image by: HWN

HWN Suggests

The Filler Effect

When patients land in a dermatologist’s office, frustrated with a line or fold, they often want to plump the offending crease with filler. See a wrinkle, fill a wrinkle.

In his Upper East Side practice, Dr. Richard Swift, a plastic surgeon, sees more than 100 people for fillers every month. For many of those patients, his filler technique is surprising.

“One woman came to me with jowls,” Dr. Swift said. “I explained I’d start injecting the cheek area to correct the sagging in the lower face. She stopped me: ‘Whoa, why are you injecting up there when the problem’s down at my jawline?’ I asked, ‘How did you look when the last surgeon injected you with five syringes of product…

read full article

Featured

  Can Lip Filler Make You Happy?

Yes … maybe. But the cost for all of us is great.

  Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine may cause temporary swelling for people with facial fillers

This might sound intimidating, especially to people who contributed to the 64% jump in cosmetic procedures — primarily botox injections and lip fillers — in the early months of lockdown. But experts say this should not deter patients from getting vaccinated.

 Dermal fillers: The good, the bad, and the dangerous

The FDA has issued an official warning urging consumers to “never buy dermal fillers on the internet. They may be fake, contaminated, or harmful.”

 Facial Filler, Reversibility, and the Science We Don’t See

Dermal fillers are used to add volume, smooth wrinkles, and reshape facial features. There are several types on the market, but only one underpins the comforting promise of reversibility: hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a molecule naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue. Because of its biocompatibility, it has become the filler of choice for many. Other fillers, like calcium hydroxyapatite, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), last longer and cannot be dissolved at all. This distinction matters. Only HA fillers can be enzymatically broken down. Everything else? You’re in it for the long haul.

 Fillers: 28 things no one tells you before getting them

Of all the cosmetic treatments out there, fillers are probably the most misunderstood. Not only is the actual procedure shrouded in mystery (more on that later), but horror stories of overfilled, toddler-plump cheeks and bodge-job lips continue to give it a bad rap today. In short, fillers are substances injected beneath the surface of the skin to add volume and fullness. In the right hands, it's not about changing the face or exaggerating facial features to unnatural proportions – which is why there's currently a backlash to what has been dubbed “Instagram face”.

 People Are Buying Fillers Online and Injecting Them Into Their Own Faces

Sketchy online shops and YouTube are serving a dangerous market for “DIY” cosmetic procedures.

Articles of Interest

What to Know About Filler in 2025

There are two types of filler: hyaluronic acid and biostimulatory. Let’s start with the basics: What is filler, anyway? And what exactly are doctors injecting into people’s cheeks, lips, temples, ears, and chins? For starters, there are two primary types of dermal fillers available for use in the United States: hyaluronic acid and biostimulatory. Hyaluronic acid, or HA, is the more widely used of the two—think: Juvéderm, Restylane, RHA, Belotero, and Revanesse. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule that attracts water, providing a volumizing effect when injected.

Biostimulators and HA Dermal Fillers – A Powerful Combination https://www.dermatouchrn.com/ha-billers-and-biostimulators-at-dermatouch-rn/ When it comes to facial rejuvenation, combining hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers with biostimulatory fillers offers a powerful, natural-looking solution. HA fillers provide instant volume and contouring, perfect for enhancing features like lips and cheeks, while biostimulators such as Sculptra® and Radiesse® work over time to stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture and firmness. Together, they deliver both immediate results and long-term skin regeneration—helping you look refreshed now and in the months to come.

When it comes to facial rejuvenation, combining hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers with biostimulatory fillers offers a powerful, natural-looking solution. HA fillers provide instant volume and contouring, perfect for enhancing features like lips and cheeks, while biostimulators such as Sculptra® and Radiesse® work over time to stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture and firmness. Together, they deliver both immediate results and long-term skin regeneration—helping you look refreshed now and in the months to come.

Comparing Juvéderm and Restylane: Is One Dermal Filler Better?

While the two fillers share similarities, they also have their differences. Learn more about these, as well as the costs and expected results, so you know which hyaluronic-based dermal filler is best for you.

Considering Lip Fillers? Here’s What to Know.

Some beauty companies and social media users have promoted hyaluron “pens” — which use high pressure to push hyaluronic acid into the skin — as needle-free alternatives to injections. But the Food and Drug Administration has warned against using these unregulated products, noting that they can cause infection, scarring and other serious complications.

Cosmetic facial procedures are not risk free – here are some of the most popular

Our faces are one of the most exposed areas of our bodies. Eventually, exposure to hot and cold, chemicals and the sun’s UV radiation take their toll and the face shows signs of ageing, including sunspots, puffy eyes, crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles. And although there are a number of procedures to reverse these signs of ageing, they aren’t without risks.

Dermal Fillers Promise to Make Us Look Younger and Fresher. But Only if Used Correctly.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), among nonsurgical procedures performed by board-certified plastic surgeons in the U.S., fillers are second in popularity only to Botox. Despite the name recognition, though, dermatologists say there is still plenty of confusion about what fillers should and shouldn’t be used for.

DIY ‘Needle-Free’ Lip Fillers Are Still Injections—And Still Dangerous

The hyaluron pen is easy to buy, but medical professionals say that accessibility belies serious risks.

Don’t blame Instagram for the rise of botox and lip fillers

A new report rightly suggests that non-surgical cosmetic procedures need tighter regulation, but stumbles by blaming selfies and social media for their popularity.

Is It Really Safe to Dissolve Your Fillers?

Because of a lack of clinical trials, the stories of those who have experienced adverse side effects to the treatment are not conclusive. But they do highlight a glaring lack of research into this increasingly popular, off-label, and unregulated procedure.

Real Risk in Injections and Implants

Although surgical procedures conducted in a clinical setting are relatively well-regulated here, treatments like botox, dermal fillers, laser hair removal and skin peeling are not.

The Difference Between Botox and Facial Fillers

Sick of deep lines on your face? Wishing you could get a quick fix for the signs of aging around your mouth and eyes? You may think that Botox is your only option, but in fact there are other injectable cosmetics that plastic surgeons use to treat some lines on the face. That's why it's important for individuals to understand the difference between injectables like Botox and facial fillers, like Juvederm.

The Evolving Face of Cosmetic Surgery

Minimally invasive procedures, from thread and liquid lifts to body contouring and facial rejuvenation, have moved the traditional facelift to the back of the bus. And it doesn't cost an arm or a leg.

The hidden health risks of lip fillers

Today, most lip fillers are made from hyaluronic acid (HA) – a substance that naturally exists in our bodies, particularly in connective tissue. HA attracts water, giving the skin volume and keeping it hydrated. As we age, our natural levels of HA decrease, which is why skin becomes drier and loses firmness. The HA used in fillers is either extracted from animal tissue, such as rooster combs, or produced synthetically using bacteria. While this modern version is safer than older fillers, it still carries risks including allergic reactions, reactivation of cold sores (herpes simplex virus), infections and inflammation.

Resources

10 Things to Know Before Trying Dermal Fillers

There are several categories of dermal fillers, and they’re all generally administered in the same way.. Before electing to have any type of cosmetic or medical procedure, it’s important to understand what the process entails and any potential risks.

11 Surprising Facts About Dermal Fillers

Botox used to be the “go-to” anti-aging treatment of choice, but a growing number of consumers and doctors are now turning to dermal fillers as a way to restore a more youthful appearance to the face.