Fillers: Truths & Trends
The word “Fillers” has become commonplace in our society. They are used by celebrities and by everyday people. But what do they really do and what are they most commonly used for? Unravel the mysteries of Fillers with us!
What Do Fillers Do?
Dermal Fillers are various products used to smooth, lift, and fill the skin in order to diminish facial lines and restore the fullness and volume to the face and hands. Fillers can help reduce the signs of aging or enhance contours. They are a non-surgical, long-lasting option to help restore or maintain a youthful face.
Why Do I Need Fillers?
- Aging: As people age, their faces can lose subcutaneous fat, meaning the muscles are closer to the skin. This is when crow’s feet and laugh lines really start making more of an appearance. Women can lose some bone density as they age and facial skin can stretch a little, resulting in sagging. Add to that the daily damage from life, sun exposure and possibly heredity, and facial skin can start to need a little help.
- Contouring: In addition to combating the signs of aging, fillers can also help adjust and enhance the natural contours of the face. For example, some people feel their face would be greatly enhanced by adding some extra volume to the cheek bone area, along the jaw line or to the lips. Filler can help to contour the face to enhance the patients natural beauty.
Dermal fillers are used to smooth, lift, and fill the skin in order to diminish facial lines and restore the fullness and volume to your face and hands.
Where Are the Common Places to Add Filler?
- Lips: Lips are an area that many women wish had a bit more fullness- those perfect, pouty lips that are perfect for lipstick and draw attention to your smile. By adding a smooth gel filler to your lips, you can determine the level of pout that makes you love your smile.
- Vertical Lip Lines: In addition to adding volume to your lips, you can utilize fillers to lessen the appearance of the vertical wrinkles or lines that can form around your mouth.
- Wrinkles or Lines: Wrinkles and lines on your face can often make your skin look aged, tired or even unhealthy. Fillers, properly placed, can help lessen the wrinkles and lines, giving your skin a more rejuvenated look. A common area for fillers are the severe lines around your mouth- sometimes referred to as the “Parentheses Lines” or the nasal labial folds.
- Cheeks: Many people add fillers to the cheek area in order to replace volume loss, contour the face and soften the lines at the mid-face due to fat loss.
- Jawline: The jawline can be contoured to enhance the profile of the jaw and projection of the chin. The is where bone loss and volume loss can be very prominent.
- Hands: Hands can also be rejuvenated with filler giving them a healthy, youthful appearance. Just like with the skin of the face, hands can lose volume, leaving them looking dry, frail and aged. Filler can give the look of younger hands.
Common Filler Fears
Fear 1: Will it be obvious I have fillers? Will I look over-filled and unnatural?
There is a common fear out there that if you get any fillers, the general public will know at a glance. The injection would be obvious and unnatural. However, for most people, you can’t even tell they have had fillers at all. If the fillers were injected correctly, they enhance the natural contours and curvatures of your face subtly. Most people begin treatment with one syringe. Each syringe holds one milliliter. To give you an idea of how much that is, a standard packet of ketchup holds 10 milliliters. That’s a fifth of a teaspoon. Now, some people prefer the fuller look, and request additional syringes, but on average, the enhancement is subtle enough that people don’t know why you look so much more healthy and refreshed, you just do.
Fear 2: Will I be bruised and swollen for a long time?
There is no way to tell who will bruise and who will not. Generally less than 10% of patients bruise from cosmetic injections. Slight inflammation is a natural occurrence in nearly all patients, but is naturally resolved in three days. Certain areas- specifically areas that have more vascularity and thinner skin such as under the eyes or around the lips, are more susceptible to bruising. That being said, there are ways of minimizing the chance of bruising from the injection of dermal fillers. Pre-plan your injection so that you can prepare your skin. For example, eat a serving of fresh pineapple a day for a week prior to your appointment and a few days after your injection. (Pineapple contains enzymes that reduces inflammation and bruising). Also try to avoid things like Aspirin, Omega3, Ibuprofen, and any other blood thinners that are not prescribed or medically necessary and begin taking Arnica Montana tablets (a natural anti-inflammatory). Two to three days prior to and following your injection, avoid drinking alcohol.
If bruising occurs, use a cold compress and apply topical Arnica Montana cream.
Fear 3: Will the injections hurt?
Most dermal fillers contain Lidocaine that will numb the injection site. In addition to the presence of Lidocaine within the filler, we at Wellspring Plastic Surgery apply a custom compounded topical numbing cream that contains three separate numbing agents to ensure the most comfortable experience possible for our patients. We also incorporate distraction techniques that include vibration and breathing to help patients remain calm and at ease. Tenderness at the injections site is common due to the natural inflammation that occurs for up to three days.
Overall, the best advise we can give you is to consult with a trusted professional who can tailor treatment to you specific anatomy and desires.
At Wellspring Plastic Surgery we offer complimentary consultations to ensure our patients are completely informed, comfortable and receive the best results. Call us at 512-600-2888 to set up your consultation!
