Facial Fillers
In the vast majority of cases, modern facial fillers have replaced cheek implants as the ideal go-to for routine cosmetic surgery. The hyaluronic acid fillers—the most popular are Restylane, and Restylane Lyft® from Galderma and Juevederm from Allergan –can be understood today as the safest option, and they give reliable results. Without surgery, you can see long-term benefits provided you periodically top-off the service. These fillers successfully address deficits in tissue volume that are typically associated with an aged and tired look: heavy or hollowed features, and the descent of the malar fat pad pad, the proper placement of which is associated with the soft, full-featured look of youth. In short, what we see is a loss or descent of tissue that contributes to a haggard or older appearance, and by addressing the root cause of the problem (namely the volume loss) with fillers, reliable results that improve your looks and your confidence can be safely obtained.
While cheek implants may be indicated for special circumstances, such as the hand-carved ePTFE implant for the vertical midface lift, most individuals will see the greatest improvement with nonsurgical facial fillers. Cheek implants are sometimes advised when the face has undergone trauma or received an older, outdated surgery. Other times, former cheek implants that are now causing problems are removed and logically replaced with an alternative customizable implants. But these are special circumstances; overall facial fillers can today be understood to have categorically replaced facial implants for routine needs and without the need to have surgery. Fillers can be used to provide a much more natural facial shape that the constrained forms available with stock facial implants.
We see many advantages with facial fillers today. Because they are nonsurgical, they can be placed comfortably and safely in an office setting, and your natural tissue can be preserved while enhancing the contour of your cheeks and the overall balance of your facial features. Minimally invasive treatments should be sought whenever possible, as they are associated with fast recovery times, a natural look, and can be more easily changed or adjusted later should the need arise. Indeed, the hyaluronic acid fillers can be adjusted or even essentially “erased” should you for any reason feel that you received too much filler or decide that the look is not right for you. With the use of the enzyme hyaluronidase, these fillers can be feather after a treatment to refine a service if needed. That makes these fillers remarkably flexible.
When you are making decisions about cosmetic treatment and your long term aesthetic goals, the safest option with the most reliable outcomes provided by an excellent and specialized doctor should be sought. Fillers can achieve just that. Advances in medicine today have seen the cheek implant become virtually obsolete in the majority of situations; while the hyaluronic acid fillers can comfortably address deficits to restore the full and soft features associated with youth and vitality. The longevity of these products makes these treatments a practical alternative to last generation’s cheek implant.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculofacial plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Beverly Hills where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician or surgeon and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.