Smile lines
Soften them.
Dr. Gustavo Suárez · Aesthetic medicine
Dermal fillersand hyaluronic acid.
Dermal fillers are injectable products used to address certain changes in facial volume and lines. The most widely used is hyaluronic acid. Most are temporary: the body absorbs them over time.
Request a consultation What dermal fillers areThe treatment
Volume
and facial lines.
Dermal fillers are products injected beneath the skin to soften lines and folds and restore volume. Over the years, the skin loses collagen, becomes thinner and loses volume and elasticity. Sun exposure, gravity and repeated facial movements contribute to this change.
Fillers are among the treatments we provide at the clinic, where the area and tissue characteristics are assessed before recommending a product. There are different types, each with its own purpose and application area, and their duration and limitations depend on the material and each individual. A filler does not address ageing in the same way as a facelift.
What they are used for
The areas
that are treated.
These are the uses considered at the clinic. The examination determines which is appropriate, if any.
Lips
Increase their volume.
Vertical lip wrinkles
Those known as ‘smoker's lines’ or ‘barcode lines’.
Cheek
Improving definition.
Marionette lines
Reducing their appearance.
Facial asymmetry
Make differences between the two sides of the face less noticeable.
The assessment
Before
choosing a product.
The consultation begins with an examination of the face and what you would like to change. Medical history, medication, allergies, a history of bruising or skin problems, and previous fillers or other treatments are reviewed. Photographs may be taken and areas marked.
The clinic prefers temporary filler materials, especially for those having treatment for the first time. The process includes a visit to assess the face and another to review the result.
Preparing for the initial consultationThe materials
Temporary
or permanent.
Most fillers are temporary. Knowing whether the material is absorbed or remains helps you understand the options if the result is unsatisfactory or a complication arises.
Temporary
- The body breaks them down and absorbs them over time.
- These include hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite and polylactic acid.
- Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, a medicine.
- They are preferred at the clinic, especially for a first treatment.
Permanent
- They are not absorbed: the material remains beneath the skin.
- Removing them may require other procedures, including surgery.
- Some materials are difficult or impossible to remove.
Before treatment
What to ask
about the product.
AEMPS recommends always asking for information about the product to be injected. These are the checks proposed by health authorities.
Which product it is
Know which material it is made from and whether it is temporary or permanent. Each behaves differently over time.
Where each product goes
If several areas are treated, it is advisable to know what is injected into each one.
It must be a medical device
Injectable fillers are medical devices and carry a CE mark on their labelling and instructions, which in Spain must be provided at least in Spanish. A cosmetic product must not be injected, even if supplied in a vial or ampoule.
Who administers it
Hyaluronic acid fillers must be administered by qualified doctors with specific training in the technique.
Whether the centre has hyaluronidase
When hyaluronic acid fillers are used, the centre must have hyaluronidase available as a medicinal product to act immediately in the event of a complication.
What has been done previously
Provide information about previous fillers or treatments, medication and allergies. Clotting disorders and some allergies may make the treatment unsuitable.
Afterwards
Care and
risks.
After the injection
Some bruising, swelling or discomfort in the area is usual, generally mild and temporary. The doctor will advise when to resume strenuous exercise and what care to follow.
You must report any bleeding or pain, fever, redness and swelling in the area, or signs of an allergic reaction.
Reported risks
The most common are bruising, redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, itching and rash. Less common are lumps beneath the skin, infection, allergic reaction, asymmetry, skin damage with scarring and, in severe cases, necrosis. Some effects may appear weeks, months or even years later.
The most serious risk is accidental injection into a blood vessel, which can cause skin necrosis, a stroke or blindness. It is unlikely, but its consequences can be serious and permanent. A change in vision, unusual or severe pain, or changes in skin colour during or after an injection require immediate medical attention. Sudden weakness on one side of the body or difficulty speaking are also signs of an emergency.
Serious complications are exceptional. During the consultation, after the medical assessment, these are explained individually according to each patient's characteristics.
When to seek immediate attention
Changes in vision, unusual or severe pain, or changes in skin colour during or after an injection require immediate medical attention. Sudden weakness on one side of the body or difficulty speaking are also emergency warning signs.
Before deciding
Frequently asked
questions.
Questions about the materials, their effects and aftercare.
What types of facial fillers are there?
They differ by material and whether the body absorbs it. Temporary fillers, which make up the majority, include hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite and polylactic acid. There are also permanent materials, which are not absorbed. Each type has a different purpose and application area.
How long do fillers last?
Most have a temporary effect because the body absorbs the material over time. How long it lasts depends on the type of filler, the area treated and each person, and is clarified during the consultation alongside the objectives and limitations of treatment.
What should you avoid after a hyaluronic acid injection?
Follow the doctor's care instructions and monitor the area. Changes in vision, unusual or severe pain, or changes in skin colour during or after an injection require immediate medical attention. Sudden weakness on one side of the body or difficulty speaking are also emergency warning signs.
What are the best fillers for the face?
There is no best filler in the abstract. Each type has its own purpose and application area, and the choice depends on what needs correcting and the characteristics of the tissues. The clinic prefers temporary materials, especially for an initial treatment.
Can a filler be reversed?
Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, an injectable medicine that must be administered by a doctor. With other materials, removing the filler may require other procedures, and some are difficult or impossible to remove.
How does a filler differ from Botox?
A filler adds volume and addresses lines and folds. Botulinum toxin is a medicine that relaxes the muscle and softens wrinkles that appear with facial movement. They are not interchangeable: they act on different things.
Related procedures
Other treatments
in aesthetic medicine.
Hyaluronidase
An enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid. It is mainly used to dissolve a previously administered hyaluronic acid filler.
Botulinum toxin
A medicine that temporarily relaxes specific facial muscles to soften lines caused by facial expressions. It does not add volume.
Polynucleotides
Purified DNA fragments injected to improve skin quality. They are not used to correct volume.