These are substances injected under the skin to smooth out folds and even out wrinkles. These folds are due to the loss of subcutaneous fat or the combined effects of loss of skin elasticity and gravity.
There are numerous filler substances in the market but the ones that are more familiar include collagen, hyaluronic acid derivatives (eg. Restylane, Perlane, Hylaform, Juvederm, etc.) and fat.
Collagen was one of the first substances injected but is gradually falling out of favour because of its shorter duration of action (about 6 months) compared to the newer hyaluronic acid based products. And, unlike these synthetic compounds, collagen requires skin testing prior to injection. |
Filler substances are useful for individuals who are not quite ready for plastic surgery but want some correction of certain lines / folds in the meantime. The effect usually lasts from between 8 months to a year.
The more common areas that fillers are being injected include the nasolabial fold (the fold that runs from nose to corner of the mouth), the lips (for better definition and a fuller appearance) as well as other lines and depressed scars on the face.
Complications include pain during injection, swelling and redness of the injected areas that lasts for one to two days and very rarely a hypersensitivity action to the injected substance. |
