Soft tissue fillers are available as minimally invasive or non-surgical alternatives for improving facial contour, increasing volume, or reducing wrinkles. The most popular products include hyaluronic acid (HA) formulations such as Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Ultra Plus, Juvederm XC Ultra, Juvederm XC Ultra Plus, Restylane and Perlane. These gels are injected using tiny needles under the skin to produce more prominent cheekbones, lessen smile lines, or correct scar depressions. They cause minimal discomfort during treatment, and some are mixed with lidocaine for pain relief during injection. A recent study in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery confirms the safety of fillers, and discusses the small incidence of complications from their use in facial beautification. HA fillers are noted to have the smallest number of potentially negative effects, with most problems being minor and self-limited.
Alternatives to fillers are fat injections, which provide a more permanent result, and may be obtained during liposuction to remove fatty tissue from the belly or thighs and improve contour in those areas. Additional beauty treatments which may be performed in some patients concurrently with soft tissue fillers include Botox or facial resurfacing with an anti-aging peel. Other patients may benefit from aesthetic plastic surgery procedures such as eyelid lift or nasal surgery to improve overall facial appearance.
Dr. Olivia Hutchinson is a female board certified plastic surgeon in NYC and performs the full spectrum of aesthetic plastic surgery procedures, including minimally invasive surgery with short scars. Her office on Manhattan’s Upper East Side provides privacy, safety and comfort with a fully certified AAAASF Operating Room. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Hutchinson, please contact us or call us at (212) 452-1400.
