Are you too young for filler?

Women and men looking for a non-surgical way to rejuvenate the face and turn back the clock are turning to facial fillers to regain lost volume. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery  (ASAPS), is seeing a sharp increase in people looking for filler as a solution to discovering the fountain of youth.  The rate of non-invasive cosmetic procedures grew 3% from 2012 to 2013, with more than 15 million procedures performed.

The question with so much success becomes, “Am I too young for fillers?” Dr. Mary Lupo, a board certified dermatologist in New Orleans, believes getting a jump on facial rejuvenation can be both rewarding and preventative. Even patients in their 20’s can begin to show signs of aging around the eyes, due in part to sun exposure in their youth. Utilizing fillers to touch up young faces can have a big impact then, and as Dr. Lupo further explains, well into the future.

By Mary Lupo, MD
and Beverly Brooks
The Plastic Surgery Channel

The easy answer to the question is no, you’re not too young for filler. Teenage and early adulthood typically involves a playful nature that attracts people to the outdoors, exposing us to the enemy to youthful skin, the sun. “In some cases it’s not too young to do filler at 29, or even younger,” says Dr. Lupo. “Sun abuse can form crow’s feet that can be prevalent even in the 20’s and 30’s.”

By utilizing fillers to appropriately refill problem areas with a gentle touch, the long-road of keeping your skin healthy can begin on a positive note. “What we find is that being proactive can really slow the skin’s aging process, and that means practicing good skincare early on,” says Lupo.

Skincare to keep skin looking young

In addition to filler treatment, Lupo begins her patients on a skincare regimen. Besides moisturizing and applying effective modern skincare products, daily sunscreen with an SPF of 50+ is critical. At the Lupo Center for Aesthetic and General Dermatology, Dr. Lupo recommends Dualistic Sunscreen to deliver antioxidant-rich moisture to dry skin while shielding it from the sun. The broad spectrum formula includes botanical extracts of bisabolol and squalane to hydrate the skin and repair environmental damage. “I’m very active with skincare to improve texture and pores,” says Lupo. “We design programs and skincare regimens individualized for the patient.”

When to Consider Fillers

• Crow’s feet around the eyes and mouth
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Interested in a minimally invasive procedure 
• Tired or gaunt appearance

How do I Find Someone Experienced?

There are convenient, affordable options for just about every cosmetic skin concern out there, and the demand for these options keeps growing. Because of the intense demand of these successful options, it’s important to do your homework on who is performing the procedure and developing a skincare regimen. Selecting a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon assures you that a physician has completed years of schooling, extensive training, and passed rigorous examinations in his/her specialty. Physicians of this caliber have a deep understanding of facial anatomy and the skin that creates an environment where your face will not be transformed, but rather improved.

“My goal is to take you as a patient and improve the negative,” says Lupo. “Not so much try to change how someone looks, but to make them look more vibrant.”