Home›Glossary›Malar oedema: Meaning in Aesthetic Medicine
Malar oedema: what the term means
Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 4 min read
Published 9 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong
Malar oedema is swelling from fluid collecting in the upper cheek just below the lower eyelid, in a compartment that drains poorly. It can occur on its own, and it is a recognised problem after under-eye or cheek filler, particularly when product sits above the malar septum or in larger volumes. It is often worse in the morning.
Key facts
Where
Upper cheek below the lower eyelid
After filler
Risk rises with higher volume and placement above the malar septum (Baranska-Rybak 2026)
Pattern
Often worse in the morning, after salt or alcohol
Not the same as
A fat bag behind the orbital septum, or a festoon of lax skin and muscle
Filler above the malar septum can hold fluid in a poorly draining compartment. Schematic, not to scale.
