Injectable fillers have become a popular choice for many patients seeking rejuvenation of the soft tissues around the eye, cheek, and mouth. The list of fillers has grown immensely since the introduction of collagen in the 1990?s. Current fillers are made of materials which last longer and have virtually no risk of producing a local or systemic reaction. Most current fillers use a molecule called hyaluronic acid to eliminate wrinkles and soft tissue depressions of the face. This is a naturally occurring molecule in the human body and is therefore very safe. There are several different preparations of hyaluronic acid gel including Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm. Another popular filler is Radiesse, which is composed of calcium hydroxyapetite microspheres which are similar in structure to bone. This filler has the advantage of lasting for longer periods of time in addition to being very safe. There are a multitude of other fillers which are used less frequently and can be discussed with Dr. Gunnlaugsson.

Filler procedure:

A filler procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes and can be done in a very comfortable fashion. Dr. Gunnlaugsson uses nerve blocks, similar to a dentist, to numb the face and make the filler procedure virtually painless. The nerve blocks take less than 5 minutes to perform and are result in minimal discomfort. Once the face is numb, the appropriate filler for the patient is injected into the areas around the eyes, cheeks, and mouth. There is minimal trauma to the facial tissues and the patient should not expect any significant bruising or swelling.

Recovery from a filler injection:

There is minimal recovery time from a filler procedure. Patients occasionally have small pinpoint bruise where the needle entered the skin and rarely have some slight swelling in the area which was injected. This is easily camouflaged with make up and patients can immediately go back to their normal routine. Icing after the procedure for 15-30 minutes can help reduce any swelling which may occur.

Expected results from a filler:

Fillers can be used to camouflage the deepening of the creases between the cheeks and mouth more commonly known as the melolabial folds. They can also be used to fill in depressions along the jaw line and in the corners of the lips. This gives a more youthful and symmetric appearance which is instantly appreciated. Fillers are also superb at increasing the volume of the upper and lower lips which frequently thin and elongate as we age. In fact, fillers have virtually replaced permanent lip implants. Fillers are also superb at improving the hollowness that can occur with age in the lower eyelid region. As we age, the lower eyelid region tends to get skeletonized due to the effects of soft tissue loss and tissue movement. Fillers can restore the youthful contour that was originally present. In many cases fillers can be used in the lower eyelid region to avoid more invasive surgical procedures.