Facial Fillers: How to Get Natural-Looking Results

If you’ve recently noticed signs of aging on your face, injectables like dermal fillers can help counteract these changes. The process involves injecting a gel-like substance (like hyaluronic acid) under the skin, filling in the gaps due to unwanted folds and creases. They can restore volume loss and improve the look of lines and wrinkles. 

While there is no doubt that fillers can enhance your appearance and make you look less tired and less saggy, there are some recent concerns about them, with many celebrities looking fake or unnatural. Courtney Cox has been candid about her experience with aging and fillers, about how she didn’t want things (her face and skin) to drop, but in doing so it made her look “fake”.

There is always the potential to look frozen, unnaturally puffy, or not be able to make certain facial expressions with cosmetic injectables like fillers and Botox. This has happened to a lot of celebrities, but it is preventable with the right injector and dermal fillers. Continue reading as we offer some tips on getting a natural look with fillers. 

When fillers are done well

One key thing about a good filler treatment is that it should not look obvious or detectable. The changes are not overt but subtle, with people thinking that the person (who had some work done) looks happier, well-rested, or even more youthful than they remember. 

The goal is not to fix or fill in every crease, fold, or wrinkle. The goal is to look good for your age, and not to seem like you’re trying to look decades younger. In the right hands, fillers can freshen up your face or make it look harmonious, so you look and feel better or more confident about your appearance.

Find the right injector

Only trust a medical professional (e.g., nurses, dermatologists, plastic/cosmetic surgeons, aesthetic doctors) when getting fillers. This is because the treatment is still a medical procedure. Training and experience matter, as it is not possible to become an expert or skilled after just a two- or three-month-long course or program. 

Choose a provider who: 

• Has a good knowledge of facial anatomy
• Has artistry and attention to detail
• Has a background in cosmetic or aesthetic medicine
• Has training and experience performing cosmetic injectable like fillers
• Prefers a natural look for her patients
• Stays up to date with new techniques

During the consultation, ask to see before and after photos of patients your injector has treated. Do take note that it is normal for natural-looking results to look understated or subtle in photos. So, if the results in the pictures look fake or overdone, they will appear more noticeable in person. 

Our very own Dr. Sylvia Ramirez is Harvard-trained and has years of experience performing filler and Botox injections. She is also recognized for her attention to detail and evidence-based approach, where the patient comes first. She has over 20 years of experience in aesthetic medicine, chronic disease epidemiology, nephrology, and transplantation both in the United States and internationally.

Know about the fillers used

As previously mentioned, dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected under the skin to restore volume loss. The results of most US FDA-approved fillers are temporary, as they are made of substances that the body metabolizes and absorbs. This is why you have to get touch-up treatments to maintain their effects. 

There are different types of fillers, serving different purposes. At Cutis, we have the most common types: Hyaluronic acid (HA) or Juvéderm and Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) or Radiesse. Both can plump the skin and be used on different areas for total facial rejuvenation.

• Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers

HA is a naturally occurring substance in the body, responsible for keeping the skin hydrated. HA fillers like Juvéderm can be used to contour the face, volumize the lips, and reduce scar depressions. They can also improve lines and wrinkles, reduce eye puffiness, and correct folds and creases. 

The results can last between 6 and 12 months or longer. Juvéderm fillers are infused with lidocaine to reduce discomfort during and after injection. There are different Juvéderm products, such as Juvéderm Voluma, Juvéderm XC, Juvéderm Volbella, Juvéderm Volux.

• Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA)

Also a naturally occurring substance, CaHA is usually found in human bones. CaHa fillers like Radiesse have a thicker consistency than HA fillers and may last longer for most patients. It can be used to smooth moderate to severe folds and wrinkles, replenish lost volume, restore volume to the hands, and contour the jawline or lower face. 

Radiesse can last 12 to 18 months or longer. It also has the ability to act as a scaffold under the skin, which then provides structure and a volumizing effect. Also, it works as a collagen stimulator, helping the body to produce new collagen to regain its youthful tightness and elasticity. 

Find out what makes Radiesse different from other fillers. 

The US FDA has approved the fillers mentioned, and not those made with silicone. They have also not approved the use of needle-free devices to inject fillers in any part of the face or body. The US FDA has also noted that fillers are indicated for prescription use only and for use with a syringe (with a needle or cannula).

It pays to know the difference between types and brands, as well as which consistencies are suited for specific applications. And depending on your skin type and facial appearance, you may benefit from a certain type of filler or combination treatments to get your desired outcome.

You have a role to play

In some cases, patients look fake or overdone because they ask their injector to inject more. Keep in mind that the right injector will say no to such requests because they have your best interests in mind. If your provider says no, don’t go looking for a new one who’s willing to inject whatever amount of filler you want. 

Listen and start with a conservative approach. This will give you an idea of what you’ll look like with smaller doses and then make the decision to add more if it is recommended or right for you. Also, be sure to follow all aftercare guidelines to minimize bruising and any adverse reaction.

Read our previous post to find out how you can reduce and prevent bruising from Botox and fillers. 

If you think you look weird 

If you feel you look distorted or fake after the treatment, you can have it removed or reversed. If the filler is made with hyaluronic acid, it can be dissolved by injecting an enzyme called hyaluronidase into the treatment area. It breaks down the hyaluronic acid quickly, with the material completely dissolved within 24 to 48 hours.

It is a whole-face approach

Treating the face with fillers or similar injectables requires time and careful attention to detail. Good injectors examine the face from all angles, as well as pinch and touch your face to assess the quality of your skin and feel the structures underneath. They will also ask you to make different facial expressions before injecting something. This is to determine the right placement and create a customized treatment that suits you best. 

Your provider should consider your entire facial structure to address the real culprit behind sagging, folds, and creases. Fillers can provide collagen and structural support to lift jowls and smooth some creases and wrinkles. It is not always about filling in every wrinkle or fold in the face; but a full-face approach considering all important factors. 

Are you considering a filler treatment with natural-looking results? Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors to learn more about our injectables and find out which one is right for you.