What Are the Common Areas Where Fillers Are Used?

What Are Fillers?

Facial fillers rejuvenate the skin by reducing wrinkles and augmenting facial creases or areas that lose fat and collagen as we age. The American Academy of Facial Esthetics says, “Facial fillers are temporary to long-lasting solutions administered through a few tiny facial injections on specific areas of the face.”

Facial fillers can be made from natural substances such as hyaluronic acid gel or hyaluronic acid, or synthetic polylactic acid or calcium hydroxyapatite. These non-invasive cosmetic treatments are safe and wildly popular; more than one million people choose this elective treatment each year, according to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. It is one of the most common non-surgical cosmetic procedures done in the U.S. today. 

Krishma Patel, PA-C, physician assistant at Lake Nona Ophthalmology Med Spa says, “Fillers can be used in most areas of the face now. With the new filler technology, we’re able to customize a very specific and individualized treatment plan for each patient.”

Where Can Fillers Be Used?

Lake Nona Ophthalmology Med Spa commonly focuses their filler treatments on seven key areas in the face:

• Hollowing of the temple can be filled out and recontoured
• Lip shape and volume can be augmented and defined 
• Smile lines (Nasolabial folds) that run from the nose, beside the mouth, and down to the chin can lessen
• Marionette lines at the corners of the eyes can be filled in
• Tear troughs are deep creases between the lower eyelid and upper cheek
• Under eye bags can look less pronounced
• Volume loss in cheeks can be plumped

Krishma enthuses, “It’s amazing how far fillers have come. Now we’re able to treat the full face to achieve the desired results, much like an artist with a full palette to work with.”

What Types of Fillers Are Used?

“We have different types of filler that are better suited for certain areas, keeping our results more natural than ever,” says Krishma. 

Lake Nona Ophthalmology Med Spa uses the Juvederm collection of fillers. These products differ by their concentration of hyaluronic acid, so that each is targeted for a specific problem area. Krishma says these products “range from a heavy, strong lifter, like Voluma, to a filler that we can use superficially for fine lines, like Volbella.” 

The Juvederm line of products is made from hyaluronic acid, a substance that is already naturally produced by the skin. About 45% of the deep layer of your skin is made from hyaluronic acid. 

Fillers make use of these natural gel-like substances that, smooth to achieve the desired effect once injected under the skin. Some of the products in the Juvedermâ line include:

• Juvederm Voluma XC to add volume to plump out the facial cheeks
• Juvederm XC and Juvederm Vollure XC can fill in lines around the nose and mouth and address skin sagging and the loss of elasticity
• Juvederm Ultra XC and Juvederm Volbella XC work well for a non-surgical lip enhancement 

Juvederm is a terrific alternative to a face lift and a more natural process that can take years off your skin.

Since Juvederm was approved in 2006, more than 2.4 million people have elected to use hyaluronic acid fillers to improve their appearance and reduce the signs of aging.

How Long Do Fillers Last?

The length of your treatment depends on a few factors, such as the quality of the filler itself. The Juvederm line of products are of the highest quality and therefore the effects last longer, typically from six months to one year. Healthline reports they last even longer, from “one to two years.”

How Does the Juvederm Treatment Work?

As you age, collagen, which is the connective tissue that plumps out the skin, declines in volume. This is what causes wrinkles and sagging skin. The hyaluronic acid in Juvederm stimulates the collagen while adding the natural filler material directly into areas that are visibly in decline.

What Can I Expect During My Filler Treatment?

Before considering filler treatment, you will undergo a one-on-one consultation with an aesthetics professional at Lake Nona Ophthalmology Med Spa. Your health history and cosmetic goals will be discussed. Because dermal filler treatments are non-invasive you could potentially receive your treatment the same day. However, we recommend a few preparatory steps before receiving filler treatments:

• Stop medications such as aspirin or NSAIDs one week before the filler treatment
• Avoid alcohol in the weeks leading up to treatment
• Smoking is also discouraged

These three steps can lessen bleeding at the injection site and bruising. It’s also important to discuss any allergies or adverse reactions to medications that you’ve experienced, just as you would with any medical procedure.

During the treatment, your clinician will use a pen to mark the areas for treatment. The doctor will inject the Juvederm and lightly massage the area to ensure even distribution of the gel. The entire treatment takes between 15 and 60 minutes and the Juvederm injection includes a pain-relieving lidocaine which eliminates discomfort.

Are Fillers Safe?

Side effects are rare during this procedure and typically associated with unprofessional handling of the materials. That’s why it’s so important to have a trained clinical professional perform your filler procedure. You may have slight swelling or bruising after the procedure or a slight bump, tenderness, or itching. Recovery time is minimal but we recommend avoiding strenuous exercise, avoiding makeup, and staying out of the sun for 24-hours directly after your filler treatment.

Many people consider plastic surgery as the only alternative for aging gracefully. But a non-invasive, safe and long-lasting dermal filler treatment is an alternative way for you to reduce the signs of aging without going into surgery. 

Talk with the Lake Nona Ophthalmology Med Spa team today about your personalized beauty regimen that can help you look and feel your best.