II. Indications
- Lip enhancement
-
Facial Wrinkles and folds in lower two thirds of face
- Nosolabial folds (old FDA approved use)
- Oral commissures
- Marionette lines (long vertical lines around the chin)
III. Mechanism
- Injectable substances that increase soft-tissue volume for 3-24 months
IV. Dosing
- Injection of 1-2 ml into Dermis
- One treatment per 3 to 24 months (depending on filler injected)
V. Medications
- Collagen Filler (original filler introduced in the 1980s)
- Collagen derived from animals, and dissolves over time
- Increased risk of local and Allergic Reactions (largely replaced in U.S. by other products)
- Products
- Cosmoplast (Allergan Inc) lasts 3-4 months
- Hyaluronic Acid Filler (most commonly used as of 2024)
- Retains moisture and is reversible
- Products
- Restylane and Perlane (Medicis Aesthetics) each last 6-9 months
- Juvederm (Allergan Inc) lasts 9-12 months
- Calcium Hydroxylapatite Filler
- Mineral is similar in composition to bone
- Stimulates local Collagen production
- Products
- Radiesse (Bioform Medical Inc) lasts 12-18 months
- Mineral is similar in composition to bone
- Poly-L-Lactic Acid (Polylactic Acid) Filler
- Biodegradable synthetic product used for deep Wrinkles
- Products
- Sculptra (Dermik Lab) lasts 12-24 months
- Polymethacrylate (or polymethylmethacrylate, PMMA)
- Polymer Filler is hard, stiff and brittle, and permanently retained within skin
- Similar products are used in plexiglas or lucite
- Used for nasolabial folds ("smile lines")
- Products
- Bellafill (composite with bovine Collagen)
VI. Adverse Effects
- Local, mild, transient effects
- Ecchymosis
- Local edema
- Vascular Injection (serious)
- Tissue Necrosis
- Occurs when filler is injected into skin vessels
- Blindness
- Occurs with filler injection into periocular vessels
- Tissue Necrosis
- Infections
- Cellulitis or wound abscess
- HSV Outbreak
VII. Efficacy
- Advantages
- Results are immediate
- Disadvantages
- Swelling and Bruising after the procedure
- Very operator dependent with the best outcomes with the most experienced clinicians
VIII. Management: Wounds containing Filler
- Indications
- Patient presents for wound management (e.g. Laceration) to a region containing filler
- Filler effects on open wounds
- Leakage of filler is non-toxic
- Filler does not interact with Local Anesthetic, but may limit Anesthetic volume injected
- Inquire about the type of filler used and when it was placed
- Avoid massage of wounds with recent filler placement, or with botox injection
-
Wound Repair technique
- Irrigate wounds as normally performed to prevent infection
- Prophylactic Antibiotic indications
- Prophylactic Antibiotics are not typically recommended
- Antibiotics may considered if they would be used in non-filler patients
- Disposition
- Follow-up with plastic surgeon who originally placed the filler
- Expect scarring in the region of the wound
IX. References
- Lin and Salim (2024) Dermal Filler, EM:Rap, 10/14/2024, accessed 10/31/2024
- Small (2009) Am Fam Physician 80(11): 1231-8 [PubMed]
- Wise (2006) Facial Plast Surg 22(2):140-6 [PubMed]