Do Fillers Ruin Your Face: What You Need To Know

With the rise of social media, cosmetic treatments are often portrayed as simple solutions for achieving desired beauty standards, which can sometimes downplay the potential considerations and risks involved. 

It’s important to understand that while procedures like dermal fillers are available, they come with their own set of implications. In this article, we’ll discuss the broader context of fillers, explore concerns about long-term use, and highlight the importance of making informed, personalised choices. 

Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before pursuing cosmetic procedures.

What Are Dermal Fillers and How Do They Work?

Dermal fillers or injections for augmentation are used to add volume and improve facial contours. Most fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that attracts and retains moisture. When injected into the skin, fillers can create a plumping effect on areas that may have lost volume due to ageing, such as the cheeks, lips, and nasolabial folds.

Do Fillers Ruin Your Face?

The adverse effects of dermal fillers, particularly hyaluronic acid-based options like Juvederm or Restylane, are well-documented in medical literature. 

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Cureus Journal of Medical Science by Colon, Mirkin, Hardigan, Elias, and Jacobs highlights common side effects, including swelling, lumps, firmness, pain, erythema, and bruising. 

Although fillers, when administered correctly by skilled professionals, can provide natural-looking results, complications like migration, skin stretching, and scar tissue formation may occur, underlining the importance of understanding these potential outcomes and having realistic expectations:

Here are other ways that the use of fillers may give an unintended consequence:The potential outcomes and effects associated with dermal fillers should be carefully considered. Repeated filler use over time may result in changes to facial volume and texture that could appear unnatural if not balanced. 

In some instances, fillers might move from their original injection site, potentially affecting the overall appearance (migration). 

Additionally, there can be instances of skin stretching after consistent filler use, which might impact skin firmness once the filler naturally breaks down. Scar tissue formation, although rare, is another aspect that could affect skin texture post-treatment.

Are Dermal Fillers Bad for You?

While dermal fillers are generally regarded as safe when administered by an appropriately qualified and authorised health practitioner, it is important to acknowledge the potential risks involved. Fillers, classified as prescription-only medicines, require administration by registered medical professionals

Some possible side effects of dermal fillers include swelling, bruising, infection, allergic reactions, and in rare cases tissue damage or vascular-related issues.

Informed consent and a comprehensive discussion of the potential risks and benefits are essential prior to any procedure. It is crucial to ensure that treatments are conducted in an environment that meets health and safety standards to minimise complications.

What Happens When You Stop Using Dermal Fillers?

As the fillers dissolve, the volume and smoothness they provide will diminish, and the skin will gradually return to its pretreatment state. Depending on the amount and type of filler used, this process can take several months to a couple of years. 

Dermal fillers can be a safe option when administered by a qualified practitioner, but they still carry inherent risks. Undergoing a previous procedure does not make subsequent treatments any safer, which is why careful consideration and thorough evaluation should be part of your decision-making process. 

If you decide that cosmetic procedures, whether surgical or non-surgical, are right for you, it is essential to understand how to stay informed and prepared.

Ensure you consult reputable sources such as AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) for accurate information regarding the safety, regulations, and best practices associated with cosmetic treatments. Accessing well-established, reliable guidance can help you make decisions that prioritise your health and well-being.

Disclaimer: At Artiste Plastic Surgery, our Plastic Surgeons led by Dr Jack Zoumaras have been trained to the highest possible degree. All surgery has risks and it is always advised to get a second opinion. Risks are very real and we cannot guarantee any result. Results are illustrated as a guide only. All risks are managed and any need for revision surgery or complications (1-5%) can be managed by our specialist plastic surgeons.

Any statements on how you will feel is based on Level V Evidence:

Level V:  How you will feel after plastic surgery varies between individuals, depending on psychological and physical factors. Our internal research is based on how patients in our practice feel after surgery.

The blogs are not a substitute for a medical consultation and do not form as part of the doctor to patient relationship.