The phrase “good deeds bring beauty in the next life, beauty treatments bring beauty in this life” reflects the current approach to beauty. Now, if you want a naturally beautiful face without surgery, it’s not as difficult as it seems. Modern medical innovations can enhance and contour your face safely through injections and fillers, achieving results without pain or downtime. However, many still have concerns. Dr. Piyamas Singwahanon, a dermatologist at Phyathai 2 Hospital’s Aesthetic Center, offers insights into the possibilities of safe facial enhancements.
Types of Fillers Used in Facial Contouring
Injectable fillers are classified into two main categories:
1. Non-degradable Fillers
These include liquid silicone, a foreign substance that the body perceives as an invader, which can lead to hardened lumps and tissue damage.
Caution: Liquid silicone may spread into nearby tissues, potentially leading to facial deformities.
2. Degradable Fillers
The substance that is biodegradable and commonly used in cosmetic applications, known as “filler injections,” is predominantly Hyaluronic Acid (HA). Currently, several brands are approved by the US FDA and the Thai FDA, ensuring a high level of safety. The substance is chemically cross-linked to increase stability and resistance to degradation, allowing it to last between 6 months and 2 years, depending on the type of filler.
- The gel properties vary depending on the intended purpose of use.
- Most gel formulations have good cohesiveness, preventing migration to adjacent areas.
- The risk of allergic reactions is low, unlike earlier fillers that used collagen from animal sources, which required a skin test prior to injection due to potential allergic reactions.
- Overall, the injectable substances used are considered very safe.
Possible Future Effects and Risks
For HA fillers injected deep under the skin, especially near the bone, minimal collagen fiber buildup around the filler can occur, similar to normal skin repair processes. This reaction is not harmful and can even help support the filler for better results over time. However, repeated injections in the same area or deep, aggressive treatments may stimulate excessive collagen formation, leading to uneven skin textures.
Innovations in Non-Surgical Facial Contouring
Using fillers with firm and stable properties can replace the loss of bone or deep fat tissue that occurs with age. Fillers can be injected into deep layers of the skin to lift and contour areas such as the cheeks and jawline. Additionally, HA’s water-retaining properties are beneficial for plumping lips, adding moisture, and smoothing fine lines on the lips. Lightweight, spreadable gels work well for shallow injections, enhancing skin smoothness and hydration.
Ideal Candidates for Facial Contouring
This treatment is suitable for individuals with sagging skin and volume loss, such as:
- Pronounced nasolabial folds with flat or hollow cheeks
- Sunken areas in the cheeks near the ears, creating uneven contours around the cheekbones
- Clear marionette lines and visible sagging of lower cheek fat
Precautions:
Those taking blood-thinning medications like aspirin, fish oil, or vitamin E should stop at least one week before treatment. Avoid injections in areas with active skin infections, such as inflamed acne.
Achieving Safe, Beautiful Results
In addition to choosing high-quality fillers, the expertise of the practitioner is crucial. A skilled physician will carefully analyze the facial structure, select the appropriate filler type, and administer it at the correct depth to provide effective results without excessive amounts of filler.
Overusing fillers can lead to an “overfilled” look, and injecting too shallowly, especially under the eyes, can cause visible blue shadows or lumps. Besides achieving beauty, it’s important to avoid complications like vascular blockages or infections by carefully cleaning the skin before and during the procedure.
