You know it when you see it. That woman on the street or that once gorgeous movie star who now is unrecognizable from both fillers and plastic surgery. Not everyone has perfect genes like Audrey Hepburn with her simple untouched beauty. If you’re too young to know who she was, look up her photos. We all want to look younger as we age, and fillers became the rage until they were overdone. Now there are some alternative treatments to avoid filler fatigue.
Filler Fatigue and Pillow Face
Aging and lifestyle reduces the collagen and elastin in our skin causing wrinkles and facial volume loss. Fillers have been an alternative to improve your appearance.
Many turned away from face lift surgery due to cost and fear of looking unnatural. Women were promised natural looking results with fillers, and yet the opposite has happened: lips that are too full and pouty, and faces that are puffy. Fillers have betrayed their promise. You can end up with a swollen looking finish rather than a sculptured result.
Part of the problem has been the lack of control over how much filler is used and the timing of re-treatments. Most fillers like hyaluronic acid can last 12-24 months. Most suggest getting a re-treatment at 12 months. There has been over-treatment in hyaluronic acid filler in lips, cheeks, naso-labral folds and anywhere else on the face.
This can result in puffy faces, a decrease in elasticity, and the creation of an unnaturally wide face.
The “fix” is multi-part:
- Fillers need to be administered by someone who has a great deal of experience like board-certified plastic surgeon Loreen Ali, MD
- Fillers need to be used in moderation.
- Prevent excessive use since it can cause an unharmonious appearance.
Rather than patients asking for a certain amount of filler, injectors should be educating the patient on what is safe and the best treatment for them.
What Are Alternative Treatments to Fillers?
Women are now looking for alternatives to fillers which will last a reasonable amount of time and look more natural.
Some suggest microneedling as an alternative and a way to improve collagen. The goal is to get as close to a natural look as possible. The best results may be a combination of injectables, other treatments, and effective skin care products to increase collagen as a way to look great as one ages.
A growing trend is starting with facelifts earlier in life and consider these mini-facelifts a way to maintain a younger appearance.
A brow lift or blepharoplasty are other options. Yes, these are surgeries but quite different from your mother’s facelift. There is usually a shorter recovery time, and they can make a noticeable difference in your look without being too obvious.
A brow lift will still give you the ability to lift your brows and show expression, but without all the horizontal forehead lines. Whereas a blepharoplasty will eliminate the fat deposits and extra skin in the upper lid. That can make a world of difference in your overall appearance.
If you are having filler fatigue, it’s time to try other ways to maintain a youthful look.
Contact New England Plastic Surgery Center at (978) 942-4835 for a consultation in Chelmsford and discover the best treatment options for you. You can alternatively request an appointment through our secure online form.