Fight the Filler Fad
Fillers, fillers, fillers. They have been all the rage in recent years. I continue to warn patients that it’s a bad choice and strongly urge them not to fall victim to the filler fantasy. More and more people have come to regret using fillers. Celebrities such as Blac Chyna (Angela White) and others are running back to plastic surgeons for “explant” surgeries and procedures. Explant has become the popular name for removal of implants, dermal fillers and illegal injections in areas such as the buttocks. It’s risky every time one undergoes surgery, but I do applaud those who come to their senses and chose to remove dangerous foreign matter from their bodies. As reported by Insider.com in March of this year, Courtney Cox said getting cosmetic fillers was her biggest beauty regret and had them dissolved in 2017 as did many others. Khloe Kardashian revealed in March of 2016 she visited her doctor three times to dissolve her facial fillers because she felt they made her look “crazy.” Simon Cowell admitted in August 2022 that his son’s “hysterics” resulted in him dissolving his facial fillers.
The Truth About Fillers
It is hard to blame the consumer when they are being lured with claims of instant results and ‘no down time’ procedures to make them look younger. The multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical industry has gotten away with pushing synthetic materials into the faces and bodies of trusting individuals for far too long. The public is wising up, but not fast enough. The truth is fillers don’t naturally dissolve in our bodies. MRI follow-up studies have shown that fillers linger in tissues for years and often migrate downward because of gravity. The result is a heavier looking face actually aging them faster!
The Aging Process
We all age. It’s natural. To understand why fillers and traditional facelifts (skin pulled back towards the ears) don’t work, it’s important to understand the process of aging and its effect on facial structure. When we age, there is a significant decrease of elastin and collagen production causing our muscles to droop. Droopy muscles present themselves on the face in the form of sagging brows, heavy upper eyelids, hollowness of the eye socket and puffy bags below the eyes. Wrinkles known as marionette lines form at the corner of the mouth, jowls begin to appear and neck tissue becomes loose. All these changes create a tired and often a mean or unhappy facial appearance.
The answer to restoring the “lift” of youth isn’t to push foreign materials into the face. A better alternative is to focus on natural and organic treatments that work with our bodies to slow the aging process. Proper skincare is a start as well as an important lifetime routine. But for those who wish to address the more dramatic signs of aging, a good option may be platelet-rich plasma, or PRP treatments. PRP is a natural alternative to fillers and fat transfers. These procedures use the patient’s own blood to increase elastin and collagen production. Because PRP is a natural filler from one’s own body, these treatments amplify the natural growth factor that heals and restores tissue. Having been used for decades to promote healing of wounds and soft tissue, platelet-rich plasma has also proven to help the skin rejuvenate faster. Click here to see how Dr. BYUN used his signature Muscle Repair Technique to reverse the negatives of longtime filler use.
Simple, Natural, Straight Forward
There isn’t a lot to it. PRP treatments are a simple in-office procedure that take less than 30 minutes and carry no risk of allergic reaction or skin sensitivity. The patient’s own blood is drawn and spun to isolate platelets. The resulting platelet-rich plasma is then injected into strategic areas of the face where they release more than 30 bioactive proteins and growth factors. Once injected, cells in the area are activated to repair and enhance tissue regeneration, thereby hydrating the tissue and restoring the skin’s healthy youthful bounce.
Aging Well
Aging well doesn’t mean there is nothing one can do to slow the process. The intention is to take as natural an approach as possible. Do not be lulled into the latest fad or unproven anti-aging “miracle.” The answer is to age gradually and gracefully.
My recommendation is to find a reputable plastic surgeon and partner with them on your age well journey. You see the dentist, dermatologist, and internist regularly for preventative care. There is no reason you shouldn’t add a Board-Certified plastic surgeon to your preventative health and wellness team.
There may come a time when you are ready for surgical intervention to restore the look of your youth. When it’s time for this type of revitalization, do your research. Be informed and look for a surgeon capable of restoring your face; not one who relies on synthetic fillers or chooses to ignore your unique features and facial structure by performing a traditional ‘pull and stretch’ facelift. You deserve better.
For more information about Dr. BYUN Facial Restoration procedures, contact us at (847) 513-6898.
In The Media
What You Need To Know Before Getting a Facelift
Six things to be aware of before going under the knife.
When the Young, Bright Prodigy Evolves into the Great Seasoned Master
Dr. Michael BYUN is a serious doctor with seriously comprehensive experience unlike many of his peers, setting him heads and shoulders above the rest.
