Should You Try Fillers? Here Are 8 Things That Might Surprise You

More and more women (and men!) are turning to facial fillers like Restylane to help them look younger and well-rested.^1,2 Whether you’re considering fillers or you’re simply looking for a way to boost your skin rejuvenation routine, it’s important to do your research before opting for injections. Here, we’re reviewing the basics and debunking some common misconceptions about fillers.

The Basics: What Is Filler?

Today, the most common fillers are made of hyaluronic acid,³ a compound that naturally exists in skin and holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it great for hydration.⁴ When injected into skin, fillers can restore lost volume, enhance facial shape, smooth and soften lines and even add fullness to lips.^{3,5,6,7,8,9,10} Restylane is a transparent, viscous gel,³ helping it move with the face to produce natural-looking results.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re considering fillers, the very first thing you should do is visit a doctor for a consultation. Ask friends for recommendations, or look to a website like Restylane.ca to find a physician. The doctor will have you look in a mirror and point out what bothers you about the way you’re aging and what you’d like to change — it should be a two-way conversation. And if you’re uncomfortable with his or her suggestions, try someone else.

What to Expect

If you decide to get fillers, here’s how the process typically works: During the initial consultation, the doctor will develop an action plan — taking into consideration your age, skin type and facial structure to determine which fillers will work best and where they should be placed.¹¹ The doctor will then inject the filler into the areas you need to get an optimal result. No two faces are identical, so everyone’s protocol is unique. Everyone’s results are unique, so will differ from patient to patient.

Is it Painful?

Whether or not you experience pain depends on your pain tolerance. If you’re concerned about pain, you can ask your doctor to use a product like Restylane Lidocaine which has been enhanced with an anesthetic to minimize discomfort.³

If you’re having filler injected into your lips, chances are your doctor may numb the area or automatically opt for filler with lidocaine.

How Wrinkles Are Filled

The word “filler” generally makes people think of wrinkles being individually filled like balloons at a child’s birthday party. But the technique is much more involved than that. After assessing your face, the doctor will determine where to inject the filler. Filler injected around the cheekbones can help add volume to the cheeks.⁷ You can also fill marionette lines and smooth out lines around the mouth by adding more volume.^3,6,9 Because the process is so customized, it’s important to go to a trained practitioner with an artistic eye.

Fillers Can Help Make Your Face Appear More Balanced

If you have asymmetrical features, a doctor can determine the best way to use fillers to make your face appear more balanced.¹² A few quick injections could change something about your face that’s bothered you your entire life.

Many People Are Doing It

Using fillers is increasingly more common and getting them isn’t taboo.¹ In fact, 34 percent of Canadian women put getting facial fillers on par with cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening and hair colouring.¹³ Plus, the results are natural looking so friends and coworkers may not even notice you had anything done — just that you look rested.

People are opting for injectable fillers instead of more invasive procedures, like a facelift.¹⁴ There’s often little downtime with fillers and you don’t have to deal with the inconvenience or expense of a major procedure.

The Results Can Last

Fillers like Restylane can last up to three years* with the Restylane Treatment Plan.¹⁴ This includes two follow-up treatments to achieve the full correction. Talk to your doctor to see if this is right for you.

*Repeated treatment plan only based on Restylane non-Lidocaine.

Sources:

1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2016 National Plastic Surgery Statistics. Available at: https://d2wirczt3b6wjm.cloudfront.net/News/Statistics/2016/2016-plastic-surgery-statistics-report.pdf. Accessed Apr 2017.

2. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2015 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report. Available at: www.plasticsurgery.org. Accessed Apr 2017.

3. Restylane® Lidocaine Instructions for Use.

4. John HE and Price RD. Patient Prefer Adherence 2008;3:225-230.

5. Restylane® Lyft Lidocaine Instructions for Use.

6. Restylane® Refyne Instructions for Use.

7. Restylane® Volyme Instructions for Use.

8. Restylane® Defyne Instructions for Use.

9. Restylane® Fine Lines-L Instructions for Use.

10. Restylane® Kysse Instructions for Use.

11. Jain R, et al. J Cosmet Dermatol 2016;0:1-12.

12. Muhn C, et al. Clin Cosmet Investing Dermatol 2012;5:147-158.

13. The FACE Report, Available at: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/first-canadian-report-of-its-kind-reveals-new-research-on-womens-attitudes-towards-aging-and-the-growing-acceptance-of-medical-aesthetic-treatments-510232911.html. Accessed Apr 2017.

14. Narins RS, et al. Dermatol Surg 2011;37:644-650.

Restylane Safety Information – Consumer/Patient Audience

Do not use if known allergy or hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid fillers, lidocaine or amide local anaesthetics.
Do not use if you have porphyria, bleeding disorder and/or active skin disease such as inflammation, infection or tumours, in or near the intended injection site or if you are taking thrombolytics or anticoagulants.
There are several precautions that are important to discuss with your healthcare practitioner prior to treatment. Inform your healthcare practitioner if you have any of the following:
- If you have pre-existing pigmented dark lower eye lid circles, thin skin and pre-existing tendency toward oedema formation as treatment of the lower periorbital region may not be suitable
- If you are taking immunosuppressants as treatment may not be suitable
- If you have a tendency to form hypertrophic scars or any other healing disorder
- If you have herpes viral infection as injection procedures can lead to reactivation of latent or subclinical herpes viral infections
- If you are using substances that affect platelet function, such as aspirin and nonsteroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs. As with any injection procedure, using these medications may increase your risk of bruising or bleeding at the injection site.
- If a laser treatment, chemical peel or any other procedure based on active dermal response is performed before or after the treatment. There is a possible risk of eliciting an inflammatory reaction at the implant site.
Rare but serious adverse events associated with the intravascular injection of soft tissue fillers in the face have been reported and include temporary or permanent vision impairment, blindness, cerebral ischemia or cerebral hemorrhage, leading to stroke, skin necrosis, and damage to underlying facial structures.
Injection related adverse events such as bruising, erythema, itching, swelling, pain and tenderness may occur. These side effects generally resolve spontaneously within one week after injection. Other potential side effects can occur with dermal filler injections. You should discuss the potential treatment risks with your healthcare professional.
After the treatment, exposure of the treated area to heat (sunbathing, sauna, steam baths, etc.) or extreme cold should be avoided until any signs of local inflammation have disappeared.
This product has not been tested in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Not for use in children.
Discuss all potential risks with your healthcare practitioner prior to treatment. This is only a partial list of safety information. For complete product and safety information visit Restylane.ca.