Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Choosing the Correct Filler for Facial Rejuvenation

Choosing the Correct Filler for Facial Rejuvenation
David L. Hicks, M.D.

Injectible fillers offer an excellent way to diminish facial wrinkles and grooves, and augment soft tissue depressions and atrophy without the need for a long recovery. Also, they are typically much less expensive than surgery, and can be used by many patients for whom surgery is not needed or possible. However, patients must decide which filler interests them, and to do this, an understanding of the properties of each filler is needed.

The most important decision to be made is how long the filler should last. Most fillers are temporary, and the duration of action ranges from six months to almost two years. If a patient has never had a filler, he or she may not want to commit to one particular product, and may choose a filler with a very short effect to see if it is right. Others may opt for a very long acting filler, because they are confident that they will like the results, and do not want to come back often for more injections.

For the maximum duration of effect, permanent fillers are very effective. Of course, patients who choose these will never need to replace them, so the treatment for a particular region should last a lifetime. But, some patients are reluctant to put a permanent foreign material in their skin, because they don’t know how it will look decades later. For these patients, a permanent filler is not indicated.

Another consideration is cost – the longer acting fillers are typically more expensive. Patients should also consider the origin of the material to be injected. Some products are derived from animal collagen, and therefore require a skin test one month prior to using the product. This test greatly reduces the chance of suffering an allergic reaction. Other products are derived from human tissues, and are therefore extremely safe and do not require skin tests.

Lastly, patient need to remember that filler materials come in different consistencies, and therefore are most effective in certain areas of the face. For example, the lips need a very soft filler, whereas deep facial grooves can easily tolerate a more firm material.

The list below contains basic information about many of the fillers offered at the Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Medical Clinic. It will help you decide, along with your injector, which filler is best for you. Keep in mind that these fillers can be used in combination, leading to a customized and very effective outcome for each patient.