I lost several teeth and now have a different facial contour on that side – any solution?

Dr Irwin I lost two of my upper back teeth on the left side of my mouth five years ago and have since lost a lot of weight. This has caused a hollow in the left side of my face. Could you advise me as to what filler would be best to fill out this hollow and would I need many injections of the product? Thank you 36year old female

I’m glad you asked this because this problem is more common than you might think.  I just saw another patient last week with the same issue only it was her lower jaw.  You’re absolutely right that losing teeth or bone in the jaw bone (mandible) will cause a loss of support for the overlying skin in that area.

First, if you can and I know they are expensive, really consider getting implants or a bridge to stabilize the jaw  so you don’t lose more bone.  But sometimes this isn’t an option.  

As for fillers, after finding a good dermatologist or plastic surgeon, start with the firmer hyaluronic fillers first (referred to as higher G prime).  For example, Perlane has a higher G prime than Juvederm Ultra Plus.  

Generally, Perlane might be an excellent choice in this area.  At some point, if you are happy with your doctor and the way it looks so far, you might want to consider Sculptra, if your doctor agrees and has the expertise in this product.  

 Dr. I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

Ask me your skincare question!

Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

  • All our content is written and researched by myself.
  • My medical office in Seattle has treated thousands of patients for 15+ years.
  • This site is not affiliated or financially tied to any product, treatment or device.
Ask Me Something
SkinTour Skincare
One of the best investments in your skin is your daily skincare. Why? Because you can prevent many problems with blotchy skin color, lack of glow, texture, some types of acne, and fine lines with good skincare products. You can also correct some of these problems with effective skincare products. Great skincare is often more expensive because quality ingredients are expensive. Some companies spend on research/development which benefits all of us and adds to the cost. Are they worth it? In general - yes! I have handpicked some of what I consider to be the best skin care products, and offer them for sale on SkinTour's shop. This is based on my team and I's testing and research at our clinic. Many of the products are in my own regimen. What could be better than using skin care products a dermatologist uses?!