Facial fillers have come a long way and have become extremely valuable for the artistic correction of lines, creases, hollows and depressions due to aging and other causes. We can almost erase some lines and creases, and filling out of hollows and depressions can often give the effect of a gentle face lift. The areas most commonly approached are around the mouth, the cheeks, the chin, and the lips.
Lip enhancement can now be quite subtle. It can be performed to enhance the lip pout and correct the flatness that can develop with time. It can also separately increase the height of the vermillion, the pink portion of the lip, without necessarily plumping the lip. The cupid’s bow can be enhanced to recreate the attractive vertical pillars of the upper lip.
The safest effective facial fillers for cosmetic use are the popular hyaluronic acid products Juvederm and Restylane. While these products are not exactly identical, they are equally effective in achieving facial correction. They are both reversible with the use of the enzyme Hyaluronidase if desired and they are the gentlest of fillers. They are mixed with a local anesthetic, so generally all that is required before fillers is the application of a topical numbing cream to the surface of the skin. (Lips are more sensitive, so some patients may choose to have an injectable anesthetic before lip fillers.) Corrections generally last from 6 to 9 months, although lip enhancement may fade earlier because of lip movement.
Voluma (by the maker of Juvederm) is the amazing game changer in facial filling. Instead of being limited to correction of superficial grooves and creases, it can restore facial volume and contour lost from aging. Voluma can also allow for facial sculpting in a way that was not possible before without fat grafting. Now all of these results can be obtained during an office visit with no down time.
The links below provide authoritative sources for additional information on Facial Fillers. There is a lot of information here, and it is reliable. Please contact our office for any further information and assistance. You can email Dr. Friedenthal at drfriedenthal.com or phone him at 1-415-752-2066 for further information and assistance.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) – With Animation-
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)-
Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (CSAPS)