You may be hearing that fillers are losing popularity. But despite news coverage of celebs dissolving their injectables, the data shows that fillers remain hugely popular. So, what’s changed? If you ask the experts, it’s about a higher standard of quality, technique and results. As the “overfilled” look moves firmly out of popularity, it’s the undetectable injectables that reign supreme.
Featured Experts
- Kelly Bomer is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon based in Scottsdale, AZ
- Aviva B. Preminger is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York
- Sean Simon is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Miami
Undetectable Injectables Are the Gold Standard
The truth is, not just anyone can use fillers like Radiesse, Juvéderm or Sculptra to their fullest potential. To get your injectables to be undetectable, you need an expert hand with a deep understanding of anatomy and the filler they’re using.
“Keeping filler undetectable requires the the balance of not only understanding the delicate proportions of beauty and attractiveness for feminine and masculine features, but also the deep understanding of filler properties,” explains Scottsdale, AZ facial plastic surgeon Kelly Bomer, MD. “You need to know how to maximize them to mimic the tissue that is being augmented. An intricate understanding of anatomy is required to know how to access these specific areas safely.”
To achieve an undetectable injectable treatment, practitioners have to adjust their depth to deliver an enhancement that doesn’t show its hand as a filler.
“I keep filler undetectable by injecting into the proper locations, at adequate depth for the desired effect without being able to see or detect the actual filler material,” explains Miami plastic surgeon Sean Simon, MD. “You should also only be using the amount needed to achieve the desired natural-looking effect. Too much filler will always look unnatural and is the most common error.”
To avoid overfilling, New York plastic surgeon Aviva B. Preminger, MD chooses a more gradual enhancement technique. “I find that adding small amounts of filler over time rather than all at once can really help avoid an overfilled look,” she explains. “I also use a micro-droplet technique or cannulas for a smoother distribution of the product.”
Choosing Your Practitioner
Not all practitioners are created equal, and mastering undetectable injectables takes an expert.
“As a facial plastic surgeon, with extensive surgical experience involving all layers from the bone, vascular, muscle, subcutaneous and dermal levels I have found the process of maximizing injecting fillers to augment facial features for enhanced beauty and reducing the signs of aging to be very challenging and satisfying to master,” Dr Bomer says. “For example, in the side of the face, filler can restore volume. It is best to carefully deposit thin layers over time of a flexible filler of appropriate consistency. If too much filler is placed at once, or the filler is too thick and inflexible, it will not mimic natural-looking fat pads. With discreet anatomic areas such as anterior cheeks or lips, less is more.”
According to Dr. Preminger, that anatomic understanding is key to a natural-looking outcome.
“My technique focuses on balance and proportion, where we prioritize facial harmony rather than over-volumizing one area,” she says. “That can result in the classic overfilled look.”
Going from Overfilled to Undetectable
The good news is that even overfilled patients can get to a more natural, undetectable place.
“Fortunately, most fillers are temporary, so one option is simply waiting enough time for the filler material to be metabolized and then start from scratch,” says Dr. Simon. “Also, for hyaluronic acid gels, an enzyme can be used to instantly dissolve the filler material. This injection should also be performed by an experienced plastic surgeon or dermatologist.”
Dr. Preminger notes that depending on the individual, a more balanced approach with fillers may get you to that natural enhancement. “And for those who have been overfilled with synthetic fillers, autologous fat transfer can create a softer, more natural look,” she explains. “And of course, we can combine radiofrequency, ultrasound or laser treatments to improve skin elasticity after excessive filler removal.”
