What fillers are
Fillers are gel-consistency, and are injected into the skin or connective tissue, restoring hydration and volume that have been lost due to normal aging. The injectables literally “fill” volume deficits, creases and wrinkles.
There are two different types of fillers: biodegradable fillers, such as collagen or hyaluronic acid, and non-biodegradable ones. Biodegradable fillers gradually degrade by the skin tissue and eventually get resorbed. Smoothline uses only biodegradable fillers, as they deliver satisfying results and are safer than non-biodegradable compounds.
What hyaluronic acid is
Hyaluronic acid is an important biological component of the connective tissue. One of the main characteristics of hyaluronic acid is the ability to attract and bind water in the skin tissue, which decreases gradually with aging. The aging process leads to less density, elasticity and volume of the skin, causing wrinkles.
Hyaluronic acid injection into the skin or other tissues can help restore the lost volume and increase the hydration level of the skin. Most injectable hyaluronic acids are called “cross-linked” products with increased durability. By cross-linking the single hyaluronic acid molecules with various substances, these products become more stable.
Non-cross-linked hyaluronic acids products degrade faster and are used in superficial treatments of the skin.
When to use fillers
Fillers are ideal to treat deep wrinkles (such as nasolabial folds) and fine lines on the cheeks or around the lips. Fillers are less effective for mimic wrinkles (such as the frown lines) due to excessive muscular activity, in which case Botulinum toxin treatment is recommended.
Fillers can restore the volume loss in skin and connective tissues and enhance or reshape different facial areas such as lips, cheeks, jowls, under-eye and nose.
When does the effect take place
The effect is immediate. The skin may show slight redness around the injection points for a short period of time. Once the redness subsides, the final result becomes fully visible. The filling lasts about twelve months, depending on the product used and the condition of the individual.
What should be considered
The treatments are generally tolerable. The physician will inform about any potential side effects, which are usually mild and temporary, such as bruising, reddening or swelling. Blood thinning medication such as Aspirin should be avoided one week prior to the treatment, and filler treatments are not recommended during pregnancy.