Best full face mask for high cheek bones/angular faces?

So I sleep well in the Nasal Aire II and the Swift FX but get ugly leak lines and can't use them when I have a cold; and my Hybrid gives a beautiful flat leak line but the pressure points it hits below my nose keep me up for some reason (I've tried adjusting every way I can and it's not even pain, I think I just don't do well with any pressure on that sensitive area between the lips and nares).

I'd like a backup full face mask on hand for congestion, but I haven't been in the market for one since the original Quattro was the fresh new thing, and I know there are new options on the market since. The problem I've had in the past with FF masks has been having to cinch it too closely to my face to get proper contact with the cushion all around, due to a thin, angular face with high cheekbones (and high nose bridge). (I actually have a total face mask as well for this very reason, but getting it to stay sealed now that my pressure is so high is a challenge, since I am an "active sleeper" and can't sleep on my back.)

Does anyone with a similar facial build have a FF mask that's working well for them? I'll take advantage of return insurance, but I'd love suggestions as to where to start.

Just wanted to try and bump this up...hopefully there is someone out there with experience with the new FF masks to know if there are some that are more forgiving/accommodating than others for those of us with less fleshy faces?

Mella, could you post a photo of your face to provide an idea of the shape of it?

Is it like any of these:

Thanks for the reply! I like to keep my anonymity, but--minus the fact that I am not an international superstar beauty--my thin face with angular cheekbones and a higher (defined) nasal bridge between pronounced eye sockets is probably something like these--which with the original Quattro (and before that, the original Mirage) FF meant that I was leaking into the eyes from the bridge and/or leaking out of the lower half of the mask ("mask farts") because there was not sufficient contact with the cushion due to the height of the cheekbones:

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You've just posted the most difficult and subjective problem we all have had to deal with: selecting an interface that is comfortable, yet doesn't leak excessively. It might be worthwhile to drop by a bricks-and-mortar DME supplier and ask them to fit you. Your particular facial features might be unique enough that you might best be fitted by someone who has some expertise in that area. And it helps to have a set of eyes outside your own head looking at how the mask fits.

I might as well add, are you SURE your straps aren't too tight? If you're feeling pressure it might help to loosen them a little. And if the pressure is where the mask touches your nares, try smearing a very thin layer of K-Y on them. It will allow the silicone to slide a little, and as the water evaporates it will tend to become a little sticky and hold the nasal pillows in place.

Slartybartfast wrote:You've just posted the most difficult and subjective problem we all have had to deal with: selecting an interface that is comfortable, yet doesn't leak excessively. It might be worthwhile to drop by a bricks-and-mortar DME supplier and ask them to fit you. Your particular facial features might be unique enough that you might best be fitted by someone who has some expertise in that area. And it helps to have a set of eyes outside your own head looking at how the mask fits.

Thanks--I appreciate the suggestion, but unfortunately there is no place like this I can get to easily, and since I am not covered for DME supplies and would pay much more there than I would at cpap.com, I can't in good conscience even pretend that I am there as a client to "try before you buy." In the past, "buy three masks with return insurance [or very cheaply secondhand] one at a time and see what works" has been the go-to method.

What was wrong with the Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows and Headgear?

Otherwise, you might need to use this:

avi123 wrote:What was wrong with the Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows and Headgear?

Otherwise, you might need to use this:

For some reason, the pressure right below my nares--even gentle, non-painful pressure--keeps me in a very light sleep all night until I finally remove the mask. (There's actually a nerve there you can place pressure on to prevent a sneeze, in many cases!) I've tried every adjustment I can think of to try to make it work.

And---what it that....thing? It looks very interesting.

mellabella wrote:

avi123 wrote:What was wrong with the Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows and Headgear?

Otherwise, you might need to use this:

For some reason, the pressure right below my nares--even gentle, non-painful pressure--keeps me in a very light sleep all night until I finally remove the mask. (There's actually a nerve there you can place pressure on to prevent a sneeze, in many cases!) I've tried every adjustment I can think of to try to make it work.

And---what it that....thing? It looks very interesting.

OK, I think I found the pictured product on CPAP.com's website, but unfortunately the reviews look abysmal:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Nasal- ... eviews-tab

Mellabella:

I don't know if this will help but I did have similar problems with the Quattro. My nose bridge is narrow compared to the cut of the cushion top (which produced leaks near my eyes) and under higher pressures the mask would face fart. I can't claim high cheekbones but it did seem that the mask was intended for wider, flatter faces than mine.

As for other masks for comparison, I had similar problems with the Amara, but I have been able to get a good seal with the Quattro fx. It's a somewhat smaller mask with no forehead brace and for me the cushion shape at the top is better.

Keep in mind that the regular Quattro that I have is a 2012 version, so the cushions may be different from the early model that you tried (or not I dunno).

I have to say that comparing facial features with fashion models isn't exactly an everyday thing for me. So now I can tell my wife: "I may not be Brad Pitt but I do have the nose bridge of a (gender not mentioned) fashion model... "

Kennerly


Mellabella wrote:

"I'd like a backup full face mask on hand for congestion, but I haven't been in the market for one since the original Quattro was the fresh new thing, and I know there are new options on the market since. The problem I've had in the past with FF masks has been having to cinch it too closely to my face to get proper contact with the cushion all around, due to a thin, angular face with high cheekbones (and high nose bridge). (I actually have a total face mask as well for this very reason, but getting it to stay sealed now that my pressure is so high is a challenge, since I am an "active sleeper" and can't sleep on my back.)'

Does anyone with a similar facial build have a FF mask that's working well for them? I'll take advantage of return insurance, but I'd love suggestions as to where to start."

and

"minus the fact that I am not an international superstar beauty--my thin face with angular cheekbones and a higher (defined) nasal bridge between pronounced eye sockets is probably something like these..."

Kennerly wrote:Mellabella:

I don't know if this will help but I did have similar problems with the Quattro. My nose bridge is narrow compared to the cut of the cushion top (which produced leaks near my eyes) and under higher pressures the mask would face fart. I can't claim high cheekbones but it did seem that the mask was intended for wider, flatter faces than mine.

As for other masks for comparison, I had similar problems with the Amara, but I have been able to get a good seal with the Quattro fx. It's a somewhat smaller mask with no forehead brace and for me the cushion shape at the top is better.

Thank you--this is in fact very helpful because the nose issue was a factor for the same reason for me, and I'll put the Amara lower on the list of things to try, and consider the Quattro FX seriously. (I was also wondering if one of these might help with the bottom half of a full face mask, if it fit: http://padacheek.com/PAC_AntiLeak_Strap.html )

Kennerly wrote:
I have to say that comparing facial features with fashion models isn't exactly an everyday thing for me. So now I can tell my wife: "I may not be Brad Pitt but I do have the nose bridge of a (gender not mentioned) fashion model... "

Kennerly

LOL-- I know exactly what you're talking about!

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks/oral-cpap-mask.php

I have no affiliation with our sponsor. I have not used this mask.

I have used mole skin to build up the bridge of my nose, a totally synthetic product available in the foot care section of supermarkets, pharmacies.

Now I use a Total Face Mask, where I still breathe only through the nose, but, I do not have the pressure of a mask sitting on my nose bridge. This mask has its own challenges, and is also called the mask of the last resort. It is suggest for those who have two sides of the face that are unequal. If you decide to try it, you might post that here on the forum, someone has compiled a list of suggestions to a 'how to' for this mask. To which I would add one more right now. When one gets up in the morning, and washes ones face, then, like the fashion models, one leaves the face wet, and puts a really good skin oil on. After awhile that has an effect of making the skin more flexible, and thereby, the mask, and mask straps fit more easily. (https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... dgear.html)

Please, let us know what you find works best.

The mask you seek sounds like the Fisher-Paykel Flexifit 432.
The foam seal made the mask too narrow for me to wear, and the nose bridge area seems to be meant for a nose much more like yours than mine.
Sadly, the return insurance is costly, and it is not a fit pack like the 431--you need to use the size gauge.
What size do you normally wear?
I have not worn a full face mask at all for over 2 years.
When congested, I have used a decongestant spray and a breathe right strip, and the moisture from my humidifier does the rest.