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I’m sure that most of you have become aware that facial fillers, lip fillers, in particular, are becoming more and more popular, especially on social media. The demand for cosmetic enhancements has grown over the course of the past 20 years. More specifically, the demand for non-surgical and minimally invasive procedures has grown significantly – dermal fillers, in particular, have blown up, especially since Kylie Jenner’s lip fillers and the social media trend of having luscious and voluminous lips. Comparing statistics from 2018 to 2020, the number of soft tissue fillers administered in the United States has jumped from 2,676,970 in 2018 to 3,410,730 in 2020.
While plastic surgery clinics have been around for a long time, but medical spas like Skinly Aesthetics specialize specifically in minimally invasive procedures and injectables and have become increasingly popular. Whether that be because of constantly changing beauty standards toggled by social media, or because people have always been getting work done and are just more open about it now and minimally invasive procedures are taking over, doesn’t really matter. What matters is – what is it exactly that people are getting injected into their faces?
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
The most commonly used soft tissue fillers are Hyaluronic Acids (HA fillers). HA fillers have been FDA approved and used since the 1970s, originally for the treatment of joint pain and other health conditions, after the official ban of liquid silicone, which even though illegal in Canada, was still obtainable in 1 lb jars in New York up until 1991.
HA is a non-sulfated GAG naturally found in the body, that, because of its water-retaining qualities increases volume when injected in desired areas. You may have even heard about it in serums, creams, and all things skincare and anti-aging. But what exactly are fillers used for now? Is it just for big lips and contoured cheeks?
You may start thinking about duck lips and puffy cheeks when you think about facial fillers, but the truth is – facial fillers are not always as obvious as you would think.
Dermal fillers can be used in numerous areas of the face, including the forehead, nose, under eyes, cheeks, nasolabial folds, jawline, chin, temples, and lips. Facial fillers are also used to minimize the appearance of deep scars and wrinkles. In fact, HA fillers were first used as a treatment for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients for the restoration and correction of lipoatrophy (facial fat loss).
So, who are facial fillers for? Do you need them?
Facial fillers can be used on almost anyone and it really depends on how you feel about your face and if there are any areas that you’d like to address. When you go to a medical spa and ask for suggestions, they will know exactly what will look good. Chances are, there is a filler out there that you didn’t even know existed, that will take years off of your face. I, for example, never knew that my under-eye circles were as severe as they were until I got them filled in. I immediately looked younger and more awake.
That being said, no one actually needs to get anything done. The point of fillers is not to change your entire face, but to bring out your natural beauty and make a few little tweaks to bring volume back to areas that may have become hollow with age.
What is the difference between fillers and botox?
Facial fillers are used to add volume, while botox is used to relax the muscle in which it is injected, reducing or eliminating muscle contractions, which in turn, reduces and eliminates the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Botox is typically used for wrinkles, however, a dermal filler can also be placed along deeper wrinkles, to fill them in when botox doesn’t suffice.
What kind of other fillers are there?
As mentioned above, HA fillers seem to be the most popular when it comes to facial fillers. This may be because HA fillers are dissolvable, which I personally prefer especially if it is in my face. Other fillers include Radiesse and Sculptra. Both can be used in the face, but also serve purpose in other areas of the body. Radiesse is commonly injected into the hands (I was surprised too when I first learned about hand fillers!) to make your hands appear younger by making them look less veiny and boney. Sculptra is frequently used as a “non surgical butt lift” instead of implants or a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). Sculptra is different from the other fillers because it actually stimulates your own collagen production which over time (two to three months to be exact) will grow the area in which it was injected. So, unlike the other fillers we went over, sculptra can take some time to show. The main reason people might opt for sculptra over a BBL or implant, which are more immediate options, is likely because it is non surgical, which in my book, is a huge plus.
Final thoughts
While facial filler treatments are all based on preference and are certainly not needed, everyone deserves to feel beautiful and look their best. Whether you have hollowness under your eyes, want a more defined jawline, or simply want fuller lips, facial fillers can be a great option to enhance the already natural beauty that you have. I think that there is still a huge stigma against cosmetic surgery, even though it is so widespread. While dermal fillers aren’t for everyone, I don’t see anything wrong with wanting to get anything done by a medical professional to change your appearance, whether it be subtle or dramatic. Most of us do our hair, wear makeup, dress up, and do other things to “enhance” our appearance. Fillers are just another tool to help make us feel more confident.
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