Dermal Fillers: Tips to Achieve Successful Outcomes

Based on longevity

Fillers are classified as temporary, semipermanent, or permanent. Temporary fillers stay in the tissue for less than a year, semipermanent fillers for up to 1–2 years, whereas permanent fillers are substances that remain in the tissue more than two years. However, there is some confusion in the classification of semipermanent and permanent status of some fillers, with some sources classifying any filler that lasts more than one year as permanent.

Based on the origin

Fillers may be classified depending on their source as:

1. Human

2. Animal

3. Synthetic

Knowing the source of the filler is important as it helps the dermatologist to take decisions about the need for preskin testing and to know the patient’s preference. Many patients may not wish to use animal products for religious or personal reasons.

Temporary fillers

Temporary fillers are also referred to as nonpermanent fillers. Their stay in the tissue is for less than 12 months and hence, they have the advantage of spontaneously disappearing if the patient is not satisfied with the results. Similarly, an adverse event with such fillers is also a temporary one, as seen in the majority of the cases. However, rare permanent side effects have been reported even with temporary fillers.

Some of the common temporary fillers available in India are described here:

Bovine collagen-based products

• Zyderm 1

• Zyderm 2

• Zyplast

Human tissue-derived collagen

• Cosmoderm

• Cosmoplast

Synthetic fillers: Hyaluronic acid-based fillers

A wide range of hyaluronic acid products is available with varying hyaluronic acid concentrations and cross-linking structure and hence, also in their indications [Table 1].

Semipermanent fillers

Semipermanent fillers [Table 2] undergo slow degradation with time over a period of 1–2 years. Side effects with semipermanent fillers are more common and longer lasting than temporary fillers.

Permanent fillers

Permanent fillers are fillers that remain for longer than two years in the tissyue. Side effects with permanent fillers tend to be more permanent, and complication is the main issue with any permanent filler. Commonly used permanent fillers available are shown in Table 3.

Other materials, which are less commonly used, include Artefill and Silicone.

Facial areas

• Wrinkles and folds

• Lip Augmentation

• Depressed scars – postsurgical, traumatic, postacne, chickenpox, and other diseases

• Enhancement of facial contour

• Periocular melanoses and sunken eyes

• Dermatological diseases – angular cheilitis, dermal atrophy, AIDS lipodystrophy

• Earring ptosis, atrophic earlobes

• Nasal depressions

Nonfacial areas

• Neck

• Décolleté    }        Rejuvenation

• Hands

• Corns and calluses – to reduce contact points, pain, and risk of ulcer formation[2]

Absolute

• Hypersensitivity to products

• Unrealistic expectations

Relative

• Keloidal tendency

• Patients with autoimmune disease

Preparation and anaesthesia

The area of injection and also the surrounding skin should be cleaned properly with antiseptics. Anaesthesia is important for technical benefit and the patient’s comfort. Anaesthesia can be ensured by:

• Application of ice

• Topical EMLA cream application

• Regional nerve blocks – infraorbital, mental, maxillary, submucosal – as applicable, depending on the area

• Distraction Techniques such as massage, application of vibration

• Talking in a soothing and comforting manner – Talkesthesia

Injection technique

The choice of the injection technique depends on the indication, its location, the filler substance, size of the needle, and the experience of the injector. The techniques include:[5]

1. Linear threading technique

2. Serial puncture

3. Fanning

4. Cross-hatching

5. Depot

6. Fern

7. Cone

The first four techniques are used commonly, whereas the last three are only used in special situations. It is important to place the filler in the right place and the bevel orientation is not a significant issue at any site.

Postinjection management

Patients should be asked to avoid extreme cold or heat for 48 hours. Massaging of the treated area and strenuous physical activity should be avoided for six hours. Patients are asked to sleep with their heads elevated for one night; skin care routine may be followed after 24 hours.

Measures to achieve successful outcomes

A comprehensive treatment plan should be devised to suit the needs of each patient. Choosing the right filler for the right indication is vital. Where essential, combinations of fillers with botulinum toxin should be used to optimize the results.[6] In such cases, it is advisable to inject the botulinum toxin first, wait for a week to see the improvement, and then, inject the filler to achieve best results.

Glabella area

Always choose patients with a positive glabella test. Inject small boluses relatively superficially, using only moderate pressure while injecting. Always watch for erythema and stop injecting when you see blanching as this will reduce the incidence of ischaemic necrosis which is common in this area. Techniques used in this area are usually a combination of linear threading and serial puncture techniques.

Nasolabial fold

This is the ideal indication to start with for a novice injector. Stretch and compress the skin to visualize the fold. Inject into a site medial to the fold to avoid further cheek ptosis. Overcorrection is common here and this leads to change in animation, lumpiness, and bumpiness. Remember that nasolabial folds always display a degree of natural asymmetry which should be discussed with the patient prior to injection. Usually a linear threading or a fern technique is chosen to treat this area.

Lips

The lips are the focal centre of the lower face. It is always important to consider antiviral prophylaxis in a patient with a history of herpes simplex episodes.

The height of the lips and the proportion of the upper to lower lip should be considered. The lower lip should protrude slightly beyond the upper lip. The upper lip should be 2/3 of the volume of the lower lip. Usually lip augmentation is done with a larger particle-sized filler in contrast to lip line augmentation which is done with a smaller gel particle-sized filler. Overcorrection of the upper lip can lead to a “duck bill” appearance. As lips swell immediately following the injection of the filler, steroid prophylaxis needs to be considered.[7]

A linear threading technique is done for volume augmentation and a microdroplet technique is used very rarely when one has to inject near the submucosal area.

Periocular area

The best candidates are younger patients with thicker skin and minimal to moderate volume loss. A depot injection at the level of the periosteum essentially traps the gel implant creating a long-lasting effect. Edema and ecchymosis are quite common in this area. Too superficial placement or thin skin in this area can lead to visibly pale nodules or Tyndall effect. Injection of filler into the periocular area is a difficult procedure and only a person with good training and experience should attempt it. One should also be aware of serious side effects such as blindness (see under complications).

Early complications

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Haematomas and ecchymoses

• Infections – reactivation of herpes simplex

• Nonhypersensitivity-related swelling

• Acneiform eruptions

• Erythema – transient or permanent

• Skin necrosis

• Embolism (blindness)

• Tyndall effect

Late complications

• Implant migration

• Telangiectasia

• Granulomas

• Lipoatrophy

• Hypertrophic scarring

• Sterile abscess

The treatment of complications should be aggressive and initiated as soon as possible after occurrence. Effective treatment of complications and assuring patients in the interim are the keys to successful practice.

Stem cells

Adipose tissue is easily obtained through liposuction and it provides a good source of stem cells which serve as a useful agent for soft tissue regeneration or repair. It has been found that fatty tissue has the highest percentage of adult stem cells of any tissue in the body with about 5000 adipose-derived stem cells per gram of fat vs 100–1000 stem cells per milliliter of bone marrow.

Autologous vein transplantation

Autologous vein transplantation[9] can be performed with the unwanted veins of the patient. The procedure involves extracting varicose or other unwanted leg or hand veins of the patient, soaking the vein in hypertonic saline to destroy endothelial cells, and then, implanting portions of the remaining material (containing collagen, elastin, and muscle) into the dermal defect. The endothelium is destroyed to prevent newer angiogenesis in the implanted area. So far the results have been long-lasting with no complications. Although results are encouraging, this procedure is laborious at present, and is restricted to patients with unwanted veins.[8]