What is the Impact of dermal fillers on future facelifts in Northern Virginia?
Written by Mark Domanski, M.D.
Do dermal fillers affect future facelifts?
Does doing dermal filler injections now make future facelifts harder or better? This is a common question I get in my consultations. I generally consider fillers to be adjunct procedures, separate from a facelift.
Dermal fillers restore facial volume, which we lose over time. In my practice area, Northern Virginia, the politics are liberal, but the aesthetics are conservative. Most patients prefer a natural look, with subtle enhancements. I personally have not seen any difference when performing a facelift on a patient who has previously had treatments with Restylane (hyaluronic acid), Juvéderm (hyaluronic acid), or even Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid.). I suspect the reason is that these products are FDA approved and produce minimal tissue reaction. Restylane and Juvéderm are designed to dissolve over time, while Sculptra promotes the body’s own collagen formation.
Can dermal fillers Improve future facelift results?
I have not seen a history of filler treatment make facelifts better. If a patient had a filler treatment a year ago, most of the effect will have faded away. Likewise, the effect of Sculptra will still be present, but in a natural way.
Dermal fillers, fat grafting and facelifts
I will, however, use the concept of fillers in my facelifts. Frequently, I will harvest fat from the abdomen of thighs using liposuction. The fat is then purified and injected into areas of the face for restoration of volume. Common areas of treatment include the cheeks, nasal-labial folds, chin, and lips. This is of course done with the involvement and desire of the patient. Some patients philosophically oppose any volume treatments and for them I will perform a facelift without fat grafting.
The impact of dermal fillers on future facelifts in Northern Virginia
I must return to my caveat that I practice in Northern Virginia. Falls Church, Fairfax, Arlington, McLean, Woodbridge, Reston and the surrounding areas are aesthetically conservative. Do not expect the most recent avant-garde fashion trend to come from here!
The amount of filler that patients are receiving in northern Virginia is likely less than other places. I have not noticed any effect on the technical aspects of a facelift from the filler amounts typically sought by patients in Northern Virginia. This however may not be true for Miami or southern California amounts of filler. But then again, maybe this is why I like living in Northern Virginia.
Sincerely,
