Facial Fillers: What You Need To Know
What are Injectable Fillers?
Facial or dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are made of products like collagen, calcium hydroxyapatite and hyaluronic acid to:
- Smooth out lines around the nose and mouth
- Enhance or restore cheeks or temples
- Remove vertical lip lines
- Enhance the lips and make them plump
- Remedy chin creases
- Enhance and reduce facial features to make them more symmetrical
- Provide facial volume
- Erase facial wrinkles
- Restore your facial appearance
- Enhance your facial features
Fillers get injected beneath the surface of the facial skin. Every year, millions of men and women choose to have this procedure done to create and maintain a more youthful appearance. Fillers are often more preferable to surgical procedures as they are less invasive and have minimal if any downtime for recovery.
It is extremely important to make sure you get injected with CTFA approved, brand-name filler products, to ensure your safety as well as the outcome of the procedure.
Furthermore, it is important for you to ensure that the procedure is done by a licensed physician like Dr. Storm, who has undergone extensive training.
What are Fillers Made of?
As explained by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery:
Fillers are categorised by the substances that they are made from.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Fillers
Hyaluronic acid is a natural occurring substance that is already found in your skin. It helps keep skin plump and hydrated. HA fillers are typically soft and gel-like. The results generally last for 6 to 12 months or longer before the body gradually and naturally absorbs the particles. Most HA fillers are infused with lidocaine to help minimise discomfort during and after treatment. FDA approved HA fillers include:
- Juvéderm products: Juvéderm XC, VOLUMA, VOLBELLA, VOLLURE
- Restylane products: Restylane, Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, and
Restylane Defyne
- Belotero Balance
Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) Fillers
Calcium hydroxylapatite is also a natural substance, found primarily in our bones. When used in a filler, the calcium particles are nearly microscopic and suspended in a smooth gel. The consistency of a CaHA filler is typically thicker than that of a hyaluronic acid filler and typically lasts longer as well, about 12 months for most patients. Calcium hydroxylapatite is also known to help stimulate natural collagen production, and is used to treat deeper lines and wrinkles. FDA approved CaHA fillers include Radiesse®.
Poly-L-lactic Acid Fillers
Poly-L-lactic acid is a biocompatible (meaning it is safe to use in the body), biodegradable synthetic substance and has been used for many years in medical devices. Poly-L-lactic acid products help your skin rebuild natural collagen—the filler gel itself dissipates a few days after treatment. Results can last more than 2 years. FDA approved Poly-L-lactic acid fillers include Sculptra® Aesthetic.
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Fillers
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is a synthetic, substance that has been used in medicine for much of the last century. With reference to dermal fillers, PMMA takes the form of a “microsphere” or tiny ball that remains beneath the skin indefinitely to provide continued support. PMMA fillers also contain collagen, a naturally occurring substance in the skin that provides structure and firmness.
Autologous fat injections (facial fat grafting) Fillers
Autologous fat injections are the only injectable filler treatment that requires surgery, but results can last for many years. Your own fat is harvested from another area using liposuction. The fat is then purified and injected into the face to help restore volume to the cheeks, temples, lower eyelids, or other areas. Fat injections require specialised training to perform safely and achieve great results, and should only be performed by an experienced, board certified cosmetic surgeon.
Which Facial fillers do I need?
There is a wide range of fillers available in the market today. These fillers differ in different texture, density as well as injection depth, and it is often difficult to make a decision about which filler is the correct option for you.
Asking a professional his or her opinion is always best, as they have been trained in knowing which filler products are best for different facial areas, conditions and desired outcomes.
Choosing The Right Provider for your Facial Fillers & Botox
When it comes to selecting a provider for fillers, you must give the same amount of thought to the process as you would when going for a surgical procedure.
The doctor or specialist you decide to use, needs the correct training, knowledge, skill and experience to ensure natural-looking results. They need to know facial anatomy, and have the precision of a surgeon with an aesthetic eye.
It is always good to ask for before and after photographs of procedures that they have done in the past.
What to Expect During your Facial Fillers Treatment
Facial filler injections are non-surgical and are normally done during a visit to a doctor’s office. Initially, you will go for a consultation to discuss the procedure as well as your desired outcomes and any concerns that you may have regarding the procedure.
The majority of patients only experience mild discomfort, as they apply a local anaesthetic cream to numb the treated areas, thus ensuring a more comfortable experience. For more information about the expected pain levels associated with facial fillers, read Dermal Filler Treatments by Natural Aesthetics.
Get a Fillers Consultation First
Although risks associated with facial fillers are minimal, it is imperative that you honestly disclose your medical history to the cosmetic surgeon performing the procedure prior to the treatment.
Answer all questions honestly, as this could affect the outcome of your results (for example: cause unexpected bruising), as well as your safety.
Your injectable Facial Fillers treatment
Prior to the procedure, the soon-to-be treated area will be cleaned and numbed using an anaesthetic.
The correct amount of the facial filler product will then be injected into your skin. Depending on the product used, results should be visible almost immediately. Some patients experience temporary, mild swelling and bruising, but this will subside over a few days following the procedure.
You will be able to go back to normal activities after your procedure has been done, but the cosmetic surgeon might recommend that you refrain from any strenuous activity for a day or two.
What to expect after your Facial Fillers treatment
A patient can recommence normal activities immediately after a dermal filler treatment, as long as they are aware of the area that was treated and does not touch it.
- Patients that use autologous fat as a filler may have an ‘over-filled appearance for a little while until the filler settles
- Bruising and swelling at the site of the filler is normal and should last a few days
- Temporary numbness and paralysis of the facial muscles that were treated
- Skin sensitivity at the area of the filler for a few days
Some patients experience temporary, mild swelling and bruising, which will go away the following days after the procedure. You will be provided with an ice pack to take home, to lessen the swelling and redness. Just periodically apply the ice pack to your treated areas for a couple of hours.
As mentioned before, you will be able to go back to normal activities after your procedure has been done. However, the cosmetic surgeon might recommend that you refrain from any strenuous activity for a day or two.
You will be able to apply makeup and other cosmetics as normal, keeping in mind that it might be swollen from half a day to a few days.
Try to avoid aspirin, myprodol, omega 3, or products containing a high-dosage vitamin E supplement for 10 days before the facial fillers procedure to avoid causing more bruising.
In most cases, there is a follow-up appointment after two weeks to ensure that everything has been set and looks good.
For two weeks after the procedure, avoid saunas and steam baths, as well as direct sunlight for long periods of time.
How Long Do Fillers Last?
Depending on the type of fillers used, as well as the area it was injected into, the results can last anytime between a few months and a year. For optimal results, additional treatment sessions are recommended.
First-time patients often use Hyaluronic acid fillers, as it is the most temporary option and lasts from 6 to 8 months. Lip injections wear out a little quicker than nasolabial fold injections. Some HA fillers like VOLUMA are made to last longer, but can only be used in certain areas such as the cheeks.
Synthetic fillers last longer, as they do not get absorbed by the body. Because of this, you need to be sure you are ready to commit to the results, as they will last several years.
With fat injections, the cosmetic surgeon often overfills the treated area with fat, as some injected fat might not survive. In the beginning it might result in a fuller look, which will gradually settle into a more natural looking appearance. Fat fillers are supposed to last indefinitely.
Find a qualified dermal fillers provider near you
With the help of a qualified, experienced, and skilled cosmetic provider, who can provide you with a beautiful, natural-looking treatment, you will feel a lot more comfortable in your skin.
If you are thinking about opting for either a dermal or fillers botox procedure, Dr. Storm has over 10 years in cosmetic medicine and is a qualified Botox and dermal fillers specialist.
As an established doctor on the West Coast of Cape Town who frequently attends aesthetic congresses and workshops on the latest botox and fillers techniques, you can be assured that Dr. Storm will be able to help you look and feel your best.
Contact Dr Storm today to find out more about botox treatments
Dr. Willie Storm has been practicing medicine for 25 years in South Africa and has a well-equipped procedure room for minor procedures, as well as PC-based lung functions and stress-ECG tests.
Contact Details
Telephone: 021 557 8341
Fax: 021 557 2998
Email: accounts@wjstorm.com
13 Pentz Drive
Table View, Cape Town, 7441