Volumising dermal fillers use advanced technology, hyaluronic acid, used to volumize areas of the face. As we all age the natural appearance of the face changes. Our skull changes shape – the eye socket becomes larger and the jaw bone decreases in size, which both lead to changes in the way the skin sits on top of the bony structures. We all have fat pads that sit in the face and assist in the way the skin profiles across our face.
The ageing process takes its toll on every part of the body, from the muscles and bones, to the skin. And it is the visual impact of this process, particularly on the face, that is something many people want to avoid, or rectify. This can include reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, or preventing them altogether. But it’s the effect of ageing on the facial fat pads that can have an influence on the structure and volume of the face, and this can cause skin to sag, and lose shape. But how does ageing affect facial fat pads? And what can you do?
So, first of all, what are facial fat pads? Well, these are closely packed areas of fat cells that help to give volume, shape and definition to the face. These can be found on the upper and mid face, as well as the lower face. Fat pads are usually also responsible for the shape of cheekbones, as well as chin and jawline.
How does ageing affect facial fat pads?
With age two things begin to happen:
The fat pads on the upper and mid face begin to waste away
The fat pads on the lower face begin to get bigger
As some fat pads begin to decrease, the shape of the face will begin to change, as there is less support for other fat pads in the same facial region.
The physical effects of these processes, that can be seen on the face will cause the upper and middle parts of the face to lose structure and sag, while the bottom of the face will become heavier. This can cause:
Drooping eyebrows or eyelids
More noticeable wrinkles and lines
Under eye “bags” can appear
Hollowed cheeks and temples
Drooping nose tip
Development of marionette’ lines
Less defined jawline
Jowls to form
There are a number of things you could consider to reduce the physical effects of facial fat loss. But the most efficient option is to use dermal fillers.
Dermal fillers can be injected into the tissue, at different depths to add volume and help to reshape your face. Dermal fillers can also lift areas of fat loss, and this can restore balance and fullness to the face. This can help to provide more support and structuring for other facial fat pads, to prevent any further sagging.
How does it work?
Dermal fillers are used to restore volume or hydration that has been lost and reduces fine or deep lines and folds. They are clear gels which add volume when injected in small quantities.
Dermal filler with hyaluronic acid to choose are the most common. This is a type of sugar molecule that is found throughout the human body where this provides hydration and lubricant within the skin tissue. As a result, the volumizing effect of dermal fillers occurs in three different stages.
These are:
Initial swelling- immediately after dermal filler injections it is quite common for the injection site to experience a little bit of swelling from the action of the needle. This swelling can give a false impression of the overall filler results but it should only last for a couple of days to a week at most.
The gel carrier- dermal fillers are injected with a gel carrier that ensures the hyaluronic acid particles will get to where they need to be. This gel is hydrating and it itself increases the volume of the area for up to a couple of months after the treatment.
The hyaluronic acid- finally, the hyaluronic acid is the most important part of the dermal filler and these are transported within the gel where they attract water and hold onto this, hydrating and nourishing skin cells, like collagen and elastin, to boost skin volume, smooth skin and help to structure the skin tissue. The amount of hyaluronic acid, the size of these particles, and the way that these particles are bound together all has an impact on the effectiveness of the dermal filler, and the outcome of the injections.
Where are dermal fillers used?
Dermal fillers are used in all areas of the face to add volume and to change the structure of the face. Popular areas for dermal filler include:
The lips- lip filler can help to enhance lip volume and change the shape of the lips to complement the natural structure of your face. These can also be used to balance lip asymmetries.
The jawline and chin- filler here can help to firm up skin,prevent sagging and enhance and define the jawline or chin. It can also be used to balance the jawline or chin.
The cheeks- adding dermal filler to the cheeks can help to lift the cheek bones and give you a more youthful appearance.
The V Lift
The shape of the face is a key element of face attractiveness. Just like the body, faces come in all shapes and sizes: round, squared, heart-shaped and more. But the oval face, or V-shaped face, marked by slim cheeks and a structured jawline, is considered by many to be the most desirable face shape.
A V-shaped face is slim, with a defined jawline and chin. It denotes youth, vitality, femininity, and elegance.
What determines the shape of a face?
The shape of our face is largely determined by genetics and bone structure. However, there are other factors that can affect the face shape over time, including weight gain, poor sleep, stress, medication, illness, and bruxism (excessive teeth grinding). Aging and loss of skin elasticity are also responsible for changing the shape of the face. Lax skin tends to square off a formerly oval face, and weight gain can change a V-shaped face to more of a round one.
What is a V Lift
The V Lift is a non-surgical slimming treatment that decreases the width of the lower face. Regardless of your age, we can slim your jaw into more of a V-shape, reducing facial width caused by puffy cheeks, double chins and upper neck widening.
How the treatment works?
There are different treatment options to achieve a V-shaped face. For this reason, the first step is to book a consultation with SkinQR Clinic, to get the devise a personalised treatment course for you. The aesthetician will assess your facial structure, angles and proportion, as well as general conditions of your skin. With this information, a personalised facial shaping treatment will be developed specifically for your needs.
To achieve a more defined jaw, smaller jaw muscles, slim cheekbones and a sharper we can prescribe a variety of procedures. These include dermal fillers with hyaluronic acid, fat dissolving injections, jawline slimming injections, and others.
These procedures, combined differently based on your initial facial analysis, aim to soften the appearance of the jaw, converting a square-shaped or round-shaped face into a more feminine V-shape, creating a more youthful and attractive face overall.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lines, or enhance facial contours. The most used type of fillers for the V-shape treatment are cheek and chin sculpting, and jawline fillers.
SkinQR Clinic choose hyaluronic acid fillers. This is because hyaluronic acid occurs naturally as a form of sugar in the body, so it is extremely rare for the body to develop an allergic reaction against it. Furthermore, a natural antidote exists against hyaluronic acid (called hyaluronidase), which can effectively and quickly dissolve the hyaluronic acid filler if one dislikes the result or if there are problems from it.
Sculptra® Aesthetic is another filler that is occasionally used. It is poly-L-lactic acid, which is the same material used in dissolving stitches. It consists of fine granules that are diluted down with sterile water and injected under the skin. The granules then stimulate gradual collagen production around themselves.
Fat Dissolving
Fat Dissolving is an innovative injectable compound made from a family of acids that cause fat destruction in the body. The solution is water-based and contains ingredients that bind to the fat cell walls, before rupturing and releasing the fat to be dissolved by your own body.
In other words, the acids contained in Fat Dissolving work by liquefying and permanently destroying fat cells, which are then eliminated naturally by the body through the lymphatic system.
Fat Dissolving injections are used to effectively dissolve areas of resistant fat deposits that won’t go away with just diet and exercise alone, such as a double chin or pre-jowl sulcus (a drooping of flesh, forming the ‘sides’ of a double chin).
Once a fat cell has been destroyed, it has been permanently removed from your body. And the good news is that this cannot be undone, so the results are permanent.
Jawline Slimming
The jawline slimming treatment with botulinum type A injections is ideal for someone who has a squarish face shape or squarish jawline, sometimes due to a condition called bruxism (excessive teeth grinding).
Botulinum blocks the electrical impulses that make the facial muscles contract. Used as a cosmetic ingredient, it can be injected into your muscles to temporarily block signals from your nervous system that tell certain muscles to move.
Botulinum is most used to treat wrinkles, but it works well for the V-shape treatment too. When injected into the masseter muscle (chewing muscle), it will relax it so that it will shrink over time. This can soften the appearance of the jawline, leading to dramatic changes in face shape after regular treatment. A slimmer jawline also results in more prominent cheekbones and chin, which are typical signs of a V-shaped face.
This treatment is often done in combination with the chin sculpting procedure with dermal fillers.
How will I look after my treatment?
A slight reddening and swelling of the injection site will temporarily be visible. On occasion, some clients may experience bruising but this can be easily covered up with makeup. We recommend Mineral Make up for this.
Does it hurt?
There may be a mild stinging sensation as the injection is performed but all fillers are administered with a local anaesthetic.
What are the side effects?
Side effects of this treatment may include swelling, redness and occasional bruising. Swelling is the most common side effect because the dermal filler attracts water and hydrates the area which has been treated. Tenderness and swelling generally lasts 2 to 3 days.
When will I see the results?
The results are usually instant, with little to no downtime, meaning you can go back to your usual daily routine soon afterwards.
What will I look like if I decide against further treatment? More wrinkles?
If you don’t have any further treatments, the skin will return to its natural pre-treatment state. It has already been clinically proven that fillers stimulate new collagen growth which aids in improving the quality and texture of the skin. Therefore, we encourage you to continue the treatment as needed to fully see the full effects.
How safe is it?
With over 14 million treatments collectively done in the UK, it is one of the most researched and safest treatment (in the right hands) in the industry.
Where does it go when it is broken down?
It will naturally bio-degrade and is slowly metabolised at the treatment site over time.
How often do I need to repeat the treatment?
Depending on what type of filler is used they can last anything from 6 to 9 months or 12 to 18 months before a repeat treatment is required. How long results will last depend on the depth of lines, volume loss, condition of the skin, and lifestyle of the individual.
If you would like to find out more or want to book a consultation with us, you can contact us from the following, please complete the contact form or WhatsApp us on 07856532230.
Please note that all treatments will require initial consultation to assess suitability and there is an initial consultation fee (£20). For selected cosmetic procedures, this is redeemable against services rendered.