Cosmetic Medicine by Dr Eddie Roos

COSMETIC MEDICINE
‘Fillers are used to
restore volume to
the face where tissue
has degenerated
with age’
Where a stronger and longer-lasting result is required, practitioners may opt
for medium volume fillers. These are intended for deeper injection to restore lost
volume in areas like cheeks, under-eye hollows, nasolabial (nose to lip) folds and
marionette lines (drooping mouth corners). They are also used to correct deeper
facial wrinkles and folds and augment the lips. Results last for at around six
months to a year, again depending on the patient.
More robust and longer lasting fillers are used to revolumise larger areas such
as the cheeks and mid-face, or fill out facial depressions, deep contours and
hollows. Results can last around 12 months or more in some patients, and do
not tend to migrate from the injection site.
BIOSTIMULATORS
Some volume injectables stimulate the patient’s skin to produce more of its
own collagen and elastin over a period of weeks or months, to gradually restore
more youthful and pleasing facial contours. They stimulate the fibroblasts (the
key cells in connective tissue that produce collagen) to fill wrinkles and sunken
areas as well as help tighten the skin.
The amount injected at each session and the number of treatments
required varies for each patient depending on volume loss and specific concerns.
Results are subtle and progressive over a number of months and can last
around two to three years. It is also designed to improve the skin’s overall texture
and luminosity.
Some ‘bio-stimulating’ injectables have a two-fold effect: on injection it
immediately restores volume in addition to stimulating the growth of new
collagen (neocollagenesis) over time. It is not suitable for the lips. Results
generally last 12 to 18 months.
Filler Uses
Fillers are most often used for correcting wrinkles and furrows,
restoring volume to hollows and for facial sculpting.
Common uses include:
• Filling facial hollows and troughs produced by the ageing
process or depressed injury, surgical or acne scars;
• Lifting the outer eyebrows and creating higher, more youthful
cheekbones;
• Adding volume and definition to the lips.
How long the correction lasts depends on the individual and
where the filler is injected. Although three to six months was the
original expectation, many experienced injectors have found that
corrections in the order of six to 12 months are not uncommon.
A treatment takes about 20 to 45 minutes depending on what
needs to be done and the correction is seen immediately.
Following treatment, patients may experience some mild puffiness
around the injected treated area(s) but this usually settles within 48
hours. Lips may be swollen for the first two to three days before they
settle to their ideal volume.
DR EDDIE ROOS WWW.COSMETICELEGANCE.COM.AU // 13