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kcj11
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Are these indentations on my upper cheeks,MALAR BAGS?I'm 23.HELP!
Facelift

Hello beloved experts and world,

I'm on the edge of going BERSERK!
I include 2 pictures,for better explanations.
Notice those little creases on top of my upper cheeks?Are they malar bags/mounds/festoons?
I am only 23 and I am so self-conscious about them as they are right on my face and make me appear tired and older all the time.
I've been researching a lot and have read ALMOST every reference to the 'malar septum' I could find online.

I am aware that should they be malar bags,they are either liquid or fat.
I cannot say which they are though because some days,they almost disappear(e.g.rested) but other days they are just darn right OUT THERE.At times I don't even want to walk out of the house because of them.

I am willing to do WHATEVER it takes to get rid of them.Although I am a rather holistic kind of person,at this point I'm even considering going under the knife for excision but I also don't want any scars on my face.Difficult?I KNOW!

Can anyone advise me as to what these are,what their cause could be?How can I go about them?Anyone out there in their 20s with malar bags?

I have no history of allergies,although I have struggled with ovarian cysts and hormonal imbalance for some time.But I found pictures of me very young,it seems i developed them around the age of 11.

Water retention?I've exhausted every possibility in my mind.

I live in Amsterdam,the Netherlands and most dermatologists here are clueless as to what these are.GO FIGURE!
Therefore,I'm more than biased when it comes to the variety of 'choices' out there.

I mean the market is over-saturated nowadays and should these be malar bags indeed,I'm prepared to wait a few years till there is more practical knowledge on them.

To make A LONG STORY-SHORT:
What are these,and what can be done,to improve my facial appearance?

I appreciate any input and am excited to hear from ANYONE,with any experience on them.
Thank you in advance and best wishes!

P.S.I know this is long,I do so,apologize!

P.P.S.Maybe I should see an oculoplastic surgeon?I have been a myopic forever and when I smile my cheeks almost drown my lightly slanted eyes,resulting in my having no eyes at all!

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Doctor/Professional Answers (6)   

henryjames


Cosmetic surgeon
Pune, India
View My Professional Profile 		  Facelift Surgery India
June 13, 2014 2:51 AM

For cheek reduction or replacement Dr. Ashish Davalbhakta is famous. he is doing nice Facelift Surgery India (more)
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arnioldkleinmd


Dermatologist
beverly Hills, CA
United States
View My Professional Profile 		  The Zygomatic arch and Malar Pat Pad
April 11, 2012 1:36 PM

The malar fat pad lies superficial to the SMAS and the lip elevator muscles. It has a cheek and jowl portion. The buccal-maxillary retaining ligament courses through the fat pad. With age, (more)

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docblinski


Plastic surgeon
Miami, FL
United States
View My Professional Profile 		 
April 9, 2012 8:39 AM

Again very hard to advise if I do not see the deformity. Try fat grafting or temporary fillers to the area in question. Skin mesotherapy at best is a very very short lived therapy. Good (more)
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drgrossman


Plastic surgeon
New York, NY
United States
View My Professional Profile 		 
April 6, 2012 11:59 PM

If it bothers you so much, you can try some of the temporary fillers to fill the area of hollowness. If you think of fat transfer please email me at drgrossman@msn.com
Good luck from (more)
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drgrossman


Plastic surgeon
New York, NY
United States
View My Professional Profile 		 
April 6, 2012 10:48 AM

Don't panic, you don't have malar bags or any other condition you listed. What you have is purely hereditary, most likely your dad has the same condition, but even more pronounced.
This (more)
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docblinski


Plastic surgeon
Miami, FL
United States
View My Professional Profile 		 
April 6, 2012 5:58 AM

Sorry you think you have an issue. But your posted photos are useless, I CAN NOT SEE THE ISSUE. PLEASE RE POST BETTER EXPOSED PHOTOS that show the cheek defect. (more)
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Member Comments (7)
Page: «Newest | 1 2 | Oldest » | Read all 7 Answers

suzanned
   malar bags?
December 26, 2017 5:06 PM

I have just begun to get kenalog and vitrase in mine i have to go for maybe 4 injections, very low doses....will let you know how it works out.


DiBo
  
September 7, 2017 4:19 PM

Hi, this is the best posy ive ever read on this. I have been searching for some time now. My lines are the exact same and prbably appeared around aage 11 also. My mother had them also but not as bad as mine. People are always saying that I look tired some even ask do I wear glasses. I do have vvery high cheek bones as someone else mentioned. Is juvaderm or laser the best ootion? I dont want to look like I have had work done... help!!!!



Thessa004
   Malar festoons
May 26, 2014 8:58 PM

Hello :) You are not in the dark - I have them too. We are similar in that we both have had problems with cysts, mine having been a particularly large cyst that formed on my ovary. I was told that cysts are all different, but mine had been growing by absorbing nutrients like calcium and proteins from my bloodstream. It must have been there since I was born, because the surgeons who removed the cyst and ovary were baffled as to how huge it was. The removal of my ovary may have triggered some kind of hormonal imbalance which may have caused the bags, but it may have also been because of the cyst. I also have another theory as to how they were formed, which involves facial structure. People with higher or flatter cheek bones may be more susceptible, which raises the question of whether genetics is mostly involved. These are only theories though, and I am not a doctor but don't worry, I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes they make me look tired and sick even though I'm fit as a fiddle. People may think it is a case of vanity, but it really isn't. It has affected my confidence to the point where I can't maintain eye contact. I get so annoyed with it sometimes, and yes, I have definitely considered surgical procedures. But in the end, I learn to accept that they are hard to remove. Just don't let anyone tell you there are worse problems. Everyone's problem is there own no matter the severity to someone else. Anyway, I hope that I have helped in some way or another. :) P.S Its okay to write in detail - its good to be thorough sometimes.


Thessa004
   Malar festoons
May 26, 2014 7:51 PM

Hello! You are not in the dark - I have the same issue! We are quite similar as I have also had problems with a particularly large cyst growing on my ovary. All cysts are different, but the one I had must have been there for a while, absorbing nutrients like calcium and proteins out of my blood stream.
I have also had problems with cysts, which led to the removal of my ovary.


queen1234
   I have the exact same thing! PLEASE HELP
March 24, 2014 1:03 PM

I hope you are well! I have the same issue and have been researching what it could be for years. I thought I also had malar festoons and your message has made it clear that I don't!My mother has the same thing and they have become more pronounced with age. I am 37 now and would like a permanent but minimally evasive solution to treat this. I live in Toronto but am willing to travel. ANY help would be greatly appreciated!! One last question, now that I know they are not festoons, what are they called? Mine look exactly like the pics provided above.

Thanks in advance for your help :)

Page: «Newest | 1 2 | Oldest » | Read all 7 Answers


 



 

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