, negative consequences may occur in the form of:

• hematoma;
• bleeding in the eye area, which can lead to loss of vision;
• scars (in rare cases);
• infection due to insufficient processing of the instrument.

Cosmetic procedures are safer. After them, the patient may feel slight discomfort, irritation in the eye area, mild pain, which quickly passes.

Sufs make the face look old and tired, depriving a woman of the desire to admire herself in the mirror or in a photo. This defect may be present from birth, and over the years it becomes more pronounced. Today there are many methods to solve the problem.

To choose the appropriate technique, it is necessary to take into account the cause of the defect, age, anatomical features of the face, and the presence of contraindications. For minor violations, it is recommended to start with cosmetic procedures, and if such methods do not produce results, seek help from a plastic surgeon.