Health365 Guide To Aesthetic Fillers

Fillers are absorbable or temporary materials designed to be injected into the skin at different depths to add volume, fullness and augment facial features. They can be used for:

1. Volumizing – To improve volume loss in areas such as cheeks or temples.
2. Lifting – If placed at certain locations, can help lift saggy skin.
3. Contouring – Fillers can help to augment certain areas of the face such as a more defined nose or chin.

What Are The Different Types Of Fillers?

There are hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers and non-hyaluronic acid fillers in the market.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan (sugar) found throughout the body’s connective tissue. HA fillers work by replacing HA which is lost with aging and also to boost the production of collagen. Common brands include Juvederm, Restylane, Stylage and Belotero. HA fillers can be dissolved using hyaluronidase should there be any adverse events or should patients dislike the results.

Non-HA fillers are usually collagen stimulators – they stimulate the dermal tissues to produce collagen. The stimulation process occurs subtly over a period of 2.5 to 3 months after injection into the skin, and the results can  last 1 to 3 years.

	HA fillers	Ellansé	Radiesse	Sculptra
Composition	HA	–30% polycaprolactone	–30% calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres + 70% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel carrier	Poly-L-Lactic acid (PLLA)
FDA approval	Yes	No, CE marking (approved for use in the EU)	Yes	Yes
Time taken for results	Immediate	Immediate	Immediate	Gradual
Longevity	6 months to 2 years	18 months to 3 years	12 months to 18 months	2 to 3 years (after 3-4 sessions)
Volume maintenance	Gradual decrease	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dissolvable	Yes	No	No	No

Where Can Fillers Be Used?

Fillers can be used in many areas of the face depending on the concerns of the patients. Commonly injected areas include the cheeks, temples, tear troughs, forehead, nasolabial and marionette folds, jaw line, nose, chin and lips. However, the exact location and technique performed will depend on the needs of the individual patient. Speak to our doctors for a customized treatment for you. 

Are Fillers Safe?

The treatment is generally safe – however, fillers still require injections. While most side effects are not serious and rarely occur, they may still happen. The general complications of filler include pain and bleeding. Bruising, infection and allergic reactions may occur, though rare. The specific complications of filler injections include overcorrection, under correction or asymmetry, and filler migration. Extremely rarely, there may be delayed onset nodule formation or occlusion to blood vessels causing skin necrosis or blindness. Our doctors take extreme care to minimize these side effects by maintaining sterility while injecting fillers. They are also very well versed with anatomy, injecting only in safer locations while always aspirating to ensure there are no intravascular injections.

What Should I Expect From The Treatment?

Filler injection is a simple procedure requiring needles or cannulas to precisely place fillers. There will be no separate anesthesia injections needed – in fact most fillers contain some lidocaine (anesthetic agent). There may be minimal pain during the procedure and we can apply some numbing cream or supplement ice packs before the procedure to help you minimise that. There may be some temporary swelling and infrequent bruising after the procedure.

In general, we advise the following post-treatment:

• Avoid massaging your face after treatment.
• Do not apply any makeup for at least 24 hours after the treatment to reduce the risk of infection.
• Avoid any vigorous exercise for a few days and heat exposure such as saunas, for a period of 1-2 weeks after the treatment.
• Do not consume alcohol and aspirin for 12-48 hours after treatment.

How Long Do The Results Last And Can The Treatment Be Reversed?

Within the Juvederm range, there are different types of fillers used for different purposes and they usually last between 6 months to 24 months. The results are usually immediate, and they can improve 1-2 weeks after the injection.

The treatment can be reversed with hyaluronidase if necessary.

Summary

Filler injection is a relatively safe and well tolerated treatment to add volume, fullness and augment facial features. Keen to find out more about filler injections? Make an appointment to speak to us today.