Refining cheek and mid face structure
Seamless, efficient clinical appointments
Medically-backed mid face refinement
Results that meet the Undetectable Standard™
Doctor-led care and clinical oversight
One all-inclusive clinical fee
Your mid face structure should express your character — not fatigue.
The loss of cheek volume can project a tired look that isn’t yours. As the mid-face loses structural projection, it causes features to descend, deepening nasolabial folds and blurring natural contours.
Using our doctor-led 3-Pillar Framework™, we refine the mid-face scaffold to support natural cheek projection and soften the weight of the lower face, ensuring results that achieve Identity Alignment™.
Start your booking process by providing us some details
As seen in
When your natural contours begin to fade
Refine your mid face structure with medical precision.
The silent ritual of the "pull-back"
Beyond volume loss is the habit of lifting your temples to see the contours you once had. It is the sensation of features moving downward: cheek projection feels heavy, folds deepen, and facial clarity begins to blur.
Makeup and "hacks" cannot rebuild structure
Makeup mimics contour; exercises target tone. Neither re-anchor a descending mid face. When structure declines, skin follows gravity. Refinement requires deep support that no brush or “face gym” provides.
This isn’t about "volume, it’s about Identity Alignment™
Refinement avoids "puffy" cheeks or artificial silhouettes. We rebuild structural integrity to lift visual weight from the lower face and reveal your true character.
The Undetectable Standard™ at every step
Our experienced clinicians personalise treatment to your anatomy and goals, achieving seamless results with clear guidance and ongoing care through our doctor-led 3-Pillar Framework™.
Treatment info
Treatment objectives
Suitability
Preparation
Aftercare
Results
Your Experience
Step 1 of 4
Check your suitability
Begin by completing our Online Suitability Assessment. Our experienced clinicians will carefully review your facial anatomy and provide a personalised preliminary report—including your suitability for treatment, all-inclusive pricing, and clear guidance to move forward confidently.
Your Experience
Step 2 of 4
Plan your treatment
Next, meet one-on-one with an experienced clinician who will use our 3-Pillar Framework™ to confirm your treatment suitability and outline a precise approach tailored to your unique anatomy—or advise against treatment if it isn’t medically appropriate.
This medical process provides the professional certainty required to proceed with confidence.
Your Experience
Step 3 of 4
Achieve the Undetectable Standard™
We treat your mid face with expert care and precision, prioritising subtle changes and natural movement.
Your single flat-fee covers everything you need—and includes a complimentary refinement session to ensure you achieve the Undetectable Standard™.
Your Experience
Step 4 of 4
Enjoy refined mid face contours
Receive clear post-treatment clinical guidance to ensure a seamless return to your daily routine. Over the following days, you’ll notice your refined mid face settle into a balanced, refreshed profile, supported by ongoing doctor-led care to maintain the Undetectable Standard™.
Why people trust Cosmetic Connection
We move beyond “beauty retail” to provide a doctor-led environment. Our focus is on thoughtful, measured assessments, and calculated clinical plans rather than a sales pitch, ensuring your treatment is guided by medical expertise and mutual respect.
Identify your clinical path before you enter the clinic. Our digital triage process evaluates your anatomical baseline, providing an intelligent first step and a personalised clinical path that replaces the “aesthetic gamble” of a vague “discovery session” with clear, expert guidance.
We respect that your hesitation is a sign of intelligence. This in-clinic consultation serves to confirm your digital roadmap in person. It is a private space to finalise your clinical plan and proceed with treatment only once you are completely certain.
We replace guesswork with calculation. By assessing your unique Anatomy, the Aetiology (biological drivers) of your concerns, and your Goals, we ensure every intervention is biologically appropriate and structurally sound.
To maintain clinical integrity, we removed the incentive for over-treatment. Our transparent flat-fee pricing ensures your clinician is motivated by your anatomical outcome—not by the amount of product used.
Achieve Identity Alignment™ through clinical restraint. By applying the 90/10 Rule, we refine your appearance while protecting your natural character, ensuring your result withstands the closest social scrutiny.
The foundation of facial support
The mid-face, which includes the area beneath the eyes down to the cheeks, acts as the central pillar of the face. Over time, factors like genetics, sun exposure, and the natural loss of bone density and fat pads lead to volume depletion in this region. This volume loss causes several cascading effects:
- Downward migration: Tissues start to shift downward, contributing to the formation of nasolabial folds (smile lines) and accentuating the appearance of jowls in the lower face. Dedicated treatments are available for reducing nasolabial folds, and for jowl contouring.
- Under-eye hollowing: The support beneath the eyes diminishes, often deepening the tear trough and creating a tired, hollow look. For targeted refinement of under-eye hollowness, explore our dedicated under-eye treatment.
- Loss of definition: The once-defined cheekbone structure becomes flattened or deflated, making the face appear aged or heavier.
By volumising the dermal structure of key areas of the mid-face, we effectively re-establish the foundation, providing a supportive contour that benefits the entire facial profile.
Strategic contouring for a comprehensive lift
Our treatment strategy targets specific anatomical points to maximise lift and refinement using minimal product. This strategic placement ensures natural movement and durable results:
- Zygomatic arch (cheekbone): Augmenting the lateral and superior projection of the cheekbone creates a defined, high contour. This is vital for framing the eyes and upper face.
- Apex of the cheek: Volumising at the apex—the highest and most anterior point—provides the central lift required to smooth the skin below and soften shadows.
- Indirect under-eye improvement: By establishing a smooth transition from the cheek up to the undereye area, we can indirectly reduce the depth of under-eye hollows (tear troughs). This supportive technique creates a seamless, natural gradient between the mid-face and the lower eyelids.
Tailoring structure for masculine vs. feminine aesthetics
Successful facial contouring requires a clear understanding of the key aesthetic differences between genders. We personalise the application of structural support based on your desired look:
Feminine contouring:
- Placement focus: Central and anterior projection (forward volume).
- Visual outcome: Creates a smoother, softer convex curve and a more heart-shaped or oval face.
Masculine contouring:
- Placement focus: Lateral and high projection, often lower on the cheekbone.
- Visual outcome: Creates a flatter, more angular transition from the cheek to the temple for a chiselled appearance.
By adhering to these principles, our clinicians ensure the results look structurally authentic and harmonious with your overall features, whether you seek definition, softness, or a supportive lift.
Accordion Lines (Cheek Wrinkles): Causes and Treatment
Navigating the lines that form on your cheeks can feel confusing, particularly when they seem to deepen every time you smile or laugh. These creases, commonly referred to as accordion lines or cheek wrinkles, are the vertical creases that appear on the outer parts of your cheeks, extending from the nose down towards the mouth.
Unlike nasolabial folds, which are often caused by volume loss, accordion lines are fundamentally linked to how the skin on your cheek folds repeatedly during expression.
Understanding Accordion Lines
Accordion lines are the fine, vertical creases that appear on the mid-face. They are most noticeable during facial movement, which is why they are often called “smile lines” or “dynamic cheek wrinkles.” Over time, as collagen and elastin diminish, these lines can become visible even when the face is at rest.
The anatomy behind their formation involves three key elements in the mid-face:
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Skin and Dermal Layers: Loss of essential proteins like collagen and elastin reduces the skin’s ability to bounce back after folding.
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Underlying Facial Muscles: Repeatedly folding the skin in the same places during smiling or laughing creates visible creases over time.
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Cheek Fat Pads: These pads provide volume and foundational support. As they gradually thin and shift with age, there is less underlying cushion, allowing the skin to fold more easily and deeply.
Why Do Accordion Lines Appear?
The appearance of these lines is tied to a combination of internal aging processes and external factors:
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Diminished Skin Foundation: As we age, the supportive structures in the skin (collagen and elastin) decrease, meaning the skin loses its natural resilience and firmness.
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Repetitive Facial Expressions: The muscles used for smiling repeatedly crease the skin. When the skin loses its structural support, these folds eventually leave behind visible lines even when the face is relaxed.
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Loss of Mid-Face Volume: The thinning and shifting of natural cheek fat pads remove the underlying support for the skin, causing it to fold and crease more easily during expression.
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Environmental Damage: External factors such as UV radiation, pollution, and smoking accelerate skin aging, impairing the skin’s ability to repair and regenerate itself.
Because they reflect a change in both the skin’s surface quality and the underlying facial structure, effective treatment must address both components.
Comprehensive Treatment Approaches
There isn’t one single solution for accordion lines. The most effective approach is a personalized plan that combines improvements to skin quality, structural support, and long-term collagen stimulation.
1. Structural Volume and Support
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The Issue: Loss of mid-face support allows the skin to fold deeply.
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The Approach: Adding gentle, strategic support to the mid-face can restore a smoother contour and soften the creasing effect created during smiling and laughing.
2. Optimising Skin Quality
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The Issue: Poor skin quality (lack of hydration, elasticity) means the skin holds onto creases.
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The Approach: Medical-grade skincare that focus on hydration, improving elasticity, and smoothing fine surface wrinkles.
3. Stimulating Collagen and Elastin
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The Issue: The skin’s support network is weakening over time.
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The Approach: Treatments that stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin can strengthen the skin from within, improve long-term resilience, and slow the progression of lines. This is a crucial element of long-term management.
Preventative Care
Treatment is not only about correction; prevention is essential for maintaining results. This includes:
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Daily SPF: Protecting the skin from damaging UV exposure.
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Consistent Skincare: Using active ingredients, antioxidants, and retinoids (where appropriate).
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Early Intervention: Considering subtle treatments when lines are first visible with expression, before they become deeply etched at rest.
Goals, Results & Ongoing Care
The overall aim of treating accordion lines is to soften existing wrinkles and prevent future deepening while preserving your natural facial movement and expression.
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Potential Results: Clients typically see smoother cheek contours, less visible creasing when smiling, and softer wrinkles when the face is at rest.
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Ongoing Maintenance: Long-lasting results require ongoing care, which may involve follow-up treatments tailored to your skin’s needs, and a commitment to daily high-quality skincare and sun protection.
Are accordion lines the same as nasolabial folds?
No. Nasolabial folds are the deep creases from the nose to the corners of the mouth, primarily caused by volume loss and sagging. Accordion lines are the fine, vertical creases on the outer cheek, primarily caused by repeated skin folding during smiling and loss of skin elasticity.
Can skincare alone fix accordion lines?
Skincare (especially sun protection and retinoids) is vital for improving skin quality and elasticity, but it generally cannot address the underlying loss of mid-face volume and structural support that contributes to the lines.
What is the best age to treat accordion lines?
Treatment is effective at any age. Early treatment (when lines are still dynamic) can prevent them from becoming deep and static. Treating them when they are more prominent often requires a more comprehensive approach.
Have questions? We're here to help.
Check your suitability for personalised guidance.
Non-surgical cheek contouring focuses on enhancing definition and balance in the mid-face. Treatment is tailored to highlight the natural cheekbones and support overall facial proportions without surgery.
Cheek volume loss refers to flattening or hollowing of the mid-face, which can develop with natural ageing or be present due to facial anatomy. This change often makes folds and shadows more noticeable.
People who notice reduced cheek definition, sagging, or hollowness in the mid-face may consider treatment. It may also be suitable for those wanting to refine facial structure or balance their features.
Treatment may help by adding or supporting volume in the mid-face, supporting the overlying skin, and refining facial contours. This can create a refreshed appearance and improve balance across the face.
Your consultation is an opportunity to discuss your goals and concerns. The clinician will assess your facial structure, review your medical history, and explain non-surgical options that may be appropriate.
Non-surgical cheek contouring works by strategically adjusting volume in the mid-face. This helps to highlight the natural cheekbones, improve facial balance, and support the overlying skin. The approach is tailored to each person’s anatomy and goals, with treatment designed to create a natural and harmonious result.
Yes. Cheek contouring is tailored differently for men and women to respect natural facial shape and proportions. In women, the focus is often on creating gentle curves, lift, and soft transitions. In men, the aim is usually stronger definition, straighter contours, and a more angular appearance. The specific approach is guided by your unique anatomy and aesthetic preferences.
Deciding if cheek contouring is “worth it” is a personal choice that depends on your individual concerns and desired outcomes. Many people consider non-surgical cheek contouring when they want to change their facial definition, create a more balanced look, or address a lack of volume in their cheeks.
Cheek contouring may help create the appearance of lift by increasing structure in the mid-face. While it doesn’t physically tighten the skin, improving cheek support can soften the look of heaviness in nearby areas, such as under the eyes or around the mouth.
To help make the process simple, we have developed an all-inclusive fixed price for our mid face treatment.
So that we can provide pricing information, we first require you to complete our online suitability assessment so that a clinician can determine if it’s right for you.
The procedure involves precise, non-invasive treatment to the cheeks or mid-face. Anaesthetic options are available to help minimise discomfort.
Most cheek treatments take around 15–30 minutes, depending on the areas being addressed, and the extent of treatment.
While individual experiences vary, you may feel slight discomfort. Most clinics take steps are usually taken to minimise any potential discomfort.
Cheek contouring is a non-surgical approach that involves carefully placed treatments to support volume and definition in the mid-face. The exact method depends on your unique facial structure and goals, with the aim of improving balance and proportion while maintaining a natural look.
The time to results after non-surgical cheek contouring depends on the specific methods used. Some techniques give instant changes, while others emerge over a few weeks.
Results are temporary and vary depending on the treatment performed, the individual, and factors such as metabolism and lifestyle.
No, results are not permanent. Maintenance treatments are required if you want to sustain results.
No. Cheek contouring is tailored to your natural anatomy and desired outcome. For men, the focus is often on creating stronger, more angular contours, while for women it may be on adding softness or subtle lift. The approach is always individualised to adjust your features in line with your preferences.
After treatment, it’s common to notice some swelling, redness, or mild tenderness in the cheek area. These effects are usually temporary and settle within a few days to a week. Results can often be seen quite soon, with continued improvement as any swelling resolves. You’ll be provided with aftercare guidance to support a smooth recovery.
Downtime is usually minimal. Some people experience temporary swelling, redness, or bruising, which typically resolves in a few days.
Non-surgical cheek contouring is a low-risk treatment when performed correctly, but does have some side effects.
Common side effects include swelling, redness, and bruising. Less common risks including infections and inflammation, and will be discussed during your consultation to support informed decision-making.
