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Injectable Fillers

What Are Injectable Fillers?

Plastic surgeons offer injectable fillers for improving overall skin texture and decreasing fine lines and wrinkles.  Soft tissue injectable fillers containing hyaluronic acid (Restylane) or fat are useful for filling in the lines and creases caused by the breakdown of the underlying tissues.  Some plastic surgeons also use them to plump up the lips and cheeks, taking its use a step beyond simply improving skin texture.  Eliminating deep wrinkles or loose folds of skin may require more substantial treatment in the form of dermabrasion or a facelift.   

When using Restylane injectable fillers, the plastic surgeon generally uses lidocaine as a local anesthetic.  Patients with a low threshold of pain, however, can opt for sedatives or a topical cream anesthetic.  Restylane injections are not available to patients who are pregnant, suffering from an autoimmune disorder, or allergic to lidocaine.   

Once the area is numb, the surgeon injects tiny amounts of the Restylane filler into each crease using an extremely fine needle.  The entire procedure takes approximately thirty minutes to complete.  The effects of the injectable fillers are immediately noticeable.  Slight temporary redness, swelling, and discomfort may be apparent for a few days after the procedure.   

If fat injections are being used, the plastic surgeon cleans the donor and recipient sites; treats them with local anesthesia; and withdraws fat from the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks through a syringe connected to a cannula and suction device.  The surgeon then prepares the fat to make it suitable for re-injection with a needle to the recipient sites.  Some “overfilling” is usually necessary to allow for any fat absorption after the treatment.  The resulting swelling can last for several weeks, depending on the size of the filled area.  In some cases, the surgeon applies an adhesive bandage to the treated areas.  Most patients find that the effects of the treatment last for 3 to 6 months.