Some treatments in aesthetic medicine have grown so much in the last ten years that they are now considered staples of the industry. Botox was one of the first of these ultra-popular and accessible treatments. The same is true of laser skin therapy. These treatments still dominate today. However, they’re joined by another player: hyaluronic acid fillers, the liquid gold of cosmetic treatments. Hyaluronic acid fillers have become wildly popular for a lot of reasons. Let’s take a look at why fillers are so powerful and how they can be used in your beauty regimen!
What are Fillers?
You may have heard of hyaluronic acid as a soft tissue filler if you’re at all familiar with cosmetic treatments. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the human body. It attracts and retains moisture to add volume and youthful firmness to the face. Fillers were originally formulated to temporarily fill in lines and folds in the skin that were caused by volume loss related to age. However, the treatments proved to be so effective and versatile that they are now used for other rejuvenation and augmentation treatments as well.
Incredibly Versatile
Versatility is one of the most important factors in why fillers have become so popular. This is true for lasers as well. Fillers can add instant volume and rejuvenation to many different areas of the face. Manufacturers have recognized this versatility, creating specialized formulas to help patients get even better results. While all formulas are based on hyaluronic acid, each one is optimized to perform better for certain areas of the face or specific purposes.
Natural Look and Feel
Hyaluronic acid fillers tend to look and feel very natural since hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the skin. Most patients want to avoid looking like they’ve “had work done”. This treatment is very appealing because results are generally subtle. Hyaluronic acid fillers leave the skin looking and feeling soft, smooth, and healthy. This natural look and feel is particularly important in lip enhancement since many people are very concerned with how the lips feel as well as how they look.
Accessible and Convenient
Fillers are a great option for people who want to give anti-aging treatments a try without committing to surgery. They’re minimally invasive and very safe. That means that most people are eligible for the treatment. Patients also won’t have to worry about downtime. The treatments themselves are brief and available at a price point that is accessible for many people. Plus, touch-ups are only needed every six months to a year on average, making maintenance easy should patients want to retain their results.
Uses for Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
We already talked about how versatile hyaluronic fillers are, but how many different uses do they actually have? While plastic surgeons are trying new applications all the time, here are the three most popular uses for fillers at the moment:
- Wrinkles and Folds. The classic use for fillers is reducing the severity of “static” wrinkles and folds. Static wrinkles are those which are not caused by repetitive facial movements. These can be softened using fillers. Even deep folds can be treated. Some of the most common areas treated include the nasolabial folds, which run between the nose and the mouth, and marionette lines or lip lines, which extend down from the corners of the mouth.
- Lip Augmentation. Natural-looking lip augmentation and rejuvenation is easy to achieve with fillers. Because fillers offer subtle, soft volume, the end result looks beautiful and natural, if not overdone. Fillers are also an excellent choice for temporarily resolving lip lines (also known as smokers’ lines) which extend vertically from the upper and lower lips.
- Cheek Rejuvenation. Loss of volume is one of the biggest factors in aging, but only recently did it get the attention it deserves. Now, there are fillers on the market specifically formulated for long-lasting cheek rejuvenation, restoring volume and lift to the area.
Liquid Gold—But Only In Good Hands
There is one caveat to the power of hyaluronic acid fillers: the results are only as good as the person administering the treatment. It is very important for patients to seek the help of a skilled provider when considering cosmetic treatments. While fillers don’t present many risks to patients, they can be dangerous in the wrong hands, just as with any professional cosmetic procedure. Furthermore, the results will vary based on the skill of the provider. It takes finesse, care, and experience to bring out the best qualities of hyaluronic acid and give patients a beautiful new look.
If you’re looking for a skincare expert in Richmond, VA, look no further than Hillelson-Whipple Clinic, where Dr. Ruth Hillelson and her team work diligently every day to provide the best in skincare. Dr. Hillelson is a board certified plastic surgeon and an expert in skin health and anti-aging. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 804.290.0060 today!