How Do Fillers Change Your Face?

Any changes on our faces can be life-changing, either by gaining more confidence or mulling in regret. So, it’s natural for most patients to take a step back and learn more about the cosmetic procedure they want, like fillers.

As a trusted medical spa in Rock Hill and Charlotte, Metrolina Medical Associates will share how fillers can change your face and make you look and feel good about yourself. 

What are fillers?

Fillers or dermal fillers are injectable implants that, as the name suggests, fill and smoothen your skin. They are only a temporary fill for your wrinkles and fine lines, and after six months or a year, your body will eventually absorb them. 

Fillers are approved by the FDA and are tagged as medical devices. They are safe for cosmetic enhancements as long as they are under the following criteria:

• Dermal filler brand is on the list of approved by the FDA.
• The cosmetic procedure is performed by a licensed healthcare professional. 
• The patient has no bleeding disorder or any allergies that may counteract with the fillers. 
• The fillers are not used for large-scale enhancements like body contouring and breast and butt enhancements. 

Most licensed medical professionals use fillers in conjunction with Botox to reduce signs of aging. Fillers can help enhance the following skin conditions:

• Laugh lines or lines around your mouth
• Crow’s feet or the wrinkles at the outer corner of the eye
• Forehead lines
• Skin folds
• Lip and cheek enhancement
• Facial fat loss for HIV patients
• Fat loss on the back of the hand

Different types of facial fillers

Today, there are five dermal fillers approved by the FDA. They are classified into two categories: absorbable and non-absorbable fillers.

Absorbable/temporary fillers

• Hyaluronic acid filler (HA) is a naturally occurring sugar found in our skin and cartilage. It blends with water that fills fine lines and wrinkles and makes your skin look plumper. The effect of HA can last from 6 to 12 months. Popular brands of HA wrinkle fillers are Juvederm and Restylane.
• Calcium hydroxylapatite is a mineral found in our teeth and bones. It is mixed with gel to fill volume loss in the face and back of the hand. However, it may become visible in x-rays and hide some of your bone structures. Its effects can last for 18 months. 
• Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a biodegradable polymer used for bone screws and absorbable stitches. It requires several applications for several months and takes weeks before you see visible results. The effects of this filler can last for up to two years.

Permanent fillers

• Collagen injections are made of highly purified human or cow collagen. As our bodies stop producing collagen when we age, collagen injections can help fill wrinkles and reduce the appearance of scars. FDA-approved brands of collagen fillers are Bellafill and Sculptra. 
• Polymethylmethacrylate beads (PMMA microspheres) are tiny artificial polymer beads in a gel-like solution mixed with bovine or cow collagen. Unlike other soft-tissue fillers, they are not absorbed by our bodies. They are a component of bone cement and intraocular lenses. In cosmetic use, it is only applied in wrinkles around the mouth.

How do fillers work?

Fillers can change your face by filling your decreasing facial volume due to aging and facial expressions. During a filler procedure, your licensed medical professional or doctor will evaluate your face to strategize the application of fillers. 

Once the target areas are marked in your face, your doctor will apply numbing cream or a local anesthetic for pain. Then, the filler application will take place one by one. The procedure can only take around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the area treated. 

You will have a follow-up checkup with your doctor to see how your face has adjusted after the treatment. The follow-up checkups are also the right time to let your doctor know about any adverse reaction you experience to help prevent further complications. 

In some cases, medical professionals use fillers in areas where Botox may fail or not be suitable to lift or smooth the skin, such as near the brows or eyelids. Fillers keep the improper application of Botox in these critical areas that may cause droopy eyebrows and eyelids.

Risks of getting fillers

A filler is generally a safe cosmetic enhancement to get rid of skin imperfections. However, you must consult a board-certified medical professional for your fillers treatment to avoid the possible complications associated with wrong application and technique, such as:

• Infection
• Skin discoloration
• Bumps or lumps
• Dead tissues
• Blurred vision or permanent blindness
• Allergic reaction

According to the FDA, some patients may experience some after-treatment conditions that can last for two weeks. The side effects of fillers include:

• Bruising
• Redness
• Swelling
• Localized pain
• Itching

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Juvederm the same as Botox?

Juvederm uses an injectable to fill wrinkles and contour your skin, while Botox uses a drug derived from a toxin to relax your facial muscles. They are two different procedures that may work together to achieve your desired results. 

Do fillers make the skin sag?

No. Fillers are the solution to add support and fill in the sagging skin and lift it back. Fillers may stretch the skin a little, causing it to look smoother. However, as an adequate amount of fillers starts to wear off, your skin will be elastic enough to go back to its original form before you had your treatment. 

Can your face go back to normal after fillers?

Many patients fear that when the filler wears off, they will look worse than before. Though fillers may stretch your skin, it is elastic enough to revert to its original form before your treatment. However, anything that’s too much is also not good for you. Overfilling an area may stretch the soft tissues and cause the skin to sag.

A good and experienced medical professional knows well how to limit the number of fillers you need to avoid such complications. Let your doctor your concerns about skin sagging so they can enlighten you about your worries. 

Do fillers make you age faster?

Without precision and the right strategy from a licensed medical professional, complications with your fillers may occur, including lips that are too plump. There is an adequate amount of filler and proper injection techniques that only board-certified medical professionals can do. 

Consult with a trusted doctor who will not overdo your fillers and keep yourself away from botched filler work and a visit to a plastic surgeon for expensive plastic surgery to restore your face. 

Fillers at Metrolina Med Spa: A non-invasive alternative to cosmetic surgery

One rule of thumb in every cosmetic procedure is to enhance parts of your face only when necessary. With an adequate amount of fillers and a medical expert who can carefully target parts of your face, you can achieve facial rejuvenation and a more natural look with fillers without giving away that you got anything done.

Metrolina Medical Spa provides cosmetic services like Juvederm fillers in Rock Hill & Charlotte, NC. Let our team of medical professionals educate and provide you with a medically supervised approach to enhance your facial features. 

Schedule an appointment today and let medical experts help you achieve a new and better version of yourself.