What is Filler made of?
Simply put fillers are an injectable hyaluronic acid gel that is used to replace this volume loss, fill in facial wrinkles and help restore a smoother appearance. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring carbohydrate in the body so it is very safe and guess what?! It’s also completely reversible! I always point this out to my first-timers because I know it gives them some peace of mind knowing that they are not doing something permanent, and heaven forbid they would want it reversed, it could be! (You won’t, though). There is an enzyme called hyaluronidase that I can inject right into the filler and it simply dissolves the filler. Every experienced provider keeps this antidote on hand at all times.
But I want to look natural and like myself!?
Filler treatment is completely personalized
I have heard there are many different types of filler, which one do I need?
There are many different kinds of filler that I use in my day to day practice. They vary in terms of thin to thick (consistency) and longevity. How I choose which filler to place where depends on the patient I am injecting and their anatomical needs. I determine which ‘tool’ I will pull out of my toolbox based on how much volume is needed or desired and the area of the face I am injecting. I commonly use fillers from the Juvederm and Restylane families. For example, I typically use a thin light filler like Juvederm Ultra or Volbella in the lips and something heavier with more ability to lift the face like Juvederm Voluma, in the cheeks.
Where can Filler be used on the face?
Below I will touch on a few areas where filler is commonly used. I also want to point out that I also commonly address multiple areas at once and I call this “full face correction.” With that being said I always let my patients know we can do as little or as much as they want in one visit. Some people like to take baby steps and start with one area whereas others like to go all in. Regardless of the number of areas we target, always allow your injector to determine how much of the product is needed. I can’t tell you how many times a patient will come in wanting me to use 1 syringe of filler for injecting multiple areas on the face. This is not possible! To put it into perspective 5 syringes of filler fit into a teaspoon. 1 syringe is not a lot of product since it’s only ⅕ of a teaspoon ie. 1 ml! When we are addressing multiple areas we need 3+ syringes. If you can only start with one syringe budget wise – we will instead prioritize and pick the area that bothers you most instead of doing one little touch in each spot. The best thing you can do is trust your injector and allow him or her to guide you and let you know how much filler and where it should be placed to benefit you most!
Lips
Tear Troughs (Under eyes)
Cheeks
Nasolabial Folds
Marionette Lines
Temples
Jawline
Sleep lines
Acne Scars
Ear Lobes
Ultimately, fillers are used to correct deficits and enhance your natural beauty. Filler should look natural and beautiful. No one will know exactly what you did – just that you look the best version of yourself – rested. Soft. Beautiful!
Choosing your treatment is just the first step! I know you have more questions about bruising, swelling and after care so check my blog on what to expect after treatment here!
Be sure to check out my YouTube to watch many videos of the different areas above being treated with filler. Also check my highlight “injections” on IG.
4 thoughts on “Fillers 101”
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Thanks for going into each area of the treatments!
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This a great read with guidance. Thank you for sharing this.