Fillers, commonly known as “instant liquid facelifts”, can restore volume to sagging faces and sunken hands, smooth out nasolabial folds and other deep facial wrinkles, as well as plump up thinning lips.
They can be injected in less than an hour, with little to no downtime.
There are many types of dermal fillers on the market however, and this can create a lot of confusion for the patient. How do I choose? How do I know what’s best for me?
It’s important to note that different types of fillers have their own specific purposes, and your skin condition has to be assessed by a doctor to ensure the filler is appropriate for you. But by and large, here are some general guidelines:
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
These are fillers made from hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally-occurring substance in our bodies that maintain skin hydration and firmness. Such fillers are great for:
- Smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles
- Minimising the appearance of acne scars
- Giving skin a hydrated, refreshed appearance
While HA creams that we commonly see in pharmacies claim to deeply hydrate skin, the HA particle sizes in such creams are often too big to penetrate deep into our skin and re-hydrate our skin from within. This is where HA fillers come in handy, as they can be injected into the subcutaneous layers of our skin, sending the hydration effects to where it’s most needed.
Another advantage of HA fillers is that they can be easily reversed with hyaluronidase, also a naturally-occurring substance in the body. Should you wish to remove your HA filler for any reason, hyaluronidase can be injected at the treatment area for instant removal.
Poly-L-Lactic Acid Fillers
The main ingredient in such fillers is poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a compound that stimulates the growth of new collagen. These are generally used for:
- Treating moderate to severe facial wrinkles
- Restoring volume loss
- Augmenting facial contours to achieve, for instance, enhanced facial volume and more defined cheekbones.
While the effects of volume restoration are generally immediate, the full benefits of such fillers are seen over a few months, after the body’s natural collagen building process.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite Fillers
Such fillers mainly consist of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHa), a biocompatible substance used for more than 20 years in medicine. Like PLLA fillers, CaHa fillers also stimulates the body to produce its own collagen. These are generally used for:
- Augmenting the face to achieve better facial contours
- Achieving a V-shaped face
- Reducing moderate to severe facial wrinkles
- Rejuvenating sunken hands
Like PLLA fillers, the effects of volume restoration is also immediate, but the full effects of the body’s new collagen growth will take a few months.
Things To Note:
Even within the main categories of HA fillers or PLLA fillers, the different brands differ, for instance, in terms of filler particle sizes – which can affect the area or depth of the ideal treatment area. Hence, it’s best to let a doctor examine your skin condition, and understand what exactly you’d like treated so that he/she can recommend the filler best suited for your needs.
Some fillers also include lidocaine, an anaesthetic that helps in reducing any discomfort with injection.
Don’t mix up fillers with botulinum toxin injections! The latter is mainly used for treating mild to moderate facial wrinkles, such as crow’s feet, frown lines, or glabella lines. Many patients commonly opt to do anti-wrinkle injections in conjunction with fillers to lift and rejuvenate their faces.
At LS Aesthetic, we carry a wide range of fillers to treat both aging and facial contouring concerns. For more information, call us at +65 6738 4700, email us at enquire@lsaestheticclinic.com, or visit us at Wisma Atria Office Tower, #10-04, along Orchard Road.
We provide honest advice, quality care, and affordable prices.