F.A.F.Q. (Frequently Asked Fillers Questions)

Fillers are one of the most popular minimally invasive choices when it comes to adding volume, eliminating wrinkles and contouring the face. Beyond the fact that fillers can give you a more youthful appearance, how much do you know about the treatment?

Can You Give Me A Fillers Overview?

Fillers, also known as soft tissue fillers and dermal fillers, give immediate results with little to no recovery time or risks. They can provide a subtle result not easily seen by others.

Fillers are injected with a syringe in various areas of the head as well as the face. Some of the normally treated areas include the forehead, the lips, the jawline and the eyes. The total number of injections depends on your desired results. Some injections are performed along with a local anesthetic in order to lessen your discomfort during the treatment process.

While the results from fillers are immediate, they can also be temporary and a continuing series of injections might be necessary to maintain the results. You might experience some bruising and swelling from the injections. The amount of swelling and bruising, as well as the final results, largely depends on how experienced your injector is at performing the treatment.

Am I A Fillers Candidate?

You might be a good candidate for fillers if you:

• Have wrinkles and lines around your eyes and mouth and also on your forehead
• Wish to increase the volume in certain areas like the lips and cheeks
• Wish to decrease depressions or scars on your face that are the result of an injury or acne

What Are My Filler Options?

In general, there are three types of fillers that are most commonly used:

1. Temporary Fillers – These include collagen fillers, hyaluronic acid fillers and calcium hydroxylapatite. Collagen was the first filler available on the market that made use of this naturally occurring protein to add volume. Hyaluronic acid fillers also use a substance that naturally occurs to increase volume. Calcium hydroxylapatite is a material that is found in bones and is normally injected at a deeper level under the skin.
2. Semi-Permanent Fillers – Normally used to treat deeper facial lines and it is made of thicker substances than temporary fillers.
3. Permanent Fillers – These fillers are made of PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) which are microspheres not absorbed by the body. Permanent fillers also contain collagen and are typically only used on areas of thick skin as opposed to the lips and the eyes.

What Are Some Filler Brand Names?

While there are a number of brand names for fillers, here are some of the names most commonly known by the public:

• Hyaluronic Acid-Based Fillers like Restylane and Juvederm.
• Collagen-Based Fillers such as autologen and dermalogen fillers.
• Semi-Permanent Fillers include Radiesse and Sculptra.
• Permanent Fillers include ArteFill.

What Should I Ask My Doctor?

While you might have some individual questions or concerns, here are some general questions to ask your doctor before having fillers:

• Am I a viable fillers candidate?
• Will the doctor be performing the injections? If not, then who will be doing the injections?
• Do you have any photo examples of your previous work?
• Are my desired results easily achievable?
• How much will the treatment(s) cost?
• Are there any complications or risks?

How Long Are the Fillers Results?

The length of the results depends on each individual patient as well as the type of filler the doctor uses. Overall, you can expect these results:

• Collagen fillers can last 2 to 4 months
• Hyaluronic acid fillers can last anywhere from 6 to 12 months
• Semi-permanent fillers generally last between 12 and 18 months
• Permanent fillers can still be visible after 5 years

– MA