Dermal fillers are one of the most widespread cosmetic treatments used to remove wrinkles and lines and restore fullness in the face. The fillers are gel-based solutions injected into the skin through a needle or cannula. These days you can find an array of dermal fillers with different longevity.
What Do Dermal Fillers Do?
- Plump thin lips
- Enhance shallow contours
- Smoothen facial creases and wrinkles
- Soften recessed scars
- Nose reshaping
- Restore contour deformities in the face
- Bring back lost volume in the eyelids
For every filler type and target area, there are different injection techniques. The choice of which depends upon the practitioner and patient’s requirements. A dermal fillers training prepares the specialist to use the best technique for each treatment goal.
Know About Regional Applications
For the best possible results, it’s essential to know the unique concerns and precautions needed to be taken for each region. Facial filler injections are applied on three main areas:
The Upper Face
Forehead fillers are used to eradicate wrinkles and fine lines from the face. The presence of many blood vessels in the forehead makes it a tricky area to deal with. The area around the eyes is the periorbital region. The fillers injections in the periorbital region add volume to the upper lid and camouflage/fill hollows.
The Midface Region
The midface region includes the nose and cheekbones. The fillers in these areas are based on what the patient wants and the look they want to achieve. Both the areas are treated as per the patient’s desire.
The Lower Face
The lower face encompasses the lips, the area around the mouth, jawline, and chin. All of these areas can be improved with the choice of the right fillers. The fillers can fill in the wrinkles around the mouth, reshape the lips, and sculpt the jawline and the chin.
Different Types Of Dermal Fillers
Hyaluronic Acid
It is found naturally in the fluid around our eyes, connective tissues, cartilage, and joint tissues. Its role is to retain the collagen, increase moisture and provide elasticity. It’s a popular choice for restoring lost facial volume, smoothen wrinkles and facial folds.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite
It’s another substance that is found naturally in the human body. It’s a thick, mineral-like compound, heaviest among all dermal fillers. The results last for a year or more. It can help correct moderate to severe facial lines and skin folds.
Poly-L-lactic Acid
Poly-L-lactic acid is a synthetic, biocompatible, and biodegradable substance. Poly-L-lactic acid fillers are classified as collagen stimulators, and they help smooth fine lines and wrinkles. They stimulate the skin to rebuild natural collagen, and the results can last more than two years.
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is a synthetic, biocompatible substance that takes the form of a “microsphere” or tiny ball and remains beneath the skin to give continued support. They treat medium-to-deep wrinkles and folds, fill out bad scars, augment thin lips and provide structure and firmness to the face.
Common Injection Techniques
The common injection techniques used for dermal fillers are tunneling, stretching, point, and dual place. In some instances, or for specific regions, you may require a particular injection technique.
However, most facial fillers use a combination of tunneling, stretching, point, or dual plane methods. These methods are used together in a single treatment area. Other less common techniques are Fern pattern, Cross-hatching, Fanning, Depot, and Cone/Tower.
- Tunneling Technique: The needle or microcannula is inserted into the skin, particularly at a slanted 30-to-45-degree angle.
- Point Technique involves injecting several small droplets of filler into the deeper layers of the outer skin or below the skin.
- Stretching Technique: The skin is stretched, and pressure is applied to angle and place the filler precisely into the target area.
- Dual plane Technique: In this technique, the facial filler is administered within two different levels of the skin in a single target area.
Besides the injection techniques, it is also critical to understand how deep you can go with the injection. For this, you will need to understand interactions between skin, muscle, hypodermal fat, and bone.
You must pay close attention to how deep into the skin you have inserted the tip of the needle to get optimal results. It is difficult to measure at first, but you can achieve it with dermal filler training and experience.