Facial fillers: what they are, types, how they are used for wrinkles [Vichy experts’ opinion]

Facial fillers are gel-consistency preparations that, when injected into the skin layers or under the muscle, can correct the oval of the face and the manifestations of natural or early signs of aging. Fillers are widely used in aesthetic medicine as part of anti-aging therapy or the main tool for non-surgical contouring.

To achieve a pronounced cosmetic effect without adverse reactions, injections require several conditions to be met:

• they must be performed by a qualified and experienced physician who is well acquainted with the anatomical features of the human face;
• the drug is selected taking into account your individual characteristics and needs, always of high quality and certified by regulatory organizations as a dermal filler;
• needles are selected depending on the density of the drug;
• the procedure is performed in the clinic (injections performed at home are dangerous with complications).

Facial fillers – what is this procedure and how to prepare for it? Despite the fact that the drug is injected through the thinnest needles, in some areas of the face (lips, nose area), sensations can be very painful. Talk to your doctor about your pain threshold and the need for local anesthesia, as well as your tendency to allergies, chronic diseases, and how you feel at the moment.

Step 1. The doctor cleans the skin of the face using a mild antiseptic.

Step 2. Direct injection. Their number is determined by the beautician, based on the dosage of the drug and the desired effect.

Step 3. After injections, the doctor massages the skin to evenly distribute the filler.

Immediately after the procedure, swelling will be noticeable, which subsides after 2-3 days. A stable result will declare itself in about two weeks.

• filling deep mimic wrinkles and folds;
• local replenishment of volumes (volumetric contouring of the face);
• correction of asymmetry of facial features without surgery;
• correction of skin imperfections caused by the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the face and some diseases (dimples on the chin, post-inflammatory scars);
• decrease in ptosis (the tightening effect of the filler affects: injections in the cheekbones increase the clarity of the facial contours).

Hyaluronic acid is an important element of human skin and connective tissue. Along with collagen and elastin fibers, it provides youthfulness and elasticity to the skin. However, over time, its synthesis decreases by approximately 1% every year.

Fillers based on hyaluronic acid compensate for the loss of natural “hyaluronic acid”, improve skin texture, correct wrinkles and improve facial contours.

The main features of fillers with hyaluronic acid are that they are biocompatible (well perceived by the body), distributed without lumps and irregularities, and decompose naturally in the process of biodegradation.

Biosynthetic implants are gels with synthetic and natural components that have a fairly high level of biocompatibility. And yet, the risk of allergy or rejection of the filler exists, especially in the case of older generation drugs.

Currently, the following compounds are used in biosynthetic preparations, which rarely cause rejection after injections:

• Calcium hydroxyapatite.
• Polylactide.

• high likelihood of side effects;
• the polymer can form lumps and migrate in tissues;
• allergic reactions are possible.

The creation of autologous fillers is a laborious and lengthy procedure. Human cells are taken as the basis: blood plasma or adipose tissue. This ensures complete biocompatibility without side effects, but with the preservation of all the properties of the filler. Preparations of this type give a lifting effect, correct facial features, simultaneously healing the skin and improving its color.

The only drawback of autologous fillers is their high cost.

• Forehead. Perhaps the most popular area of ​​the face where fillers are placed as part of anti-aging therapy. Injections fill deep wrinkles and creases, against which Botox is already powerless.
• Cheekbones. In the cheekbone area, fillers are used to achieve two goals. The first is purely cosmetic – to make facial features more expressive. The second goal is rejuvenating. The fact is that the introduction of fillers into the skin on the cheekbones leads to tightening of the skin on the cheeks and along the line of the lower jaw.
• Lips. Lip fillers replenish their volume, which decreases with age. Also, with the help of injections, the asymmetric contour of the mouth is corrected.
• Chin. With the help of fillers, cosmetologists can round or slightly enlarge the chin, fill in the dimples that appear on it and the horizontal crease parallel to the line of the lips.
• Between the eyebrows. Between the eyebrows with active facial expressions, a vertical hall often appears. Fillers successfully smooth it out.
• Nasolabial folds. The lines connecting the nose to the corners of the mouth visually age and give the impression of a tired face. Correction of nasolabial folds with fillers allows you to increase the elasticity of the skin in these areas, resulting in a younger looking face.
• Nose. In recent years, injections have become analogous to rhinoplasty. Fillers really correct the line of the back of the nose and the severity of the nostrils for some time.
• The area around the eyes. Injections in the temples lead to smoothing of mimic wrinkles in the corners of the eyes. Dark circles under the eyes are also camouflaged with fillers.