Fillers Facial Contouring

Facial contouring procedures using dermal fillers and other bio stimulating products can be used safely and effectively to treat a range of concerns. Here are just some options:

• Temple hollowing
  The temples are often overlooked as an area that contributes to the appearance of an ageing face. Hollowness in the temples ‘skeletonises’ the face and decreases the width of the mid and upper face. This changes the ratios of the youthful ‘beauty triangle’ and results in an ageing appearance. In women this can often be hidden with a good hairstyle but once the hair is taken away from the face the sunken areas are exposed. In men, the skeletal definition can be considered masculine, whereas the gender difference for women is less flattering. Restoration of temporal volume is an important aspect of both Craniofacial surgery and aesthetic medicine.These deficits in volume can be addressed using facial contouring techniques which restore facial proportions and create a smooth transition from the forehead to the cheek.

• Forehead lines and heavy brow
  Horizontal lines in the forehead are a result of repeated movement of the muscles that raise the eyebrows along with a loss of muscle, fat, bone and skin firmness. Habitual facial movement leads to permanent crease lines in the skin, which together with lots of fat volume and soft tissue laxity becomes ageing. This leads to permanent lines in the forehead and lowering of the brow height. Patients will often change their hairstyle to compensate. Dynamic anti-wrinkle injections (Botox(TM) is considered a good solution to treat horizontal lines in the forehead. Deep creases in the skin, volume loss from fat attrition, or poor skin quality can all be treated without surgery. Whilst surgical brow lifts can achieve excellent results to reposition and lift the brows – facial contouring options may be the preferred solution.
• Tear trough and dark circles
  There are three main causes of dark circles; dark brown pigmentation due to increased melanin production; tiny blood vessels that are visible through the thin skin of the eye area and are seen as ‘purplish’ shadow; and a ‘dip’ volume loss, or sunken ‘trough’ caused by a volume imbalance in the skin, muscle, or fat under the eye. This collects shadow and appears as a ‘dark circle’.There may be a single cause or a combination of two or all three factors and this will direct the planning of the treatment. A well planned combination of treatments can achieve a significant long-term reduction.

  Dark circles caused by pigmentation variations can be successfully treated with prescription topical creams, Lasers and other skin health strategies including chemical peels and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

  Dark circles caused by vascular show are perhaps the most difficult to treat and a combination approach using specialised Lasers and injection treatments work very successfully.

  Tear trough deformities caused by volume loss, from for example, uneven fat distribution, laxity in the muscle around the eye and bone structure can result in a deep groove under the eye and make the eyes appear sunken and drawn. The area collects shadow creating ‘pseudo’ dark circles of shadow. This can be difficult to cover with make-up and can be extremely distressing for both men and women.

  Tear trough malformation surgery can transform the complete oculoplastic aesthetics, however, for those that want an alternative non-surgical option – facial contouring can be a great start. A soft gel hyaluronic acid filler will ‘lift’ to a flat smooth contour, eliminating the shadow and banishing the dark circles.

• Cheek contouring
  The mid face is an important reference point for the beauty of the face. As ageing progresses the ratios of the facial ‘beauty triangle’ change, and invert. Sagging muscles, fat and skin in the cheeks descend giving a tired, drawn appearance from the lower eyelids to the jawline.Non-surgical facial contouring has an important role to enhance youthful face shape. A range of techniques and products is employed to contour the mid face for natural, long lasting, results.
• Nose imperfections (non-surgical rhinoplasty)
  Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) is most often the gold standard to treat imperfections of the nose. However, non-surgical rhinoplasty treatments have a role to play in facial contouring. The anatomy of the nose is complex and an in depth understanding of its structure is key to achieving safe results that are aesthetically satisfying. There are several products that sculpt and perfect the shape, and smooth the contours of the nose.
• Jawline definition and sharpening
  The jaw (gonial) angle has become a fashionable focus for contouring in recent years with both men and women craving a sharp chiselled jaw. Psychologically and culturally the jaw shape has power with men seeking a strong jawline to indicate model good looks and strength. Whilst a woman’s jawline is naturally softer than that of a male, women too want sharper definition to give the face a youthful contoured appearance. Applied filler therapies are very powerful in the ‘layer two’ and ‘layer five’ of the face to achieve jawline sculpting.
• Non-surgical chin enhancement
  Chin augmentation with fillers can make a powerful difference to those that have unbalance in the lower face. The role of the teeth and underlying bone structure as a support to the facial tissues is an important consideration when planning a non – surgical contouring procedure. Lack of dental or skeletal support can result in sunken hollows in the cheeks, a recessed chin angle and textural changes in the skin. In the lower third of the face, surgical options might be considered particularly “invasive”, and a clinic based treatment is a valuable parallel option two which surgery might be later added if required.
• Lines and wrinkles
  There are many ways to treat lines and wrinkles and non-surgical contouring is a popular option for men and women. Lines and folds can be targeted with a range of filling and bio stimulating products to soften lines and rejuvenate.With ongoing maintenance these procedures can hold back the signs of ageing as well as conditioning and optimising skin health. Fine lines around the eyes, across the forehead and around the mouth can be treated as well as deeper lines and folds at the side of the mouth and in the lower face. Whatever the concern, facial contouring using dermal fillers and bio-stimulating products can treat a range of indications including: