Face fillers: How much is too much?

Ageing might be a natural part of life, but not everyone wants to look their age! To beat the ticking clock, many have turned to dermal fillers to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, restore facial volume, and plump up areas to smoothen out deep-set lines. While face fillers are a popular fix, the risk of overdoing them is real and it’s important to know where to get them done well.

The rise of face fillers

From age 25, we start to lose collagen. Our elastin and collagen levels then continue to decline at a rate of around two percent per year. In 2015, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reported seeing an increased number of patients below the age of 30 seeking injectable treatments such as face fillers to delay ageing. Prevention, after all, is better than cure!

What is facial overfilled syndrome?

Face fillers have come a long way since the 1970s. Nowadays, they can not only help you to counter the look of ageing, but also enhance facial features like the nose, cheek and chin. Yet there are drawbacks to this wonderful discovery. Using too much face filler can result in what’s known as ‘facial overfilled syndrome’. Signs of overdone fillers can be quite obvious; you might hear people use terms such as ‘flowerhorn forehead’, ‘sunset eyes’, ‘witch’s chin’ and ‘chipmunk cheeks’.

Common causes of facial overfilled syndrome include incorrect placement of fillers, poor selection of products, and overly enthusiastic patients who demand more than the recommended amount of fillers. That’s why it’s important to find an experienced and qualified doctor with an in-depth understanding of facial anatomy and harmony. The doctor should carefully assess the patient’s clinical condition and accordingly recommend the suitable areas for injection and the type of dermal facial filler to be used.

Does the type of dermal filler matter?

Yes it does, according to Dr Ivan Puah of Amaris B. Clinic. The clinic’s Medical Director explains that using inferior products or unstable types of fillers will definitely affect the patient’s overall results. In recent years, the most common and popular type of soft tissue filler augmentation has been hyaluronic acid filler; this filler contains hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural human body component responsible for maintaining moisture levels on the skin. As we age, the rate at which our body produces hyaluronic acid slows down, resulting in skin dryness and a loss of elasticity; this in turn leads to the formation of folds and wrinkles. With an accurate injection technique and the use of the right amount of the product, hyaluronic acid facial fillers can effectively fill up sunken areas on the face, smooth out skin texture and create a rejuvenating effect, making a person look younger and more refreshed.

What happens if you hate how your fillers look?

Thankfully, there’s a remedy! Amaris B. Clinic offers hyaluronidase injections, which can help to reverse the effects of a botched hyaluronic acid filler job. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that speeds up the breakdown process of synthetic fillers, without affecting the body’s natural hyaluronic acid. Performed by Dr Puah, the treatment aims to correct fillers that are wrongly inserted, used excessively or injected unevenly.

What are some other facial enhancement alternatives?

#1 SkinHydra Booster

Apart from conventional fillers, you should consider alternatives that may work equally well, if not better. One is SkinHydra Booster, a safe  injectable with one of the highest stabilised hyaluronic acid contents. When injected, it hydrates the skin from within, and stimulates the skin’s natural synthesis of collagen for plumped skin. Dr Puah says, “It is especially effective in treating areas that are prone to ageing and laxity, such as the cheeks, neck, chest and décolletage, which dermal fillers are not able to. Patients who have undergone this treatment at my practice have noticed an improvement in skin hydration and radiance.”

#2 ADR-C Facial Enhancement

For a more lasting and youthful appearance, ADR-C Facial Enhancement (fat grafting)is another alternative to consider. This minimally invasive procedure is effective in treating thin, ageing faces with deep-set laugh lines, crow’s feet, forehead creases and nasolabial lines. Performed by Dr Puah, the treatment’s first step involves collecting fat tissues from the donor area of the patient, such as around the abdomen or thigh where excess fat is more abundant. After this, the collected fat is processed to remove impurities and then prepared for injection. During the grafting stage, Dr Puah carefully layers the living fat cells into the targeted area with a small needle. You can achieve a younger and more refreshed appearance with ADR-C Facial Enhancement as it irons out facial wrinkles, improves facial scars, boosts volume and improves facial definition naturally.

Where to get fillers done well in Singapore?

Firstly, never get your fillers and neurotoxin injections done in a salon by a beautician or therapist! Facial injectables are cosmetic procedures that can only be conducted by a licensed and MOH-certified doctor.

Less is more when it comes to achieving natural results with facial injectables. Filler work is done well when it’s untraceable. The ‘duck lips’, unnaturally straight nose bridges and rounded cheeks you see on Instagram are obvious signs of a botched job. When a good doctor with a keen aesthetic eye injects the filler in the treated area, your lips should look naturally voluminous.

A good doctor listens, but a better doctor advises patients on what works and what doesn’t. To produce safe and good results, having a keen aesthetic sense of facial harmony is as important as having the knowledge, accreditations and skills to be a doctor. Your doctor should always communicate the realistic cosmetic outcomes based on your facial features. We all have unique facial structures; what works for someone may not necessarily work for you!

Dr Puah believes that art is as important as science when it comes to medical aesthetics. Having an artistic sense helps you get the look you desire.

Dr Puah is also the appointed trainer for doctors on cosmetics injectables by Merz Aesthetics Singapore and Allergan Singapore.