"Isn't all filler the same thing?"
"If anything, can't I just get it all at once somewhere cheap?"
These are things people looking into filler often say.
I'm Director Kwon Si-jin — we'll be seeing you in Myeongdong soon ^^
We're set to open in Myeongdong soon, and since there are so many misconceptions about filler, we wanted to lay things out for your information.
Even with the same hyaluronic acid, the properties that suit each area differ, so it's not the 'product' but 'which area you put it in and how' that decides the result. Let me lay out what you should know going in.
Filler Is, in the End, a 'Filling' Treatment
Filler is a treatment that fills the dermal layer with a viscoelastic material to make up for lost volume and tidy up the lines.
The most commonly used component is hyaluronic acid.Since it's a component our skin originally has too, it settles in relatively well, and a big advantage is that if needed it can be dissolved again with a breaking-down enzyme.
Why Should Each Area Be Viewed Differently?
Even with the same hyaluronic acid, the properties an area calls for differ.
Spots that need to provide support, like the cheeks or nasolabial folds, suit a product that holds firmly.Conversely, thin, mobile spots like the lips or under the eyes suit a product that's soft and has different cohesion.
To put it in a simple analogy, it's like using soft jelly where you mean to stand a pillar, and hard clay in a delicate spot like the lips. Put a product that doesn't match the area in, and it easily clumps or shows through.
Know This About Each Area
The forehead and nasolabial folds are spots where support matters, so the key is 'controlling the amount' to bring out the curve naturally.
Under the eyes is a tricky area where the skin is thin, so the product easily shows through or clumps.That's why you have to carefully judge from the start whether to put it in at all, and whether you're a suitable candidate.
The lips move a lot, so I've found that overfilling quickly looks unnatural. It's safer to approach little by little while watching the result.
How It's Injected, and Safety
Filler is often used together with a round-tipped cannula to reduce the risk of bruising and vessel injury.
Also, keeping ready to respond with the breaking-down enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid when a problem arises is the basis of safety management.
Rarely, complications are reported where filler blocks a vessel and causes problems with the skin or vision.That's why injecting it with precise knowledge of the anatomical location matters above all.
Whether the product can be reversed is the dividing line
Here's something as important as the area, and less well known: whether it can be reversed depends on the ingredient.
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) familyreversible with a dissolving agent (hyaluronidase). Duration is generally given as six months to two years
- Calcium familymentioned at one to two years, and not dissolved by the same agent
- PLLA familyworks by stimulating collagen production, so it fills in slowly
This doesn't mean the non-HA families are bad. But you should know in advance that your options differ if you're unhappy with the result.
The timing of the result differs too.What fills shows on the day, in proportion to what went in; what builds fills in over several weeks.Having this treatment without knowing that makes "it isn't working" an easy misreading.
If it's your first time, starting with the reversible side may sit easier.
How recovery runs
Swelling generally rises from the evening of the treatment day and is most pronounced the following morning.Looking puffier the next day than on the day itself is the natural course.
Early swelling drops noticeably within a few days, and the shape is described as fully settling in around two weeks.Bruising is separate from swelling and tends to fade within one to two weeks.
During this period, don't rub firmly, and it's safer to postpone anything that heats the body, such as saunas, for a few days.If you have an important date, leave at least two weeks.
Side Effects and Limits Worth Knowing
After the treatment, bruising, swelling, and temporary asymmetry can occur.These generally sort themselves out over time.
Depending on the area or product, clumping or nodules can sometimes be felt, and in those cases I've found it's adjusted with the breaking-down enzyme.
And filler is a treatment that fills lost volume; it isn't a treatment that lifts sagging skin or stops aging itself. It's good to understand this point in advance.(responses differ for each person)
There's no need to rush in these cases
Honestly, if the cause isn't hollowing but sagging, filling alone will leave you wanting.
Adding more filler to a shadow created by a descending cheek can make the face look heavier instead.What needs looking at here isn't filling but lifting.
And please tell us in advance if there's inflammation or infection in the treatment area, if you're on blood-thinning medication, or if you have an important date within two weeks.
In my experience, a place that says "another method would suit you better than filler" tends to be the more trustworthy one.
- Even with the same hyaluronic acid, each area needs different properties
- Not the product name but where and how it is placed decides the result
- Ask in advance whether the product can be dissolved
FAQ
Q. How long does filler last?
A. The duration of filler varies by area, product, and cross-linking method, but generally you can think of it as 6 months to as long as 2 years.Even with the same hyaluronic acid, a firmly cross-linked product lasts longer, while a soft product tends to be absorbed relatively quickly.Also, areas that move a lot, like the lips or around the eyes, break it down that much faster, so even the same product can have a shorter duration there.Conversely, spots with little movement, like the nasolabial folds or cheeks, tend to settle in for longer.There are also differences depending on your individual metabolic rate, so rather than stating a flat "this many months," it's more accurate to understand it as a range.
Q. If I don't like it, can it be reversed?
A. A big advantage of hyaluronic acid filler is that it can be adjusted or reversed by dissolving it with a breaking-down enzyme.If the shape isn't to your liking, or clumping or asymmetry occurs, the method is to inject an enzyme called hyaluronidase to break down the filler. Thanks to this, it tends to be easier to respond to in terms of safety management than other kinds of filler. That said, the enzyme treatment also carries a possibility of an allergic reaction, so it has to be done carefully while watching the response. Also, rather than redoing the treatment right after dissolving, it's good to allow time for the swelling and condition to settle.So I believe an approach of putting it in little by little from the start, while watching, is ultimately the path to fewer things needing reversal.
Q. Is there anything to watch out for after the treatment?
A. On the day of the filler treatment, it's good to reduce stimulation so the injected filler can settle. Please put off activities that apply heat or greatly raise blood flow—like saunas, jjimjilbang, and intense exercise—for a few days. Rubbing or pressing the treatment area hard can also affect the shape, so it's safer to avoid that.Bruising and swelling commonly appear after the treatment, and they generally settle over a few days to a week.Rather than massaging excessively to get the swelling down faster, it's good to leave it to sort itself out naturally. And if the treatment area becomes excessively pale or severe pain continues, you must get it seen right away without delay.
Q. Can I have filler and Botox together?
A. They target different things, so they're sometimes planned together. Filler fills what has hollowed, while toxin relaxes moving muscle to address lines, so the roles don't overlap.Order and interval are safer settled in consultation.
Q. When it wears off, will I sag more than before?
A. No evidence of that has been established.Hyaluronic acid is described as gradually breaking down and being absorbed — it recedes gently rather than collapsing one day.
Q. What should I prepare before the treatment?
A. The medications and supplements you take, a record of previous treatments, and one or two photos in natural light are enough.What filler you had, and where, bears directly on this plan.
Area before product
If you've read this far, this is the one thing to remember.
With filler, it's not the 'product name' but 'the right choice for the area and precise injection' that makes the result.
That question at the very top — does this answer it?
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon.We'll share news of our opening and treatment information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thank you for your time today.This was Director Kwon Si-jin at DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article meant to provide general medical information, and the effects and side effects of treatments may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)