Taking the Art of Facial Fillers Seriously

Fillers are an essential tool in the war on anti-aging and so the filler family continues to grow to meet demand. The average consumer can scarcely articulate the difference between neurotoxins and hyaluronic acids (the former “freezes”, the latter “fills”) much less differentiate between Restylane®, Juvederm®, Sculptra® and Bellafill®. So, when should a patient start using fillers? Which fillers are better than others? Where should the injection go so the result isn’t obvious?

Dr. Daniel Maman uses fillers extensively in his Park Avenue practice in New York City. “The natural process of aging is twofold. It is losing facial volume due to loss of fat and loss of elasticity which leads to sagging skin. We see patients as young as in their 30’s. Fillers are a great way to easily mask the signs of aging and give patients a subtle rejuvenation with minimal discomfort and downtime.”

by Isabel Bolt
and Daniel Y. Maman, MD

Common areas addressed are nasolabial folds, the mid cheek area, marionette lines and lips. Dr. Maman emphasizes the merit of having an assortment of fillers at his disposal. “There is not one filler that does everything. Having a wide variety of fillers allows me to choose the best combination of options for each patient depending upon where they need extra volume.”

One of the newest fillers is Voluma®. According to Maman it is revolutionizing his practice. What sets it apart from other fillers? “Voluma® is dramatically different from any other filler on the market in that it is intended for filling the mid face cheek and arch area. It is injected deep along the cheek below the eyes and over the cheek bone. It immediately restores facial positioning by filling the cheeks, minimizing the nasolabial fold and reduces jowling.”

“If it’s done correctly you will never look artificial.” – Dr. Daniel Maman

Right quantities in the right places

One of the biggest “filler fears” is looking unnatural. Examples of distorted, even grotesque appearances abound even among celebrities. How does the average patient hope to sidestep this pitfall? The secret according to Dr. Maman is in the injector, not the injectable. “Despite the fact that the actual injecting part is technically easy, there is a true art to it. It’s important to go to someone who understands the parameters of facial aesthetics…where the fullness should be, what filler to use and the depth and layers to be injected. Board certified plastic surgeons are best equipped and best educated on how and where to inject certain fillers.”

Maman is also a proponent of approaching non-invasive facial rejuvenation slowly and gradually for a very conservative result. “If it’s done correctly you will never look artificial.”