Understanding the Causes of Cheek Sagging and Improvement Treatments

Cheek sagging—something you notice every time you look in the mirror—is often attributed simply to 'losing weight' or 'getting older,' but in reality, it results from multiple overlapping factors. Today, let's take a closer look at why cheek sagging happens, what treatment approaches are used to address it, and how to care for your skin afterward.

Why does cheek sagging occur?

The biggest cause of cheek sagging is a decline in the skin's own elasticity. As we age, collagen and elastin production in the dermis decreases, weakening the skin's ability to resist gravity.

The second cause involves changes in subcutaneous fat and the SMAS (fascial layer). As the fat layer that once supported the inner cheek thins or shifts downward, and the fascial layer supporting it loosens, the entire cheek can appear to droop.

The third factor is the skin's own hydration and barrier condition. When the skin is dry and the barrier is weakened, the loss of elasticity can appear more pronounced. In other words, cheek sagging can be seen as a combined result of 'structural changes' and 'skin condition.'

Main types of treatments used to improve cheek sagging

Procedures for improving cheek sagging generally fall into two approaches. One is the lifting category of treatments that use thermal energy to stimulate the skin and its supporting layers (such as Ultherapy, Thermage, Shurink, Oneda, Titanium, InMode, etc.), and the other is the skin booster category of treatments that replenish hydration and elastic condition within the skin (such as Rejuran, Juvelook, Revive, Laetigen Collagen Booster, etc.).

The lifting category works by delivering thermal energy to the deep layers of the skin to induce a more elastic skin condition, and often the change is felt gradually over time rather than immediately. The skin booster category takes an approach of replenishing moisture and nourishing components within the skin, managing both skin texture and elasticity together.

Which procedure is suitable for you should be decided after consulting with a specialist, taking into account your overall skin condition, the degree and location of sagging, and lifestyle patterns. It's also worth keeping in mind that no single procedure guarantees the same results for everyone, and individual differences can occur.

How does the recovery progress by stage after the procedure?

After a lifting procedure, redness, tightness, and mild warmth are commonly felt for about 1 to 3 days. During this period, the skin is reacting to the stimulation and needs calming, so it's important to avoid irritating ingredients or excessive friction and focus on soothing care.

From around day 4 onward, redness and warmth gradually subside, but a feeling of inner tightness and dryness often appears instead. From this point, switching to care that replenishes deep hydration can be helpful.

With skin booster procedures, tiny needle marks or slight redness may remain for a few days, after which the skin texture often gradually feels more refined. However, the pace of recovery and how it's felt can vary by individual.

How to approach home care by stage

In the initial stage right after the procedure (roughly 1 to 3 days), minimizing irritation and focusing on soothing the skin should be the priority. Cleansing gently with lukewarm water and applying products without friction is recommended, and choosing products containing soothing ingredients such as panthenol and allantoin can be helpful.

In the recovery stage (roughly from day 4 onward), once redness and warmth have subsided somewhat, care should shift to a moisture-focused approach that addresses inner tightness and dryness. During this period, products containing ingredients that support barrier and skin texture care, such as ceramides and niacinamide, are suitable.

Ultimately, how you care for your skin after the procedure is just as important a factor as the procedure itself in maintaining satisfying results for a long time. Care that doesn't match the stage of recovery can actually slow it down, so it's worth remembering that different approaches are needed at different stages.

Connecting stage-specific home care with ABZU cream

Right after a procedure that applies thermal energy, like a lifting treatment, calming redness and warmth is the priority, and a product suited for this stage is the Ultra Cera-Rich Cream. It is designed to support barrier care with lipid ingredients including five types of ceramides.

After the recovery phase, when redness subsides and the skin starts to feel tight, you can switch to the Hydro Re-Boosting Cream to focus on deep hydration and skin texture care. It can also be considered as part of home care following skin booster treatments.

Both products are 50ml, priced at 59,000 KRW, and available for purchase on the official online store abijoushop.com, structured as STEP1 and STEP2 to match the treatment stages.

Post-treatment recovery and home care make the difference

Whether it's lifting or skin boosters, the condition of the skin after the procedure is just as important as the procedure itself in determining how long the results last. The Abijou cream offers a 2-STEP regimen divided into an immediate soothing phase (Ultra Cera-Rich) and a recovery-phase deep hydration phase (Hydro Re-Boosting), helping you manage your skin according to its changing condition over time.