You have wrinkles you don’t love, you want to do something about it, but where do you begin? Botox, fillers, wrinkle serum, face lift — how do you know what’s right for you? You want a rejuvenated look, but the last thing you want is to end up with a botched face or look like you’re trying too hard to keep up with the Kardashians. We all know the Kylie Jenner Lip challenge video that was circulating about people putting their lips in a glass to get them plumped. No thank you!
Today we’re going to “fill you in” on fillers, how they work, where you can use them, and how they are different from other treatments.
What are fillers?
Fillers are injected into the skin and can be used to fill in wrinkles or as volumizers, plumping cheeks, jawlines, area around the mouth, lips, temples, etc. All fillers are different versions of hyaluronic acid, a product that is found naturally in your skin that holds water. For those wanting a Botox substitute, fillers are a great replacement. Be sure to ask one of our specialists about what’s right for you, because Botox or Fillers can both be a solution for you depending on what your concerns are.
Do fillers give you an “overdone” look?
In the past fillers got a bad rap from some getting “duck lips” or overdone faces. This is partially because there used to only be medium and thick filler available, which isn’t ideal for every face or every area. There are now 3-4 strengths of filler available, from really thin to thick, all used in different areas. If someone has very thin lines for lips we can start small with a thin filler, or if other areas require more volume we’ll use a thicker filler.
How do fillers work?
Fillers are directly injected into the deep dermal layer of skin either between wrinkles to fill in the area or to add volume to plump up areas or fix asymmetry. All fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, which is found naturally present in the body, and acts as a cushion and lubricant in tissues.
What are the benefits of fillers?
A few benefits of fillers are:
Adds fullness, reducing the prominence of wrinkles or creating volume.
Hyaluronic acid attracts and naturally binds water, which not only helps to maintain fullness, but also works as a powerful moisturizing agent.
It is a much more natural approach than some other treatments.
Fillers subtly stretch the skin, which tricks the body into thinking it needs to grow more skin causing you to naturally make more collagen and strengthen the area.
Fillers are almost immediate, so the physician can stop during the procedure to see if you have the desired amount.
Fillers can also be dissolved with Hyaluronidase, so if it doesn’t settle to your liking, it is usually an easy fix.
Fillers slightly stiffen the injection area, which makes it less likely to wrinkle.
Fillers last longer than Botox.
Should I use fillers instead of Botox?
It’s really not a question of “either/or” as the two can be used together, but rather what your purpose is and where you want treatment. Botox relaxes muscle movement, while fillers replace volume loss and moisturize the area. They are used in different areas for different purposes, so it’s always advised to consult with a board-certified physician that can make recommendations for your specific needs. Fillers and Botox are great complementary treatments and can even be done in the same visit.
What can fillers be used for?
Patients commonly come in asking for Botox around the lips or in the lower face. What they don’t realize is Botox it isn’t really indicated for that area. Fillers can:
Fill in wrinkles and creases around mouth, jawline, cheeks, crow’s feet, frown lines, etc.
Add plumpness to lips.
Add/restore volume to the cheekbones.
Enhance shallow contours.
Improve the appearance of recessed scars.
Are fillers safe?
Fillers are FDA-approved and considered safe to use. That being said, it is important to choose a provider that knows facial anatomy and the proper application of various fillers, as that will decrease any risks. If the procedure is performed incorrectly, complications can happen, so you need to select someone trained to prevent any issues and dissolve it quickly, should they arise. It is recommended to choose a clinician who is competent, certified, and ideally a master injector with ongoing training for the best results.
How long do fillers last?
One of the benefits of fillers is that they last longer than Botox — most last 6 months to one year and Voluma up to two years. Beyond that, fillers correct the problem so new wrinkles don’t form and over time you need less and less. For example, if you correct midface volume loss with a product like Voluma you are lifting the pressure off the nasolabial folds and the jawline so those don’t get worse instead of “chasing lines with filler.” Sometimes people see the line they don’t like, but they don’t see the cause, which is where we can help.
Can men use fillers?
Fillers are used on men all the time! The technique needs to be adjusted so that men don’t get feminine facial features, which is why you want a physician trained to work on different facial structures.
What types of fillers are there?
Fillers range from fine/thin to thick for different applications. We use the following fillers at Vitality Health:
Fine/Thin Fillers: Belotero and Restalyne Silk
Medium Fillers: Juvederm, Perlane, and Radiesse
Thick Fillers: Vuluma and Restalyne Lyft (formerly Perlane and set to release August 2015)
Part of it is awareness — one thing we offer you here at Vitality Health is personalized consultations so we can achieve what is right for you. You can wish for more mid-facial volume to fill in the small wrinkles around your lips, but if you don’t know there is a product that will help, you won’t know to ask about it. We are the experts, so you can share with us what you want and we can determine what form of treatment would be ideal for your situation.
Commenti