Is it Time for a Mid Face Augmentation?

By Dr. Mark Hamilton

You may look in the mirror and want to change the look of your lower face, maybe you have thought about adding filler to that area? The truth of the matter lies above. As we age we lose volume in our face, collagen and elastin. These are important elements that give our skin its youthful appearance of fullness, hydration and a tighter glow.

Research states that we lose 1 tsp. of fat per year after the age of 30 in our face. If you are 60 years old, the math states you have theoretically lost 30 tsp or 6 tbsp. of volume over the last 30 years. When this happens, we see hallowing under the eyes as the fat pads separate, depressions in the cheek area, deeper nasolabial folds, marionette lines, oral commissure, and sagging pre jowls of the lower face.

How Fillers Can Help

There is always the option to add filler to these areas to mask the depressions/hallowing and plump out the skin. Or, you have the option of adding volume to the cheek area/ upper face. Through this process we are also lifting the lower face, you could say we “kill two birds with one stone.” Adding product to this region will help to restore the volume lost throughout the years to the midface and subtly lifting the lower face.

What products are good for this type of procedure? Juvederm® Voluma, Radiesse® and Restylane® Lyft. They are made of a more cohesive/thicker material that can hold and lift your skin where the product is laid.

• Juvederm® Voluma: Juvederm® Voluma is an Allergan® product, so you can utilize your BrilliantDistinction® benefits with the use of this product. Juvederm® Voluma is the latest, longest-lasting injectable facial filler that is FDA-approved to correct age-related volume loss in the cheek area. Juvederm® Voluma is a more cohesive form of Hyaluronic Acid with Vycross technology. We like to think of this as a thicker, stronger version of Juvederm® Ultra and Juvederm® Ultra Plus. Their crosslinking is associated with Allergan’s® hylacross technology. Juvederm® Voluma successfully restores the fullness of the cheeks, which can in turn smooth out the skin on the lower face, lasting up to two years.
• Radiesse®: A Merz product, Radiesse® provides an instant lift by restoring lost volume in areas of the lower face, effectively treating moderate to severe wrinkles and folds. Radiesse® is comprised of Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) (constituent of bone and cartilage in a creamy, injectible form). Once injected, it provides immediate volume and correction but continues to work by stimulating the body to produce its own natural collagen. Over time, the gel is absorbed, and the body metabolizes the CaHA microspheres leaving behind only your own natural collagen, thus leaving a refreshed appearance that can last up to a year or more in many patients.

• Restylane® Lyft: A Galderma® product, Restylane® Lyft is another Hyaluronic Acid filler, approved by the FDA for cheek augmentation and the correction of age-related midface contour deficiencies, in addition to treating moderate to severe facial wrinkles and nasolabial folds. The longevity of Restylane® Lyft is approximately nine months to a year.

Learn More About How Our Procedures Can Help

If you are interested in lifting your lower face, adding volume to your mid face or trying to turn back the clock, these fillers are a wonderful choice. They are all performed in the office. The area to be treated is numbed with a topical agent, and the injections perform immediate results with minimal downtime. There is always a risk of bruising and swelling (as with all injections). We would ask that you refrain from the use of blood thinning agents such as: Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, Naproxen, Vitamins and Fish Oil for three to five days prior to the procedure to reduce bruising. Most bruising and swelling resolves over a one to two week period and can be covered by makeup until fully healed.