All you need to know about filler injections: are they for you?

Posted Monday December 16th, 2019

In AESTHETIC TREATMENTS, BEAUTY PROBLEMS, FACE, FILLERS, LIPS, NOSE, WRINKLES

Fillers have been around in the aesthetics industry for a long time and in recent years have risen in popularity, thanks or no thanks to the many American reality shows where it seems all the female characters sport the same full lips and cheeks with nary a wrinkle in sight. And you have to admit it, some of them really do look better with fillers. When done well, it can elevate your girl-next-door to sultry and sophisticated.

So if getting fillers have been on your mind, you’re at the right place as we’re about to delve in to everything you need to know about fillers before you take the leap.

#1 What is filler?

Most fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, an ingredient that is already naturally found in your skin. Because of its ability to store moisture, hyaluronic acid is what gives skin a plump and hydrated appearance.

Once hyaluronic acid is injected into the skin, it integrates well to attract water molecules in the surrounding tissue, which in turn hydrates the skin.

#2 What are fillers used for?

In the very beginning, fillers were used to treat facial lines, such as wrinkles, restoring one’s youthful appearance.

Currently there are different fillers available for treating more than lines. Fillers these days can be used to enhance one’s facial features, such as creating more defined cheekbones and jawlines, and even improve the shape of one’s nose. Fillers can also be used to fill up sallow temples and thin lips, and even improve the appearance of dark undereye circles.

Fillers can even be used to improve the texture of one’s skin, if you’re looking for dewy, luminous skin.

The possibilities are literally quite endless.

#3 What is the difference between fillers and Botox?

While both serve to halt or prevent the signs of ageing, fillers are generally used to add volume and to plump up the skin. Botox on the other hand is used to ‘freeze’ the muscles to minimise movement and is used more specifically to treat expression lines.

#4 Where are fillers used?

Fillers are more commonly used in various parts of the face. Deep injections with hard fillers help to create volume and shape (think cheek fillers and nose fillers), while mid-depth injections using medium-firm fillers help to reduce lines and wrinkles (such as laugh lines). There are also filler injections to the superficial layers such as the dermis to plump and hydrate the skin.

When using fillers, it is likely that a doctor will use a cannula, a blunt tube that allows the filler to be deposited safely under the skin, which will also help to minimise bruising on your skin.

#5 What are the best fillers to use?

Depending on the area you wish to treat, a different type of filler will be recommended for you. But the more well-recognised brands in Singapore are Juvederm, Restylane and Belotero. These are FDA-approved, meaning they are given the go-ahead from the authorities for both safety and efficacy.

#6 Do your research

Although getting a filler procedure is non-invasive and doesn’t offer permanent results, it’s still very important for you to do your research on the doctor and medical establishment before committing to one.

Don’t be afraid to ask for before and after pictures of real patients who have had fillers done, the type of fillers that will be used and the steps involved. Be as open with your doctor on your expectations and find out the downtime and possible side effects. A good doctor will be able to lay out all the alternatives available to you and advise on what can be done should complications arise (fingers crossed!).

You have to be absolutely comfortable with your doctor.

#7 Less is more

As much as we want to get results fast, when it comes to fillers, less is more. You want to look rested and refreshed and not ‘done’. A good filler procedure should never give itself away.

It’s also important to bear in mind, fillers take time to settle in. Give it at least 2 weeks post-procedure to decide if you love it or hate it. This is also a good time to arrange for a follow-up appointment with your doctor to make sure everything is going as expected.

#8 Are there risks to using fillers for a long period of time?

You might love the results of your fillers and want to do it again and again. And again. Good news is that hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in your body and is and will be accepted by your body as something natural. There aren’t any evidence or studies that suggest that long term use of fillers will be damaging to you.