Dermal fillers have become a staple in aesthetic medicine because of their convenience for women and men on the go. It’s a quick, virtually painless procedure with no anesthesia, stitches, or downtime.
Today, there are several types of dermal fillers to address various aging issues. For example, hyaluronic acid-based fillers like Juvéderm and Volbella can add instant volume to resolve wrinkles and contour lips. Then there’s Voluma, which is excellent for rounding out gaunt cheeks, and Restylane to fill in hollow temples.
The benefits of facial fillers can last from four to 18 months and are highly tolerable and convenient, with many patients having treatments during their lunch breaks.
Dermal fillers correct the early signs of aging in people who are experiencing mild to moderate wrinkles, lines, and folds. But should you have dermal filler injections before a facelift?
The Answer Depends
There are several reasons Dr. Cooper advises against getting dermal fillers if you’re planning to get a facelift. First, injecting the filler into the upper cheek area can affect the surgical procedure. The surgeon’s ability to dissect the skin away from underlying tissue will become more challenging because the filler obscures different tissues and the proper level to separate the skin from muscular structures.
Second, the filler may act as a foreign body, leading to an increased risk of infection. When the filler hasn’t had the time to absorb fully into the tissue, it can attach itself to bacteria, making its exposure prime for future infection.
Fillers create a distorting effect that makes it more challenging to assess the natural facial volume. In addition, lifting the facial tissues during surgery forces the surgeon to guess the patient’s underlying facial volume, irrespective of the filler component. This alteration created by the filler around the time of surgery can lead to less-than-favorable results.
The filler’s placement relative to the surgical target areas is another variable. For instance, positioning the filler product directly under the nasolabial folds or chin can be less likely to create an issue for the surgical procedure or risk of infection. Therefore, it’s best to discuss the timing, location, and amount of filler with your plastic surgeon during your consultation before surgery.
What Fillers Can’t Accomplish
Dermal fillers cannot adequately address various late-term aging symptoms common to older women and men. These include severe wrinkles and folds, deep lines, jowls, and vertical neck bands resulting from loose skin.
While many patients wish to avoid surgical intervention, using dermal fillers to correct the effects of moderate to severe aging can make matters worse. With aging, the face suffers from severe skin laxity and sagging. Using fillers rather than surgery can create an unnatural bloated appearance where the face lacks a natural definition. Your facial expressions may become impaired, and facial proportions may become asymmetrical.
What a Facelift Does
Dr. Cooper can customize a facelift surgical plan to address your unique cosmetic concerns. He revitalizes facial contours through an advanced technique to address the superficial musculoaponeurotic system. This process restores youthful cheek contours, a smoother, more natural midface area, and a facial beauty that will turn heads. Because of his strategic incision placement, Dr. Cooper can redrape your facial skin to look natural, avoiding the windblown result typical with out-of-date techniques.
Schedule Your Anti-Aging Facial Consultation
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Cooper consistently achieves exceptional patient satisfaction due to his surgical skill and a personalized, patient-focused approach. He has office locations in Jupiter, FL, and Palm Beach and is on staff at Jupiter Medical Center.
To learn more about Dr. Jason Cooper and how he can help you achieve your aesthetic goals, request a consultation or call (561) 406-6574.