How to slim and contour your face with dermal fillers

Let’s talk about how to Slim and Contour Your Face With Dermal Fillers.

Why does the face lose contours as we age?

Unfortunately, it can seem like our features are “shifting” as we age. It can be startling to see the features that you’ve known all your life begin to look different when you glance in the mirror. The irony is that our face often appears heavier as we lose volume. That is precisely why adding a little “scaffolding” slims the face. Here’s a look at common changes to shape and contour that occur with age:

• Reduced definition in the jawline.
• The appearance of sunken/smaller eyes.
• The appearance of “shadow” patterns.
• Double chin.
• Deflated cheekbones
• Drooping or loose skin.

There are many factors responsible for the changes we see in our features as we age. Some are purely genetic. In addition, things like sun exposure, smoking, lack of sleep, underlying health issues and stress can cause changes to be more sudden or drastic. Bone loss, changes in bone structure and muscle weakness can impact the contours of our face. However, losses of collagen and elastin are often responsible for the deep lines and diminished contours we see when we look in the mirror. Reduced production of collagen and elastin leads to sagging that erases the definition we enjoy in our youth.

The loss of fat pads just below the surface of the skin is also a major contributor to diminished contours. Most people don’t associate having “fat” in the facial area with being a good thing. However, fat pads are what give us a defined, healthy look in our youth. In fact, fat pads actually help to stave off the appearance of excess skin or a “double chin” because they create structure and definition. That definition is what causes our face to appear slim and streamlined. Dermal fillers are effective at facial slimming and contouring because they restore the structure that is lost over time. Of course, even a person who is younger may achieve desired results through facial slimming with fillers. This is especially true among people looking for semi-permanent alternatives to “contouring” cosmetics.

How do you slim your face with fillers?

As we’ve covered, dermal fillers are extremely useful for restoring contours that create a slimmer appearance. The main way that we achieve this is by lifting and projecting the cheeks using strategic injections. Focusing on the cheeks is the most effective way to “slim” the composition of the face without surgery. Building up your cheeks to create a slimmer face is a two-part process. First, we use upper-face shaping to add very subtle width to the cheeks. Next, mid-face contouring is used to narrow the area under the cheeks. Some people find that focusing on injections that “form” cheekbones is enough to create a much slimmer, more defined look. However, there is much more that can be achieved with fillers.

Dermal fillers can be used to sculpt the chin to create a much slimmer appearance. In fact, a streamlined chin can create the effect of shedding several pounds. Dermal fillers are also effective at reducing the appearance of a double chin. Even a person who is at their ideal weight may feel that their face appears heavier due to a drooping chin. Most double or drooping chins are products of reduced collagen and elastin production. That means that diet and exercise simply can’t undo the problem. Strategic injections along the jawline can create beautiful, tight definition that also shaves pounds from your appearance. Injections done on the bottom half of the face are effective for lengthening and narrowing the chin and lower face.

Addressing the eye area with dermal fillers can also help to create a slimmer look. When done in conjunction with cheek fillers, eye-area injections help to define the upper portion of the face. A benefit of adding eye fillers to your facial-slimming makeover is that you’ll also appear more awake and refreshed.

What happens during facial slimming with dermal fillers?

Juvederm is often used for non-surgical facial slimming. However, Boletero and Restylane can also be effective. All three of are FDA-approved injectables.

During any Dermal Filler procedure, it is important for the injector to assess the three major elements of the face, the Foundation – midface region which includes the four aspects of the cheek, the Contours of the face, which includes the temples, jawline and chin and lastly but not least, the Finishing touches of the lower face, including the lips, marionette lines, neck and nasolabial folds.

Dermal fillers rely on something called hyaluronic acid to add definition-building volume under the surface of the skin. Unlike a process like liposuction, facial slimming with fillers doesn’t actually remove fat or volume from your face. A facial-slimming procedure using fillers can typically be done in the office in under an hour. Some patients experience slight swelling or bruising at injection sites following the procedure. However, discomfort and visible signs resolve on their own almost immediately. A single session is often enough to produce very satisfactory results. Some patients find that they prefer to tweak or maintain results over the course of several visits.

How long does facial slimming last?

Your skin’s “before” state and responsiveness to injections will contribute to the longevity of your results. It’s very common to enjoy consistent results for six months to 18 months. Facial slimming using fillers is a long-term option that provides much more satisfying results than using contouring cosmetics to create a slimmer face. Unfortunately, facial-contouring creams, powders and highlighters require you to constantly apply and reapply cosmetics to maintain short-term results. What’s more, you’re really only creating an optical illusion that washes away. Facial contouring via dermal fillers allows you to enjoy slimming effects that won’t wash away when you swim, sweat or clean your face.