Facial contouring and skin filling with Filler Injection

Many people may know filler is one of substance, however, they may not know deeply about this. What is filler? What are its benefits? When is the best time to inject it? Today, we would like to ask for information from Dr.Piyamas Singvahanont, a specialist in Dermatology, Beauty Center at Phyathai 2 Hospital. We bring the following information to you.

What is Filler?

Filler is one type of substance that doctor use to inject under the patient’s skin to fill in area of the face which are deficient or have lost volume. This symptom is common among the older or some people who are not very old but have specific structure facial problems such as sunken temples, deep under-eyes grooves. The filler injections will be done at different depths depending on the problem found.

In addition, fillers can also be injected to adjust the shape of the face to be proportional, such as lengthening the chin to fit the overall proportion of the face, adjusting the wide face to look narrower and smaller.

Many popular forms of fillers must be selected appropriately

Fillers are divided into many forms, but the most popular and registered with the FDA in Thailand is hyaluronic acid, which has many types from many companies. The amount of HA (mg/ml), the step for preparing the filler, the size of molecules, and the cross-linking to make the drug last longer will be different. Therefore, choosing the type of filler that is appropriate for the problem, including the injection technique, will be a part that will affect the effectiveness of the treatment.

One of the most popular and long – standing brands is Restylane, because there are a variety of brands that can be applied to all parts of the face. Some of the most popular forms are as follows:

• Restylane lyft: this brand uses a manufacturing technology called NASHA (Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid). The outstanding features are high stability, good shape retention, clear shape, suitable for deep injections in the area where the bones have sunken, such as sunken temples, cheeks, mid-face, in patient which skin is not too thin. For injection to enhance the cheekbones, injection to shape the chin without flowing to other areas.
• Restylane Skin Booster Vital Light is a filler with small particles that are the softest in the group and can be injected into the shallow skin layer and spread throughout the face to make the skin smooth and moist, correcting the shallow wrinkles and making the skin smooth and natural looking. It is suitable for people who do not want to change the shape of their faces too much. It can be injected to improve the wrinkles under the eye or dry, dehydrated lips.

Treatment steps with filler injection

1. Before injecting the filler, a tropical anesthetic can be applied for 30-45 minutes, in order to reduce pain. However, the filler itself also contains anesthetic.
2. During the injection process, the doctor will consider using a blunt needle -cannala or a sharp needle, depending on the area being treated which safety is the main consideration. The doctor has the ability to reduce patient’s pain during injection by injecting a small amount and injecting slowly.
3. After the injection, the injection area may be gently massaged to reduce obvious lumps in the skin in the injection area.

Recommendation for filler injection:

1. Before filler injections, patient should avoid taking medication or vitamins that affect blood clotting. Stop taking them 1 week before treatment. Those medicines included NSAIDs painkiller or Aspirin, Vitamin D, and Gingo Bilola leaf extract.
2. If the patient has a history of frequent recurrences, informs the doctor before treatment.
3. After filler injections, avoid heat and activities that cause blood to pump, such as heavy exercise, sauna, and drinking alcohol, especially in the first 2-3 days.
4. Bruising and swelling in the treated area may occur initially, which will gradually improve.
5. Avoid laser treatments that penetrate deep into the skin for at least one month after filler injections and avoid skincare creams, and cosmetics that irritate the skin for at least one week. Filler injection can be performed in conjunction with Botulinum A injections.

Dr.Piyamas Singvahanont,

A specialist in Dermatology,

Beauty Center at Phyathai 2 Hospital.