We love dermal fillers because they can do wonders for our face (not to mention other areas of our body). We can look smoother, younger, healthier, more rested, or simply “better,” however you define that for yourself. Dermal fillers allow us to:
- Fill in fine lines and wrinkles and deeper folds
- Replace lost volume in the cheeks or lips or hands
- Smooth bumpy surfaces or acne scars
- Improve facial symmetry, such as “liquid rhinoplasty” of the nose
- Proactively alter shape, such as plumping lips that are naturally thin
But, Which Filler Is Best for You?
Well, that depends on:
- The type of problem you want to correct
- The severity of the problem
- The specific area of the face (or body)
- Personal preference, if any, about type of product or how long you want results to last
- Personal limitations such as potential allergies to ingredients
- And, of course, desired results
Choosing your provider is as important as choosing your filler. The results of a dermal filler depend on the skills, technique and artistic eye of the injector. Choosing an experienced provider is also important to help minimize the risks, such as bleeding, infection, pain, or injury to surrounding tissues. Here at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Elizabeth Hernandez says most patients seek dermal filler treatments to correct wrinkles, deep fold and to restore lost volume.
These Are Our Most Popular Fillers
- Bellafill is our most popular filler because it stimulates collagen production, lasts 5 years or longer and is very versatile — it can be used for fine lines, deep wrinkles, to restore lost volume, and for acne scars.
- Revanesse Versa is now our most popular lip filler because it provides beautiful results and causes 60% less swelling than other hyaluronic acid fillers.
- Radiesse is a popular filler to contour the cheeks and jawline because it’s thick and comes in 1.5 mL syringes (most fillers come in 1 mL syringes), so patients can achieve more correction of lost volume. It also stimulates collagen production that lasts longer than the product itself. Dr. Hernandez also uses Radiesse for a relatively new treatment called Hyperdilute Radiesse for cellulite, though only for cellulite dimples that are not deep. For this, she thins out the Radiesse by adding local anesthetic and then injects it into cellulite dimples. This works by stimulating collagen in the skin, so it fills in the fine cellulite dimples (waviness in the skin) for years — long after the filler is gone — because it’s been metabolized by the body.
Dermal fillers are useful for all genders, and some men do come in for filler treatment with the same concerns as women. However, Dr. Hernandez says it seems that more men are interested in improving the look of acne scars then seeking treatment for wrinkles or to restore lost volume. For that reason, Bellafill treatments for acne scars are especially popular with men.
Sometimes the Best Treatment Is Not a Filler
Dr. Hernandez notes that, “Occasionally, patients are looking to improve the texture of the skin (crepey skin, fine lines, thin skin, large pores, acne scars) more than anything else. In these cases we start their skin restoration with Morpheus8 (which improves acne scars by 50%) or microneedling treatment typically with Plasma to boost results.”
Fillers still play a role, though. Once skin restoration treatment is complete, Dr. Hernandez uses fillers to provide the finishing touches — filling in acne scars, for deep wrinkles or deep folds, and to restore volume that provides a lifting effect to the cheeks.
Choosing the best dermal filler depends on creating the best overall treatment plan based on your skin and desired goals. To get started, all you have to do is schedule a personal consultation.
