Exaggeration produced artificial results. Now it’s time to empty
Summary
In Brazil, some celebrities, models, singers and influencers have already opted for filler reversal, which is carried out using hyaluronidase to dissolve hyaluronic acid, preventing aesthetic distortions and the aging effect.
Recently, former BBB Eliezer shared with his followers that he is removing facial fillers. “I started removing it late last year, I started reversing the acid process, in my jaw, in my chin, so my face went back to its normal anatomy. What happened to me was severe image distortion ” Eliezer said.
And Eliezer is not alone. In Brazil, some celebrities, models, singers and influencers have already opted for filler reversal, which is done through the use of a substance called hyaluronidase.
“Hyaluronidase is an injectable enzyme, a copy of a protein found in the body, used to dissolve hyaluronic acid fillers. In addition to moderating an undesirable effect (such as overly generous cheeks) or correcting an error (migrated, irregular or bad filling), the enzyme is essential to manage that rare filling emergency that is vascular occlusion”, explains Cláudia Merlo, doctor specialized in Cosmetology at the BWS Institute.
Despite the persistent popularity of injectables, filler reversals are on the rise, something of a reaction to the era of extravagance in injectable use. Now there is a fear hovering in the air: patients want to escape cosmetic distortions and the effect of long-term aging.
“We use hyaluronidase to dissolve overly full, pasty and distorted faces. Not only does excess filler create an uncomfortable aesthetic, but it can also lead to lymphatic channel blockage and fluid buildup, limited muscle function (which can cause strained expressions), and permanent soft tissue stretching over time . But we also dissolve it to correct small imperfections, such as tear ducts left swollen by a poorly positioned gel,” says Cláudia Merlo. “People need to carry out procedures responsibly, as they cannot think it is just a matter of doing and undoing.”
Filler fatigue
One of the consequences of irresponsible use of fillers is what has been called ‘Filler Fatigue’.
“This frequent, repeated and inappropriate use of these substances, over time, increasingly stretches the tissues, thus creating the need for more and more fillers and, therefore, worsening the signs of aging,” explains plastic surgeon Beatriz Lassance, member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery.
According to the doctor, an aged face can be compared to an empty balloon: when it fills with air it becomes relaxed and shiny. “But once deflated, it becomes more wrinkled than before, requiring even more air to keep the balloon ‘wrinkle-free,’” explains the plastic surgeon.
The doctor explains that she is not against the use of this filler, which she considers a precious tool if appropriately indicated. “We have been able to restore deep structures such as bones, replace lost fat compartments, improve the proportion of facial structures and even improve skin quality. The problem lies in the diagnosis and in indicating when, how and if it is necessary to fill it in,” explains Beatriz Lassance.
Going in the wrong direction
The distortions are responsible for a “lack of aesthetic judgment” among some injectors, both medical and non-medical, but also for a dysmorphic impulse on the part of some patients to experience the immediate gratification that comes from looking and feeling amazing after the injection. If this sensation is not controlled by your doctor, it can quickly go in the wrong direction.
“Patients search for a clinic based on what they see in the mirror. For example, the famous Chinese mustache, which is the nasolabial fold. The cause of this deeper groove may be the reduction of the fat compartment in the cheekbone due to age or weight loss. Simply filling this groove can give the impression of a heavier face, but replacing this fat appropriately lengthens the ligaments and repositions all the structures, producing a true ‘lifting’ effect. Or, if the fat compartments are adequate, the cause could be the laxity of the ligaments. In this case it would be wrong to include anything. The most appropriate treatment can be through the use of technology, such as microfocused ultrasound, or even facial surgery,” explains the plastic surgeon.
Filler, she believes, should be used to restore lost volume, not to lift weights or camouflage the signs of gravitational aging. Attempting to “lift” sagging tissue with hyaluronic acid cannot be done without puffing out the face for a cartoonish effect. Another maneuver that can go wrong is “trying to reshape the face,” she adds, by imposing unnatural contours.
“How many times have I seen patients who wanted to operate on bags under the eyes and improve dark circles and treat them with fillers in the cheekbone area, without the need for surgery. Or even patients who have come to have fillers inserted into their dark circles and to whom I have recommended eyelid surgery, removing the bags. I often receive beautiful patients who have been undergoing fillers and aesthetic treatments for years with dermatological colleagues, who, realizing that it is no longer possible to cure sagging skin, knowingly recommend facial surgery. On the contrary, many patients come to me for facial surgery and I recommend aesthetic treatments, delaying more invasive procedures for a few years. Or, during facial surgery, I use hyaluronic acid or fat fillers as a complement,” says the doctor.
Get more fillers than you need
The problem lies in the fact that not only are patients potentially receiving more fillers than they each need Requestbut they also reprogram prematurely, based on the mistaken belief that the filler will disappear within six months and must be reinjected at that time.
“The widely held myth that hyaluronic acid disappears on a predictable schedule arises from clinical trials, whose fixed end points (of 6, 12, or 24 months) were misinterpreted as the filler’s concrete life expectancy. Many doctors today reaffirm that these tests were only demonstrating that the clinical effect of the filler in first-time users was no longer so evident in the photos after a few months,” says the doctor.
While filler longevity varies by product and patient, recent MRI studies have shown that it lasts much longer than advertised.
“Hyaluronic acid is in fact reabsorbed by the body, since it is a substance that we produce naturally. However, when we talk about the need to maintain the procedure after one or two years, we are referring to the duration of the aesthetic result and not to the presence of the substance in the body. In fact, hyaluronic acid can take much longer than two years to be completely absorbed by the body”, explains dermatologist Paola Pomerantzeff, member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology.
And exactly how long does hyaluronic acid take to be absorbed? According to the dermatologist, we don’t know for sure. “More and more studies are being carried out to determine the permanence of hyaluronic acid fillers in the skin. But it is difficult to give a definitive answer, because not all hyaluronic acid fillers are the same,” explains the doctor.
“To be used as a filler, hyaluronic acid goes through a cross-linking process, also known as cross-linking, which forms bonds between hyaluronic acid molecules to make it more resistant to degradation and, at the same time, more solid and dense . As a result, the product is capable of adding volume and is difficult for the body to absorb. Hyaluronic acids from different manufacturers have different degrees of cross-linking and, consequently, are absorbed by the body at different speeds,” explains Paola.
The beginning of a reaction
While concerns about filler fatigue don’t appear to reduce overall demand for these products on a large, statistically altered scale, doctors say they’re starting to see patients back off in a variety of ways. Cláudia Merlo usually explains to the patient that behaviors are always individual. Therefore, when the problem is sagging skin, the doctor recommends the use of Radiesse, an injectable biostimulator, indicated to improve the quality of the skin by reducing sagging skin.
“The substance is applied to promote controlled inflammation, in order to stimulate collagen-producing cells (fibroblasts) to produce collagen, around 18 months,” says the doctor.
With collagen stimulation the skin becomes more elastic and compact. “The technique can be combined with microfocused ultrasound, which helps to promote skin tightening, that is, that ‘tightening’ of the skin with the muscle, when it becomes firm,” adds Dr. Cláudia.
Therefore the best advice is to choose the professional carefully, checking aspects such as: certification, anatomical knowledge, experience, obsession with safety and willingness to say “no”. So adopt a less is more mentality. “Dubious photos on Instagram – there are many filters on the photos –, magical cures and miraculous news: what costs little can be expensive,” concludes Beatriz.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
