Fillers
Fillers are part of the plastic surgeon’s therapeutic arsenal. They can help dealing with the effect of aging in two ways. Compensating for the loss of volume in the face as a result of aging and gravity is the first one. Second, this loss of volume results in deeper wrinkles, especially on the lower cheeks or on either side of the chin, which can be filled.
Fillers are a non-surgical way to solve these two problems. They are therefore used to restore volume to certain parts of the body, including the face or the hands, and fill wrinkles to make them less marked and thus less noticeable.
Treated Areas
- Cheeks
- Lips
- Nasogenian fold (located between the nose and the cheek)
- Labiomental fold (located between the lip and the chin)
- Some deep forehead wrinkles
Treatments
Fillers are often used along with botulinum toxin. These two treatments are complementary, but they do not act the same way.
The most commonly used filler is the hyaluronic acid filler. This molecule is naturally present in the body and has been synthesized in a laboratory. It is very safe and its efficacy is proven. This temporary filler lasts for about 6 months. The skin layer into which the product is injected depends on the desired effect. It acts quickly even if an edema may persist for a few days after the treatment.
Filler can also be made from the patient’s own fatty tissue. Fat removed by liposuction is treated and injected to restore lost volume. In general, its effect lasts for a long time and 50 to 70% of the fat injected stay in place.
Since treatment with fillers may be painful, it is usually administered under anesthesia.
Recovery Period
Returning to normal activities is not contraindicated after a treatment with fillers. However, it is advised to avoid strenuous physical activities on the first day after the surgery. Applying cold compresses on the treated areas may also help reduce discomfort.
Minor Complications
- Asymmetry
- Over/under correction
- Bruising
- Redness
- Edema
- Itching
- Infection
- Granulomas (reaction to foreign body) for which minor surgery may be needed
- Dermatitis