FILL ME UP!

In the last decade, dermal fillers have been all the rage in the aesthetic industry. Safe, efficient and easy, it reduces the signs of ageing and fills up sagging skin to enhance confidence. Yet, many remain unaware of what fillers are and how they work. “The procedure is so simple that most people don’t give them a second thought until a mishap occurs, arising from a poorly done injection,” says aesthetic physician Dr Anna Hoo. “Fortunately, the Ministry of Health has regulated the use of injectables, but some people still seek treatment at unregulated centres.” Always go to an authorised clinic where the injectable is administered by a recognised doctor, and not a nurse or attendant. She explains that fillers can come in the form of silicon, collagen, even fat or Hyaluronic Acid (HA). “They can be used to correct facial and body contour deformities, replace volume loss resulted from ageing, enhance or augment features like the nose, chin, breasts and buttocks. As we age, facial skin becomes lax, there is fat atrophy and the bones resorb, creating hollows in the cheek and beneath the eyes,” she explains. Losing weight also makes the facial feature sag, she adds. HA is currently the preferred choice as it causes the least complications with more natural-looking results. Dermal fillers can be permanent or temporary. The former is easy to inject but difficult to remove in the event of a complication, hence many aesthetic doctors, dermatologists and plastic surgeons no longer use them. Patients who are not properly counselled may think that permanent fillers are better because they only need to pay for the procedure once. “Our face changes as we age, so anything permanent may look out of place in time,” cautions Dr Hoo. In her clinic, she uses only temporary biodegradeable fillers, mainly HA supplied by registered companies for her signature Celebrity Lift. If results from a treatment are unfavourable, a solvent washes it out, and she starts afresh. There are different brands of fillers with differing characteristics, for different parts of the face—a softer filler is used at the eye area, whereas a more viscous type can be used at the nose tip or nasolabial lines for a more sculpted, refreshed look.

Fillers can be used to correct facial and body contour deformities and replace volume loss

The results typically last from one to two years, depending on lifestyle practices, and last longer for those in their 30s and 40s; whereas patients above 50 may need more regular tune-ups. Dr Hoo equates the face and body to a car, and annual servicing is required to keep it running well. A believer in holistic beauty, she advocates health optimisation through stress management and hormone balancing so her patients feel as beautiful as they look.