Facial Fillers — Current Update
Dallas-based Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Ramsey J. Choucair, M.D. presents the latest information on injectable fillers in this post.
Soft tissue filler injections are a complementary addition to traditional plastic surgery procedures used to reverse the undesirable changes of the aging face. These “off-the-shelf” fillers are proven to be safe, predictable and typically associated with minimal downtime. Additionally, advances in injectable filler technology have further improved product longevity and expanded the benefit of fillers to multiple regions of the face.
Fillers are indicated for volume loss of the eyebrows, temples, cheeks, lower eyelid hollow and lips. Fine wrinkles and deep folds located on the cheek, corners of the mouth as well as the chin are also effectively treated with newer filler formulations that allow for more superficial injection.
Safety is further enhanced, when possible, by injecting fillers with blunt cannulas instead of sharp needles. These blunt cannulas dramatically reduce bruising, swelling and decrease complications when injecting around the eyes (lower eyelid hollow, temples and eyebrow) by reducing the risk of direct injection into blood vessels.
Manufacturers develop new filler products routinely and some of these new fillers have advantages over current products while others are of little benefit over fillers already on the market. Patients rely upon surgeon judgment (and personal preference) to choose the optimum filler for each individual and each specific anatomic area. A filler recommendation that works for your friend may not be the same for you. It is certainly not “one size fits all” when it comes to fillers these days. An experienced surgeon, knowledgeable with all filler products and also capable of performing state-of-the-art cosmetic surgical procedures can provide patients with the best insight regarding rejuvenation.
A list of the current fillers used in our office includes: Restylane-L, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Defyne, Restylane Refyne, Juvederm Ultra Plus, Juvederm Voluma, Juvederm Volbella, Juvederm Vollure, and Sculptra.
Fat injection is also an excellent filler material. Removing fat from the abdomen, hips or thigh and injecting the purified fat into deflated areas of the face is a well-established technique. The downside of fat injection over “off-the-shelf” fillers includes longer recovery with greater swelling and bruising at the facial injection site. Additionally, there is a longer waiting period to visualize the final outcome from fat injection. A modest percentage of injected fat presumably lives “forever” as true tissue transplant. Therefore, over injection of fat is avoided so as to prevent distorted and “overfilled” appearances that are difficult to repair.
Please contact Dr. Choucair and schedule a consultation to learn more about the benefits of facial fillers and answer specific questions to achieve your goals.
