According to recent studies by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and
the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, there were 2.6 million filler injections performed in 2016, making filler injections the second most common non-surgical procedure following Botox. With immediate rejuvenating results and little-to-no downtime, why not opt for filler? Well, as Aesop once said, "It is possible to have too much of a good thing." So, if you want to steer clear of the land of excess, here are
6 truths you'll want to know about filler:
1.
It's not what you use, it's how you do it! Juvederm? Restylane? Voluma? Belotero? Does it really make a difference which hyaluronic acid filler you choose? While some docs prefer one or another, most will agree that it's not which one is used, but how and where it is placed. For example, in the lips, filler should be injected where the pink part and white part connect, not in the pink, fleshy part which will cause unnatural lumps and bumps. For the nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and cheeks, filler placed too high will be seen through the skin, and filler put too low will cause you to spend more to see less!
2.
Really, you can have too much of a good thing. So...it softened your nasolabial folds (the lines connecting the corner of your lips to the outside of your nostrils) and it muted your marionette lines (the lines heading south from the corners of your mouth), why not plump up your cheeks? Well, you can....sort of....but just like a Hervé Léger bandage dress, you need to have the right bone structure in order to carry off cheek filler. Think of a dress that is too baggy and too long. Sure, you can gain weight to try to fill it out and lift the hem a bit, but for the best fit, expert tailoring is required. If not, move over muffin top, here comes the bobblehead!
3.
Cheek filler is like pregnancy. It lasts about 9-10 months. Just like an expecting belly, gravity continues to wreak havoc on injected cheeks causing the cheek skin to stretch and continue to droop. Some think that adding more filler will be the answer to filling in this stretched-out pocket, but this is not the solution. Because filler has limited hoisting potential, it is only a matter of time before you will see an unnatural, chipmunk-like appearance.
Beware of the hammer, disguised as filler, because when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Even before you get to the point when no additional filler will do the trick, consider surgery which may be the best, most natural-looking, and least expensive choice in the long run.
4.
You don't need a facelift to get rid of early jowls. That's right! Jowls can vanish and jawlines can be returned to youthful, superhero vigor with a bit of perfectly placed filler.
5.
Filler here. Filler there. Filler, filler everywhere? Filler can be used in the chin crease and even in the tear trough (the diagonal and indented pathway down which tears flow) to give a more youthful appearance. However, fillers should not be injected in the "11" lines in the forehead, unless the area is first immobilized with Botox or Dysport, and then, only if the line remains visible. If not, filler will tend to move with muscle motion and clump in a visible location.
6.
Forego the facials and avoid a breakdown. Facial massage (and radiofrequency tightening treatments) can breakdown filler and make it go away faster. Tell your facialist about the location(s) of your filler to improve its life expectancy at the same time!
There is no doubt that using filler can turn back the hands of time. But, it is notthe answer to all problems. You are now filled with knowledge!
If you are interested in a refresher, call us at 212.434.1210 or email us at [email protected].
