The effects of age on facial skin
As we age, the structure of the skin changes, losing vital proteins and structural components. The skin loses its elasticity, thickness and deeper fat. Wrinkles and facial lines become more prominent. Whilst wrinkle relaxing injections are excellent for minimising dynamic lines (lines which become more obvious with facial muscle contraction), static lines (lines which are present in the expressionless face) are often more difficult to treat with simple wrinkle relaxing injections. In the past, practitioners have been incorrectly over treating patients using wrinkle relaxing injections in an attempt to treat static wrinkles too-sometimes leading to an unnaturally frozen expression or facial drooping
The rise of filler use
Over the past 5 years, dermal fillers have become very popular for treating static wrinkles. Currently, one of the most commonly used products is Restylane® and its derivative products e.g. Restylane Lipp®, Perlane®, Perlane Sub-Q®. All these new fillers are based around hyalauronic acid, a naturally found component of collagen, which forms the basis of many types of tissue including skin. These products are now synthesised using genetic engineering to produce an exceptionally pure, easy to use product. Since the products are based on human derived hyalauronic acid there are no longer any concerns regarding products derived from animals etc. Similarly, since the product is synthesised and ready to use, they are all very easy to use and do not require harvesting from the patient e.g. fat injections- thus reducing downtime.
The different types of fillers vary in structure and are used for different indications, into different levels of tissue and vary in duration of action.
Increasing methods of usage
Their main indication is for the treatment of static wrinkles- that is, wrinkles that are present without facial expression. However, increasingly oculoplastic/oculofacial surgeons have been using fillers for volume enhancement and replacement, producing very good results without the downtime and cost of surgery.
Indications include: