Fillers are materials used to inject into the skin or tissue to achieve the goal of rejuvenation. As the name implies, filler is used to fill up hollowness and diminish wrinkles and folds on the face. Filler has increasingly become an important non-surgical technique for facial rejuvenation. Currently there are a large variety of fillers in the market. Some of these are called temporary fillers that can last from a few months to two years. The second group are semi-permanent fillers that last around two to three years. The third group are called permanent fillers that can last for many years.
Hyaluronic acid is a popular choice to be used as filler. It is a substance that exists naturally in the skin. The use of hyaluronic acid as a filler is generally safe with very minimal side effects. There are also a number of synthetic materials that are used as fillers. These include polymethylmethacrylate, calcium hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactic acid. Silicone gels are not recommended to use as filler as they tend to harden, migrate and induce local inflammation and fibrosis.
Fillers are useful for nasolabial folds, frown line, nose enhancement, lip enhancement, skin irregularities as such acne scars, and other areas that need sculpturing. Filler injection is performed as an office procedure. New generation of fillers incorporate local anesthesia within the filler material and this greatly reduces pain experienced by the patient. Patient can go back immediately after the filler injection and carry on normal daily activity.
