Chubby Cheeks, What Helps and What Does Not
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
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Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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Chubby cheeks usually come from genetics, puffiness or overall body fat, so what helps most is reducing puffiness, toning the cheek and jaw muscles for definition and, where relevant, overall weight change, while spot-reduction claims do not hold up.
This guide sorts what works from what does not, such as:
- why some cheeks look fuller
- what helps them look more defined
- what does not work
- when to see a professional
- a simple routine
and many more!
We make PureLift facial devices, so we have been plain about where a device helps and where it does not.
Key Points:
Full cheeks are often genetic and can be a sign of youthful facial volume.
Puffiness makes cheeks look fuller, and responds to massage, sleep and lower evening salt.
Toning the cheek and jaw muscles gives more definition with regular use.
Facial exercises or devices cannot burn fat from the cheeks alone.
Professional options for cheek fat should be discussed with a doctor.
Why some cheeks look fuller
Genetics decide much of where the face holds volume. Puffiness, weight changes and muscle tone add to it.
What helps
Reducing puffiness
Cool water, gentle massage and a short device session in the morning. See our morning puffiness routine.
Toning for definition
Gliding a device from the corner of the mouth toward the ear and along the cheekbone defines the mid-face over weeks. A randomized controlled trial by Kavanagh and colleagues, published in 2012, measured this over twelve weeks.
Overall weight change
Facial fat follows body weight, so general diet and exercise changes show in the face too.
What does not work
Spot reduction, since no device or exercise burns fat from the cheeks alone.
Claims that a device destroys fat cells. See our facial fat article.
When to see a professional
If fullness appears suddenly or on one side only, see a doctor. Cosmetic fat procedures should be discussed with a qualified professional.
A simple routine
Every PureLift model runs nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10 on one dial, plus an Infuse pass, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and works with any water-based conductive serum.
Hollow cheeks, the opposite concern, are covered in our hollow cheeks article.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
How can I make my cheeks look less chubby
Reduce puffiness, tone the cheek and jaw muscles and, if relevant, change overall weight.
Can facial exercises reduce cheek fat
No. They can improve tone but cannot burn fat from the cheeks alone.
Does a facial device reduce chubby cheeks
It can reduce puffiness and add definition, but it does not remove fat.
Why are my cheeks puffy in the morning
Fluid collects overnight, especially after salty food or alcohol.
Are chubby cheeks a sign of good health
Full cheeks are often genetic and a sign of youthful facial volume.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.