Should You Get Filler?

Aging and volume loss go hand-in-hand. As you get older, your collagen and elastin production decreases. Combined with fat loss, these natural signs of aging often leave your cheeks, lips, under eyes, jowls, and nasolabial folds looking more tired or overdrawn. Patients as young as their mid-twenties report side effects of early volume loss and fine line formation, and dermal fillers are one of the most popular treatments to roll back some of these effects. But should you get filler? Keep reading to learn how the Elite Medi Spa can help you determine if you’re a good candidate for filler injections. 

How Dermal Fillers Work

Dermal fillers are injectable substances used to restore volume, enhance facial contours, and improve the appearance of skin. Typically, they’re made from biocompatible materials like hyaluronic acid or Poly-L-Lactic acid, among others, which boost moisture content, stimulate collagen production, and increase volume. 

Depending on the type of filler used, these injections may work to target specific areas of the face, such as: 

• Plumping Thin Lips: Dermal fillers can add volume and shape to thin or aging lips, giving them a fuller appearance.
• Enhancing Shallow Contours: They can add volume to areas of the face that may have lost fullness due to aging, such as the cheeks or temples.
• Softening Facial Creases and Wrinkles: Fillers can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and creases, particularly around the mouth and nose, such as nasolabial folds.
• Improving the Appearance of Scars: They can help to smooth out certain types of scars, making them less noticeable.
• Restoring Facial Volume: With age, skin loses elasticity and fat, leading to a more gaunt appearance. Fillers can help to restore lost volume and create a more youthful look.

Different types of fillers are available, including temporary (absorbable) and longer-lasting (non-absorbable) options. The choice of filler and its application depends on your specific needs and desired outcomes. 

Are you a good candidate for filler?

Everyone is different, and every individual requires a personalized approach. Determining whether you’re a good candidate for filler depends on the following factors in conjunction with your doctor’s assessment. 

Skin Health

Healthy skin yields better results and reduces the risk of complications with filler injections. A good candidate for filler won’t have any active skin infections, rashes, or acne in the treatment area at the time of the injection.  

Proper hydration and maintaining a balanced diet can also enhance skin condition, making it more receptive to fillers. Regular skincare routines that include moisturizing and sun protection can also prime the face for optimal filler integration after your treatment. 

Age Considerations

Every age group has unique skin characteristics that could affect the way filler injections affect your appearance. The type of dermal filler you choose depends on the severity of your aging signs. 

Younger individuals might seek fillers for subtle enhancements like lip augmentation, while older candidates may need fillers to address deeper wrinkles and significant volume loss. 

It’s important to understand that for more significant changes, surgery may be a better option than fillers to achieve the desired outcome. 

Specific Concerns

Dermal fillers work best as a targeted treatment for specific concerns you have about your appearance. Understanding your precise goals and target areas can improve your outcome overall. 

Common issues that dermal fillers can help with include smoothing out lines around the nose and mouth (marionette lines, smile lines), adding volume to thin lips, enhancing shallow contours, and reducing the appearance of recessed scars

Commitment to Follow-Up Care

While treatment can provide significant results fairly quickly, these results are not permanent. To maintain your new look, you’ll need to attend regular follow-up appointments to allow your doctor to address any concerns and retreat as necessary. 

Previous Treatments

Previous treatments can influence the choice of filler and technique, as well as the timing and placement of new injections. Understanding your history helps your provider to avoid adverse reactions and ensure compatibility between different products. Additionally, transparency about past procedures allows for a more tailored and effective treatment plan, ensuring the best possible results.

Realistic Expectations

It’s important to have a clear and realistic understanding of what dermal fillers can achieve. Candidates should not expect dramatic changes but rather subtle improvements. 

Additionally, your ideal results could take time to achieve. While you might notice some improvements directly after injection, filers could take up to four weeks to fully integrate into the tissue to achieve the final result. 

General Health 

Beyond the filler-specific considerations listed above, good candidates for filler should also be in good general health. Candidates should also be non-smokers in order to prevent complications from treatment. 

Find Out If Filler Is Right for You 

Whether you’re a good candidate for fillers depends on a variety of different factors – but self-assessments aren’t enough to truly determine if you should get filler or not. To move forward in your treatment, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with an experienced provider like the doctors at Elite Medi Spa. 

If you’re ready to find out if filler injections are right for you, call our team in Bend to schedule your appointment today!