Have you ever seen someone and been able to tell that he or she has had something “done” to their face? Maybe they have that telltale overblown “chipmunk” cheek look, or their lips look way too plumped up.
On the other hand, have you ever seen someone you know or recognize and thought, “She looks great! I wonder if she has a new skincare routine, or has had a lifestyle change that makes her look more energized?”
In either scenario, it could be that the person has had facial, or dermal, fillers. Which brings us to the #1 secret about fillers:
#1. If facial fillers are done well, you shouldn’t be able to tell the person has had them. Instead, you might think that the person looks really well rested or happier, or maybe even younger than you seem to remember.
For example, the 57-year-old woman pictured above was curious about cosmetic procedures to rejuvenate her appearance and so she consulted with Dr. Anzeljc.
She said, “Since turning 57, I noticed that no matter how much rest I was getting I continued to look tired, all the time. I knew this had to be due to aging skin. I have always taken very good care of my skin, but I wanted to do something more cosmetic. However, I wanted it to be subtle.”
She wanted to look more fresh and rested, which in turn would give her a more energized, youthful appearance. She did not want to look “plastic,” or as if every wrinkle had been completely erased from her face. The bottom line is that she wanted to look good for her age, not like she was trying to look like she was still in her 20s or 30s.
After treatments, she said, “Dr. Anzeljc gave me the perfect solution with different injections that I feel have freshened up my face, exactly what I wanted. I have more confidence and feel better when I look in the mirror.”
Which bring us to secret #2 about fillers:
#2. A natural look depends on a full-face approach.
Many of us are unhappy with certain wrinkles or one specific area of our face. For example, many men and women in their late 40s or 50s notice how much more obvious the “marionette” lines, or nasolabial folds, are.
These are the creases that go from the side of the nostrils to the outer corners of the mouth. If this becomes a problem area, you may think the obvious approach is to use fillers directly into these creases to simply plump these lines up.
However, the real culprit may be that a loss of volume in the midface cheekbone area due to aging has led to sagging skin, which visibly affects the lower part of the face. This contributes to the deepening of wrinkling and folds in areas like the jowls and the nasolabial folds.
By considering the full facial structure, however, fillers can replicate the structural support of facial bone, fat and collagen that was once present. In the case of nasolabial folds or marionette lines, this means adding the right fillers to the cheekbone area, which in turns lifts the jowls and wrinkles around the mouth.
Simply applying fillers to the creases of the nasolabial folds would make the face look unnatural. So, for fillers to look natural it’s not about “filling in” individual wrinkles or folds, but rather it’s about taking the overall structure and appearance of your face into account.
In order to do so skillfully, this brings us to secret #3 about fillers:
#3. A natural, not fake, look requires a sophisticated knowledge of different types and degrees of dermal fillers.
If you’ve been considering getting dermal fillers, you’ve likely heard of several different brands, such as Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero, Sculptra, or Radiesse.
What you really need to know about the difference between them and how fillers work is that each filler has a different degree of consistency or thicknesses. Within each brand there are fillers with different consistencies that work best for specific applications.
For example, some fillers are much better than others for softening wrinkles around the eyes or hollows under the eyes. Other types of fillers are great for subtly plumping lips without making them look overly inflated. And other fillers are best for adding volume to the cheeks or lifting the creases from the nose to the mouth.
Based on unique skin types and facial appearances, many people benefit from different fillers from one brand or multiple brands, depending on their ideal cosmetic outcome.
The point is, if you want a natural, refreshed look you need to choose a medical cosmetic professional who has the expertise and extensive experience in working with a variety of dermal fillers.
A skilled oculoplastic surgeon can assess your skin and bone structure to determine which filler, or combination of fillers, would help you achieve the most natural results for a younger-looking you, not like you’ve had something “done.”
At Baptist Eye Surgeons, Dr. Anzeljc is an oculoplastic surgeon who performs cosmetic procedures including filler and Botox injections, as well as procedures to lift eyelids and reduce eye bags. If you’re curious about how fillers or other cosmetic procedures can refresh your appearance, Dr. Anzeljc will be happy to provide more information and answer all your questions.
Baptist Eye Surgeons is an ophthalmological practice dedicated to providing quality eye care to patients whose needs range from routine comprehensive eye examinations to the treatment of complex eye diseases. To request an appointment or get directions to our Knoxville and Morristown locations, visit our website. Call us at 865-579-3920 for more information or visit us online to schedule an appointment.
