Injectable fillers are sterile, clean, non-reactive gels that are placed into the soft tissue to restore volume where it has been lost or provide it where it has never been, giving a more youthful appearance. They fill in lines and wrinkles that are the result of aging, smoking, sun exposure and gravity. The typical procedure takes less than thirty minutes and results last up to several years.
Fillers can be used to plump up cheeks and lips, soften facial features and reduce the appearance of jowls/saggy cheek tissue. They can be used in conjunction with surgeries and treatments like facelifts and Botox injections.
Types of Fillers
A variety of substances are used as fillers. All are absorbed by the body over time, which means repeated injections are necessary to maintain results. Over the last few decades, Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler have become the treatment of choice. They are derived from a protein that is present in our soft tissue, cartilage, and bone so the body rarely sees it as a foreign substance. Another benefit to HA is that it is reversible and there are medicines that can dissolve the substance if the result is not satisfactory These include:
Injection Procedure
Filler treatment is a quick procedure performed in a doctor’s office with either a local or topical anesthesia. Results are immediate and swelling is less than with a surgery, lasting about a week. Risks are rare and generally treatable