Dermal Fillers (Juvéderm, Restylane)

Dermal filler can be used for many different concerns, but treatment begins with understanding what is creating the change you see. Facial proportions, bone structure, fat distribution, skin quality, existing volume, and differences between the two sides of the face can all influence whether filler is likely to help and where it should be placed.

During your consultation, the areas that concern you are evaluated in the context of your overall facial anatomy and goals. Filler may be used to add lip volume or improve lip shape, restore volume in selected areas of the face, soften certain folds or depressions, or adjust facial contours and proportions. The amount and location of filler are planned based on the change you are trying to achieve rather than treating an area simply because filler can be placed there.

Different fillers have different properties, including how firm or flexible they are and how they behave within the tissues. Product selection therefore depends on the area being treated, the amount of support or movement in that area, and the desired effect. Because filler is ordered for individual patients, the specific product can be selected as part of the treatment plan rather than maintaining a large inventory of products in the office.

Filler also has limitations. Volume loss is not the only cause of changes in facial appearance, and adding more volume is not always the best solution. Skin laxity, changes in skin quality, muscle activity, or underlying facial structure may be better addressed with another treatment. Part of planning filler treatment is determining where adding volume is useful and where it is not.