Fillers are a gel or paste like material that are injected into the soft tissue to push up the overlying skin. This is a great way to soften or erase wrinkles and folds. Fillers are made in different strengths. The thicker, more viscous types are better for deep wrinkles or heavy folds, such as those that occur around the cheek and lip (nasolabial) or cheek and chin (marionette). The heavier fillers are not suitable for shallow wrinkles or thin skin areas such as around the eyes or temples because they will create a lumpy appearance. A much less viscous filler is a very suitable product for these areas.
Fillers are injected through a small needle after the area is numbed with either a topical anesthetic cream or injection of lidocaine. The procedure is done in the office and the results are immediate. Sometimes there is some redness or swelling, which typically goes away in less than 24 hours. The product stays in the skin for an average of 6 months, but some of the heavier fillers can last longer, up to 10-12 months.
Fillers are a great option for patients with minimal to moderate wrinkles, as an alternative to surgery, or even in conjunction with surgical tightening procedures. In addition to erasing wrinkles they can be used to enhance the cheekbones, create more definition around the lipstick line without making the lips bigger, or adding more volume to the lips.
A volumizer is a product that stimulates the production of collagen. It is also injected under the skin, but the approach is to treat larger areas or zones of the face instead of an individual wrinkle or crease. Rather than push up a fold or wrinkle, this product creates thickening of the skin and soft tissues over a larger area, like the cheek, temple or lip skin. It helps to restore the fullness of the soft tissues that we lose as we get older, reversing that gaunt, sunken appearance by temporarily revving up supply of collagen.
The results can be very dramatic, and can last up to 2 years. Unlike fillers, the results are not immediate. It takes approximately 6 weeks for visible changes to occur.
Fillers and volumizers have distinct applications, but sometimes they can be used simultaneously.