Sadly, with age comes a combination of changes to the skin such as wrinkling, changes in pigmentation, and vascular changes. As the layers underneath the skin start to change, areas of fatty tissue that were once the signs of youth, dissipate thus highlighting unwanted evidence of age. Areas commonly affected include the space between the eyebrows (a.k.a. Glabellar lines), the forehead, the cheeks, the nasolabial folds (those parentheses lines that come down from the nose around the mouth), and the chin. Other areas on the face, neck, and hands can also be affected by aging.
Dermal fillers, also known as soft tissue fillers. are used to restore that plump healthy appearance of youth by replacing lost tissue volume and smoothing out deep wrinkles. For example, dermal fillers injected into the deep vertical lines between the eyebrows can soften what many call “frown lines”, thus creating a happier, more approachable look. Botox® is often used in addition to dermal fillers to further relax the muscles underneath the skin, helping to prevent further contraction and furrowing. Similar work can be accomplished on the deep, horizontal lines of the forehead.
On the midface, dermal fillers play a huge role in restoring a youthful look in the areas under the eyes and around the cheeks. With aging, the area below the eyes becomes more depressed and causes undesirable deep sockets to develop. By injecting dermal fillers into this area, a youthful, rested appearance can be restored. Same goes for the area underneath the cheeks. Aging causes the fatty tissue to dissipate and cheekbones become accentuated causing an older more gaunt appearance. With dermal fillers, this can be reversed.
The nasolabial folds, those parentheses around the mouth, are the most common sites treated with soft tissue fillers. Most dermal fillers were designed specifically to be used on these areas but have since been found to be useful and safe on multiple other areas of the face and hands. Another area of the lower face that dermal fillers are used on often is the melomental folds of the chin. These are often referred to as marionette lines, like the lines seen on the chins of wooden puppets that allow their mouths to open and close. Dermal fillers can fill in these lines removing that unwanted sign of aging.
In addition to the uses described above, dermal fillers are also used to repair cosmetic defects that are unrelated to age. For example, dermal fillers are a minimally invasive alternative to traditional rhinoplasty (a.k.a. nose jobs) for those who wish to avoid surgery. Fillers have also been used to correct defects in contour after other surgeries and help improve other asymmetries in the nose and other areas.