A virtual revolution is going on with development of fillers. Many different products have been used safely and effectively for many years in Europe, Canada and Australia. These fillers have been passing FDA scrutiny and many have been cleared for use in the UK. Each coming year will bring the introduction of new fillers.
What Filler is best?
There is no easy answer for this question as each filler has different advantages and disadvantages. Contemporary facial cosmetic surgeons use multiple fillers to assist the various problems associated with facial ageing. It is rare that any contemporary facial surgeon uses only a single filler. In reality, it is important to separate the marketing media hype from the true clinical science of injectable facial fillers. It seems that each time a knew filler is FDA approved, it is hyped as the best and longest lasting filler in history, that is until the next month when the next filler comes out. In reality, they are all good for specific indications. Generally, they are made of the same ingredients and do the same thing some patients or doctors like one better than the other.
All doctors and patient want fillers to last long, as filler science progress the longevity of fillers is increasing. Although we want things to last long, sometimes it is a good thing that they go away for stop what looks good or is in style today may not be good or be installed in five years. Due to this Phil is that will eventually be absorbed by the body may be preferable.
The contemporary cosmetic surgeon is somewhat of a filler bartender and has multiple filler choices specially tailored for specific application.
What are the common FDA approved facial fillers?
- Juvederm, juvederm ultra, juvederm ultra plus [stabilised hyaluronic acid]
- Restylane, Lyft [stabilised hyaluronic acid]
- Volbella, Volure
- Autogenous fat
- Voluma
- Refyne
- Defyne
- Versa
- Radiesse (Hydroxyappetite)
- Sculptra (Poly lactic acid)
- Belotero
What can fillers do?
Many patients misunderstand fillers and sometimes confuse them with Botox. Fillers are substances that are injected under the skin or lips to plump up the tissues. For the lips, fillers can provide an increase in lip size as well as enhancing the definition. They can also plump out lipstick line that develop in many female patients.
For skin wrinkling fillers are usually used for nasolabial folds (laughlines) or bigger, deeper wrinkles. Fillers can also be used to augment facial anatomy to make bigger cheeks, chin or to fill in defects and scars.
How are fillers administered?
These are injected through small needles. Your surgeon goes to great lengths to make this procedure painless all patients are first treated with numbing cream on the area to be injected, then several small injections of local anaesthetic are given to totally numb the lips and the related areas for a truly painless procedure.
The filler is then injected in the lips, wrinkles or folds. The actual injection only takes minutes. Ice is placed on the lips immediately after the injections to stop general swelling and most patients are able to return to work the next day. Rarely some patients experience more significant swelling. For this reason, a first time filler patient may want to be treated on a day where they don’t have big plans for the next several days. It is also a good idea to refrain from aspirin or drugs that reduces clotting for one to two weeks to decrease bruising when injecting fillers.
Miss Lwin recommends having the patient return in two weeks to check the results and make sure everything is symmetric. Occasionally a touch up may be performed at the follow up appointment. It is important to view filler injection as a sculpting process and in some cases multiple appointments are required to provide that special result that patients desire.
How long does filler last?
There is no correct answer to this question as each patient metabolises fillers differently. Research has shown fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm lasts up to 12 months. Radiesse has been shown to last over a year and silicone and Artefil are permanent. Miss. Lwin does not use permanent fillers, in her practice for obvious reasons eg. Patient change their minds with time, and age-related changes still occurs. Fillers may not last as long in areas of increased movement such as around the mouth. Different fillers will last different periods of time in different patients. One thing is for sure is that newer fillers last considerably longer than the first generation of fillers.