As skin begins to lose its elasticity and volume due to the aging process, unwanted wrinkles and sagging can result. Luckily, injectable face fillers can be used on the jawline for contouring, as well as lip augmentation, chin augmentation, liquid rhinoplasty, and hand rejuvenation. They can also be used on the temples, cheeks, and nasolabial folds.
In 2016, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that nearly 2.5 million face fillers were performed, with the number steadily rising each year.
What are Face Fillers?
Face fillers are sometimes called dermal fillers, non-surgical facelifts, and liquid facelifts. Benefits include adding fullness and volume to target areas, enhancing the face’s natural contours, and softening wrinkles, folds, and creases.
Although the procedure for dermal fillers is relatively painless, individuals may feel slight pain or pinching. Topical numbing cream may be applied beforehand as well.
Face fillers also do not require much downtime and the results will be seen immediately following the injection, with minor swelling and bruising. This is expected to subside within a few days. A follow up appointment should be scheduled in 2 weeks, to evaluate the results and receive touch ups, if needed. Periodic maintenance is also recommended.
Types of Face Fillers
There are several types of popular face filler available in medical aesthetic spas.
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) – Hyaluronic acid (HA)is considered the most popular types of face filler, and worksbest for acne scars, cheek depressions, crow’s feet, deep smile lines, frown lines, scars, burns, acne, worry lines, and smoker’s lines.
Some common brand names include Captique, Esthélis, Elevess, Hylaform, Juvederm, Perlane, Prevelle, Puragen, and Restylane.
- Calcium hydroxylapatite – Calcium hydroxylapatite works best for moderate to severe creases and wrinkles, and improving volume in cases of facial wasting from certain medications.
It is often known by its brand nameRadiesse.
- Polyalkylimide – Polyalkylimide is known as a semi-permanent dermal filler, best used for deep wrinkles, plumping of thin lips, and enhancing cheekbones and the jawline. It can also be used to treat facial wasting as well.
It is known by its brand name Aquamid.
- Other Types of Face Fillers – Other types of face fillers include Polyalkylimide, best for deep wrinkles and facial wasting from various medications; Polylactic acid, best for filling nasolabial folds and plumping thin lips; and Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (PMMA), best for filling medium to deep wrinkles, in particular in nasolabial folds.
Face fillers can also be combined with Botox treatment, which often focuses on forehead lines, frown lines, lax eyebrows, crow’s feet, bunny lines, and under eye lines.
Benefits of Face Fillers
There are many benefits of face fillers, including improving wrinkles, frown lines, and tear troughs.
Face fillers can last from 6 to 18 months, depending on the injection site and brand. For example, Juvederm or Restylane brand last only 5 to 6 months, while Volumalift or Volbella can last up to 18 months.
Best of all, if you are not pleased with initial results, certain face fillers, such as hyaluronic acid (HA) can be dissolved with an injectable enzyme called hyaluronidase.
Cost of Face Fillers
The cost of face filler varies, depending on a variety of factors, including type of treatment required, skin surface area, location of the medical aesthetic spa, and reputation and experience of the technician.
In addition, some face fillers will cost more than others depending on brand chosen.
In general, a syringe of Hyaluronic acid for cheek fillers costs $682 USD, while a syringe of Polylactic acid is approximately $915 USD. They can cost up to $1,300 USD and last approximately 1 to 2 years.
The eye area costs approximately $2,000 USD, and results are expected to last up to 2 years.
The eye and cheek area combined often costs approximately $3,300 USD, and lasts from 1 to 2 years.
Nasolabial folds, or smile lines, costs approximately $550 USD, and results can last up to a year. Lips will cost approximately $700 USD and last from 6 to 12 months.
Finally, the chin area is approximately $1,650 USD, lasting from 1 to 2 years, while the mouth area ranges from $2,300 USD for mild to moderate corrections and approximately $2,950 USD for more severe corrections. Results are believed to last about a year.
Single maintenance syringes often cost approximately $700 USD, while a second will cost $650 USD. A twelfth syringe will often cost about $400 USD.
Choosing a Face Filler Technician
Asking friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations is a great way to find the perfect face filler technician. In addition, consider browsing through various review website, such as Google reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Yelp is another great site for reviews. It is also possible to simply use any search engine to find the nearest local medical aesthetic spa. Be sure to read client testimonials and review before and after portfolios.
Social media accounts are another great way to check out recent portfolios. Some examples include Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Next, consider visiting the medical aesthetic spa in person prior to your appointment. Some offer free consultations, so do not hesitate to ask. Does the establishment look clean and tidy? Ensure that the staff inspire confidence. Are emails and phone calls returned promptly? Is the spa properly staffed? Do they focus simply on upselling services, or do they appear genuinely concerned about the well-being of the clientele?
Is the technician certified? Have they kept up to date with current training and the latest technology? Do they answers questions knowledgably?
If you do not feel 100% confident in the services being offered, do not hesitate to walk away and keep searching. This will likely be a long-term relationship with follow up appointments. Take your time, and choose wisely.
