What Do Facial Fillers Fix?
Facial fillers replace skin substances that, when lost, cause wrinkles. The skin thins by loss of collagen and fluid. In youth, the skin remains plump from a natural sugar called hyaluronic acid that attracts and binds to the body’s water. Fillers are substances that are injected to fill in wrinkles and facial depressions that may come with age. With the advent of choices for facial fillers, we can choose the best for the specific problem and longevity.
There are now so many fillers available, we prefer to categorize them by their ideal usage. Fillers can be used to treat three conditions:
1. Superficial fine lines
2. Facial folds and crevasses
3. Facial volume loss
We all want fillers to last as long as possible, but don’t want bumps from over-injecting. Gradual, precise and pointed is our method. The most superficial lines, those that appear “etched” into the skin require the thinnest fillers. As the need for more volume replacement increases, fillers are placed deeper and can be thicker. Medium thickness fillers are used for actual folds in the skin and deeper crevasses, such as the naso-labial folds. Naso-labial folds run from the corner of nose to the corner of the mouth. Medium depth fillers also may be very effective for melo-labial folds that run downward from the corners of the mouth to the jaw; otherwise referred to as “marionette” lines. These thicker fillers are also longer lasting than the thin, superficial fillers.
Since there are a number of available fillers for fine and deep wrinkles, both may be used in the same patient, and in conjunction with one another. We often layer fillers in the same areas in order to plump folds and fill the lines that may lie in the depths of those folds.
The thickest fillers are more for volume enhancement for the face that needs to be “plumped up.” As the face ages, the cheeks get hollow in addition to droopy. Patients may need lifting as well as volume. In younger patients, however, facelifts can often be delayed by filling the cheeks. This can actually give a small lift as well and is called the “Liquid Facelift.” Of course, nothing substitutes for a beautiful and professional facelift if it’s a means to elevating jowls or excess skin under the neck. But we can go a long way in making you look more refreshed by starting with fillers.
There are a number of options for facial volume restoration. The most natural technique is using one’s own fat. The fat is re-injected immediately after removing it from elsewhere in the body. This technique is called lipo-transfer. However, we now use it less than we did a few years ago because lipo-transfer is similar to a surgical procedure in preparation and healing time. Plus there are a number of facial fillers available that can restore facial volume that may last for up to a year or more. These are Sculptra, Radiesse, and the thinker Hyaluronic Acid products; Perlane and Juvederm Ultra Plus.
There are many types of injectable fillers available today. The most popular fillers are made from hyaluronic acid (Restylane, Juvederm). Hyaluronic acid is a clear gel that already exists in the human body. It attracts water, hydrating your skin. Hyaluronic acid fillers have been safely used in Canada and Europe since 1996. Unlike many other fillers, Hyaluronic Acid is non-animal-based and poses no risk of animal disease transmission or allergic reaction.
The hottest new application for Restylane is to fill dark circles under the eyes. Often, dark circles are the result of fat bulging in the lower eyelid that is exaggerated by a hollow area called the “tear trough.” By placing Restylane into this tear-trough, there is less shadow and therefore improvement in dark circles, making you look more rested and smooth.
