Indication-Specific Approach to Filler Injections-Juniper Publishers

Authored by Sabine Zenker

Summary

Facial aging is a complex process resulting in appearance of wrinkles and folds as well as sagging and volume loss. This article does outline a science-based, indication-specific therapeutic concept for filler injections to the aging ace.
Keywords: Indication specific treatment; Filler; Fill; Ftimulate; Volumize


The Age-Related Three-Dimensional Facial Changes

Even though facial aging starts at the surface by showing signs of skin aging, the changes go far beyond the skin: it finally involves all other facial structures such as the muscles, retaining ligaments, fat pads and the bony structures. Predominantly and for a youthful and appealing look, the architecture and position of the fat pads is pivotal. But over time, the facial fat pads get redistributed, they do atrophy and get separated [1-6]. Further to this, a remarkable bony resorption takes place and doesn`t give the needed structural support [3,6,7]. All this results in deflation, volume loss and sagging in a three-dimensional way [6,8].


Typical Indications for Filler Treatments

Here, very importantly, filler treatments come into play. Any treatment in aesthetic dermatology does require an indication-specific treatment approach, the individual diagnosis has to be set up in order to decide for the respective treatment plan. Typical indications for filler treatments are:

Wrinkles

Creases, wrinkles and folds are a typical sign of skin aging and can give facial expressions an unwanted negative touch (Figure 1).

Volume Loss

Further changes such as the appearance of shades, furrows, volume loss and overall sagging are the next typical indication for facial filler injections to restore facial proportions in order to get back the pleasing facial features one had in the past or to improve aspects such as shape, form and volume of a face; basically, it`s about to give back a healthy look with natural fullness and soft and smooth transitions (Figure 2).


Treatment Concept for Wrinkles by Filler Injections

Here, the concept of filling wrinkles [direct filling by hyaluronic acid [HA]] and of dermal stimulation by polycaprolactone [PCL] will be discussed.
For direct filling by hyaluronic acid, typical indications on forehead- or perioral lines etc.. , the filler is injected intra-dermally in a retrograde fashion [“blanching”] by serial-puncture- or linear- threading, using a sharp needle [30G ½”] [9]. The author does mix the respective hyaluronic acid with local anesthetics in a ratio up to 30% [off-label-use!] to basically achieve an optimal integration of the filler material in the superficial dermis. The correction should never be done over the clinical endpoint. To control filler placement, author often uses injection systems as this increases the accuracy of filler placement and its dose which reduces side effects such as pain and bruising to improve the overall aesthetic outcome in especially such very superficial injections [10]. The result of this direct filling technique with hyaluronic acid lasts -depending on material used and individual conditions- for some months (Figure 3-6).
The stimulation technique by filler using polycaprolactone [PCL] is especially suited if an immediate filling is desired. Additionally, the effect of collagen stimulation starts appr. 3 months after injection. Polycaprolactone is a biodegradable filler material consisting of microparticles of PCL suspended in a gel carrier [carboxy-methyl-cellulose [CMC] with both, volumizing and stimulating capacities [11,12]. This filler has to be placed using a 25G 1½” blunt tipped cannula in a subscision-wise way: PCL is fanned sub-dermally in a fan pattern to cover the whole area to be treated in a retrograde fashion; the point of insertion is chosen in a 90° angle and in the middle of each respective fold. The approximate amount of filler to be injected is 0.1cc (Figure 7,8).


Treatment Concept for Volume Loss by Filler Injections

The treatment of the three-dimensional volume loss will be showcased here by demonstrating techniques for the midface. He tTypical indications here are the sunken-in frontal part of the cheek and the sagged lateral part.
To plan the individual injection strategy, to identify to be treated areas with its entry points as well as the danger zones, facial mapping is pretty use- and helpful (Figure 9).
Here, typically highly visco-elastic hyaluronic acid fillers with a good volumizing capacity [13,14], Calcium Hydroxylapatite, CaHA [Radiesse©], a calcium particles based filler [15,16] or Polycaprolactone [PCL] are used. The use of blunt tipped cannulas results in a more atraumatic [15], quicker treatment procedure, especially when the filler needs to be placed over “longer distances” [16-22].
The following pictures illustrate typical entry points for this treatment concept, the Cheek-Apex- Entry-Point and the Zygomatic Entry-Point.
The Cheek Apex Entry-Point, entry-point to treat the sunkenin frontal part of the chees, is the point around which the frontal projection of the cheek will be reconstituted (Figure 10).

Sunken-in frontal part cheek

Starting point is the Cheek Apex Entry-Point. The filler is injected in a bolus technique [„gunshot- wise“], in a retrograde way and placed supraperiostally; according to the clinical needs, more injections medial and eventually lateral of the first entrypoint are performed in a “banana-wise” way. Amount of filler per point is approximately 0.1cc. Augmentation is conducted up to the clinical endpoint.

Sagged lateral part cheek

Starting point is the Zygomatic Arch Entry-Point. The filler is injected in a fanning technique in retrograde fashion starting supraperiostally and ending up subdermally on the most lateral part of the to be injected area. Amount of filler per point is approximately 0.1-0.2cc. Augmentation is conducted up to the clinical endpoint.
Using these two techniques the frontal projection of the cheeks as well as the lateral lifting can be effected in a customized and individual way.
Here, the following illers are used: hyaluronic acid Perfectha© Subskin and Calcium Hydroxylapatite [Radiesse©] [mixed with Lidocain 1% in a 20% ratio]. As equipment, a blunt tip cannula 25G/38mm is used [Steriglide®] (Figure 12-16).


Summary


Age related facial changes such wrinkles, volume loss and sagging can be easily and individually treated by filler. The indication-specific filler treatment approach helps to identify the respective indications. Thanks to the versatility of degradable fillers, they can serve for all, filling, stimulating as well as volumizing.

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