Cosmetic Medicine by Dr Eddie Roos

COSMETIC MEDICINE
FILLERS
Used to restore lost volume and smooth lines, fi llers are an increasingly
popular way to rejuvenate the face. They are gel-like substances injected
into different areas of the face to smooth lines, wrinkles and deeper folds.
Fillers are also used to restore volume to the face where tissue has degenerated
with age or where lipoatrophy (fat loss caused by disease) has caused the cheeks
to collapse. They can also be used to fi ll in pockmarks and acne scars and to
contour or reshape facial features, adding volume to lips and cheeks and to
defi ne noses and jawlines.
There are a multitude of different fi llers on the market, ranging in longevity,
composition and viscosity, depending on the individual patient’s needs. Fillers
can be used in conjunction with anti-wrinkle injections for a cumulative and
complementary result.
The vast majority of contemporary fi llers available are formulated with a
humectant that occurs naturally in the human body throughout connective,
epithelial and neural tissues and is particularly abundant in the dermis. These
types of fi llers are biocompatible and biodegradable, and range in longevity,
composition and viscosity.
The humectant used in modern-day fi llers can attract up to 1,000 times its
weight in water and is one of the main agents in maintaining hydration and a
fresh, youthful appearance, as well a major component of tissue repair.
COMPOSITION & LONGEVITY
Filling superfi cial fi ne lines and moderate facial wrinkles, and for treating those
with fi ne skin, calls for fi llers with lighter textures. Greater volumes of these fi ner
fi llers may also be injected into the mid or deep dermis for subtle contouring of
larger areas of the face such as the lips, cheeks and chin. Treatments can last
around nine months, depending on the patient.
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