Face shape changes dramatically throughout your life. When you’re young, it is full and rounded, but as you get older, volume loss occurs and fat deposits shift. With less facial volume, fine lines and wrinkles start to appear. Fillers and facial implants bring volume back to the face, recreating youthful curves and erasing wrinkles.
What’s your best option for restoring youthful facial volume: fillers or implants? We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each treatment option below. Our skilled plastic surgeons, Dr. Epstein and Dr. Krochmal, would love to provide you with personalized recommendations. Call to schedule a consultation at our beautiful office in the Chicago-land area.
Facial Implants
Facial implants achieve additional volume by placing a tissue compatible shaped implant into the facial tissues. These implants are solid and come in many shapes and sizes. Implants can be placed in many areas of the face, but the jaw, cheeks, lips, and chin are the most common sites for facial implant placement. These implants can be used to augment a weak chin, add definition to an undefined jaw, or address loss of mid-face volume.
Once placed, implants can remain inside of your body forever or until they are removed, often many years later.
Why choose facial implants? We love using implants to:
- Redefine facial structure in patients with weak features.
- Restore mid-face volume after aging.
Implants are near permanent for many patients, do not require regular retreatment, and are easy to care for. Once in place, they feel very similar to natural tissue. They may require a larger initial investment than fillers but tend to be less expensive over time since results can last for many years.
Dermal Fillers
Fillers are another option for adding volume to the face. Small quantities of filler are injected into areas where additional volume is desired. There are many types of fillers and many different formulations, eg. Juvéderm®, Restylane®, Sculptra®, etc. Fillers can be used from brow to chin, unlike implants that treat a specific area. Fillers are versatile and can fill in wrinkles and hollows, reshape the cheeks, augment the lips, and more.
Fillers offer patients many benefits like:
- Non-surgical
- No downtime
- Versatile
- Ability to “try-on” a new look without permanently altering the area
Fillers are temporary and do require retreatment to maintain a specific look. Timelines for follow-up treatments vary significantly. Depending on the product used, fillers can last anywhere from a few months to a few years. We often pair fillers with BOTOX®.
Implants or Fillers: Which Is Right for Me?
Choosing between fillers and implants can be difficult, but it is easier when you understand the unique purposes and benefits of each treatment. A plastic surgeon can help you weigh your options.
Choose dermal fillers if:
- You want to add volume without surgery
- You want to fill in lines and wrinkles, smooth hollows, etc.
- You want to minimize downtime
- You are willing to come in periodically for retreatment
Choose implants if:
- You have a weak chin or jawline and want to enhance your bone structure
- You don’t want to worry about regular retreatment
- You want long lasting, near-permanent results
Fillers or implants? At MAE Plastic Surgery our goal is a happier, more confident you. We’ll help you decide which of these treatments will best achieve your goals. Call today to learn more about your treatment options.
