Recent Trends in Filler Application

Information

What are dermal fillers used for?

Dermal fillers can be used in various ways and for various purposes:

• To smooth out wrinkles
• To fill in hollows in the forehead area
• To fill in under-eye bags
• To shape the cheekbones
• To add volume and smooth the deep folds that run from the nose to the mouth (nasolabial folds)
• To increase lip volume, contour the lips, and smooth vertical lines around the corners of the mouth
• To fill in hollows in the chin area
• To smooth out acne and chickenpox scars

What are the latest trends in their application?

Recently, we have increasingly been using fillers to fill in the hollows in the forehead area - usually above the eyebrows and at the temples. These hollows form naturally with advancing age, as a result of decreased bone density in this area. Fillers allow us to shape the forehead so that it takes on a fresher appearance, which automatically rejuvenates the overall look of the face.

How do they work, and how do they differ from Botox?

Dermal fillers are a cocktail of natural or synthetic materials that are injected directly into the skin to add volume to a specific area, smoothing out the corresponding wrinkle or hollow. Depending on the type of filler, the effect can last anywhere from six months to two years.

A clear distinction must be made between dermal fillers and Botox. Although both procedures involve injecting a specific product, Botox is most often injected into the muscles in the forehead area and the wrinkles around the eyes (crow's feet), where it blocks the movement of the muscles that leads to the appearance of these wrinkles. This is fundamentally different from the filling effect we get with fillers.

Since the two methods work differently, patients often decide to combine them in order to achieve a more pronounced rejuvenating effect.

What types of fillers are there?

There are two large groups of dermal fillers - natural and synthetic.

Fillers made from natural products (hyaluronic acid) carry a much lower risk of causing an allergic reaction. Their effect is immediate, with a duration of 6 to 18 months (sometimes up to two years). Over time, the hyaluronic acid is broken down by the body, and the effect gradually fades. This is why it is a good idea to have maintenance treatments. In most cases, once a year is enough.

Both natural and synthetic fillers carry certain risks of allergy and other side effects, but with synthetic fillers these risks are much greater, given that we are injecting an artificial product that is not broken down by the body.

Which filler should we choose?

Over time, the natural filler made from hyaluronic acid has established itself as the main filler, due to its good effect and low risk of side reactions. Each company offers different types of hyaluronic acid fillers - from 4 to 8 types depending on the degree of molecular cross-linking, concentration, and density. There is hyaluronic acid for mesotherapy, for fine wrinkles and superficial injection, for medium and deep wrinkles, for the lips, for the cheekbones and deep injection - down to the bone, for varying volume, for dynamic areas, for stimulation, etc. The filler can be injected using various types of needles or cannulas. All of this gives us a great variety of techniques and possibilities. This automatically means that the specialist injecting the product must continuously stay up to date with the latest developments in this field.

Despite everything you may have read or heard, there is no single "best" filler. The choice of a specific filler should be made together with the specialist, and depends on their skill and experience, the specifics of your face, and the result you wish to achieve.

What risks does the procedure carry?

The risks of the procedure are related to possible side effects, such as redness, swelling, bruising, or lump formation. Their occurrence largely depends on the type and quality of the injected product, as well as on the experience of the specialist performing the injection. It is important to know that there are various specific techniques for placing fillers, each with its own learning curve. A good specialist thoroughly understands the composition and action of the product being used, knows which filler is appropriate to use in which area, and exactly what amount and in what way it should be injected. In this regard, I urge all women to carefully research the specialist they decide to trust before undergoing any procedure.