Facial contouring: before and after photos, features of using fillers with hyaluronic acid

Indications for use

A contour facelift is prescribed for the following external signs:

minor nasal defects;
“vagueness” of the oval;
ptosis;
hernial “bags” in the eye area;
drooping eyelids;
presence of scars;
presence of facial wrinkles and nasolabial folds.

Contour plastic surgery is used if the patient wants to increase the shape of her lips or add volume using gel to certain areas of the face.

The essence of the procedure ↑

Contour plastic surgery is a delicate injection correction of age-related changes and skin rejuvenation. This procedure eliminates wrinkles, helps create a clear oval face and can even correct facial features.

The drug introduced under the skin has a miraculous effect on various intracellular processes: oxygen access to cells increases, free radicals are neutralized (this explains the rejuvenating effect), the skin is moisturized, defects are corrected, pigmentation is eliminated, the oval of the face and lip contours become clearer, the skin texture is evened out. . This type of plastic surgery has mostly only positive reviews.

Detailed video about the procedure using the example of nasolabial folds:

The principle of action of the drugs

Injection gels (fillers) are selected depending on the problem that needs to be solved. In most cases, therapy is approached in a comprehensive manner, and each drug consists of several ingredients with different spectrums of action.

Main components:

hyaluronic acid - moisturizes and stimulates the growth of new cells;
peptides - designed to start recovery processes;
amino acids;
vitamins;
plant extracts;
collagen;
calcium hydroxyalatite - smoothes wrinkles, triggers collagen production;
poly-L-lactic acid - fills voids under the skin, stimulates collagen production and the synthesis of new cells.

Effect of hyaluronic acid

Cosmetologists recommend starting skin rejuvenation with hyaluronic acid when the skin of the face undergoes age-related changes, i.e. after 30. Injections with such acid help accelerate regenerative cellular processes in the skin. With its help, more young skin cells appear, their metabolism and division accelerates.

The result of exposure to hyaluronic acid is a clear rejuvenation of the face - the skin becomes smooth and radiant, and the complexion acquires a healthy shade.

Efficiency of use

A facial contour lift gives the following results:

saturates the dermis with moisture and oxygen;
removes toxins;
provokes the production of collagen, elastin, cell restoration;
smooths out wrinkles;
smoothes scars;
increases tone;
Gives the necessary contours to the oval of the face.

As a rule, the procedure is prescribed after 30 years, when the natural production of collagen and elastin decreases and the skin needs additional hydration. But facial oval contouring can be applied earlier if there are signs of early aging or correction of existing defects is required - from the age of 25.

Injection rejuvenation helps when you need to moisturize the epidermis, strengthen the muscle frame and launch natural renewal processes. The procedure will not remove very deep wrinkles and excessive sagging skin. Only surgery will help here.

Attention! You should also not expect that the effect of contouring will be long-lasting. The drugs included in the injections slowly dissolve under the skin, and the dermis gradually returns to its original state. After this, the procedure must be repeated approximately once every 6–18 months.

Types of procedure

The method of introducing the gel is divided into several types of facial contouring:

nose job (injection rhinoplasty);
forehead;
cheekbone;
eyebrows (browlifting);
eyelids (invasive blepharoplasty);
lips (cheiloplasty).

A special type of contour facelift is bioreinforcement (vector lifting). This procedure is recommended for women 35–50 years old who have severe skin defects: ptosis, sagging, deep wrinkles, drooping corners of the lips, eyebrows, eyes. For bioreinforcement, viscous gels with the densest texture are used.

Features of the drugs

The basis of contouring products is hyaluronic acid. As a rule, drugs are available in the form of gels of varying concentrations.

Fillers are divided into two categories and are used for correction of varying complexity.

Monophasic gels

Their peculiarity is that the active substance molecules are the same size and the concentration of hyaluronic acid is in the range of 15–20 mg/g. Such gels penetrate well under the skin, are evenly distributed, and are elastic. Thanks to this, the cosmetologist can adjust the distribution of the drug under the skin by massaging the dermis with his fingers.

Monophasic gels smooth the dermis, giving it clear natural contours. Used to correct faces with shallow wrinkles, fill lips and scars.

They are characterized by a short-lived effect - the hyaluronic acid is absorbed, as a rule, within 6 months, after which the lifting must be repeated.

Biphasic gels

The concentration of hyaluronic acid in such preparations is 20–30 mg/g. The high density of biphasic gels does not allow them to be distributed as evenly as with monophasic products. But they are effective in combating deep wrinkles, lifting cheekbones (shaping the oval of the face) and adding volume in the right places. Biogradation (resorption) of hyaluronic acid occurs within 1.5–2 years. After which you should again resort to contour plastic surgery.

If necessary, a cosmetologist can combine drugs to achieve the desired result.

Note! Many lifting gels contain an anesthetic.

The essence of the method and its varieties

Contour plastic surgery with fillers is an intradermal - intra/subdermal or periosteal injection of fillers - hyaluronic acid gels into the zone or area of correction using injections.

Hyaluronic acid gels or fillers are sterile, viscoelastic, completely safe, biodergable (resorbable over time) fillers. In this case, a gel of a strictly defined degree of viscosity is used for a particular area of the face and neck.

Contour plastic surgery with hyaluronic acid fillers allows:

Instantly fill wrinkles and creases in the area between the eyebrows and forehead, around the mouth.
Eliminate nasolabial folds and tear troughs.
Restore lost volume to cheekbones, cheeks and temples.
Eliminate dark circles and hollows under the eyes.
Correct the oval of the face, the shape of the lips, wings of the nose, and chin.
Replenish the lack of volume in the area of the back of the hands, which makes them visually younger, hiding the contouring of tendons and blood vessels.

Hyaluronic acid, on the basis of which fillers are made, has a complex effect. You will be able to evaluate the immediate effect of correcting aesthetic problems during contouring immediately after the procedure. In addition, during the entire period the drug is under the skin, it will moisturize the dermis in the treatment area. And also activate the production of collagen and elastin fibers in it.

Review of popular tools

In order for contouring to give the desired effect, a high-quality certified drug must be injected under the skin. Manufacturers produce entire lines of gels for contouring, allowing you to choose the necessary product to prolong youth.

Juvederm (USA)

Juvederm (Yuvederm) has good plasticity and has a long period of biodegradation - up to 12 months. The period depends on what type of gel was administered and in what quantity. Presented with a line of several drugs:

Smile and Volbella - products designed to increase lip volume and eliminate wrinkles in this area;
Ultra 2 - gel eliminates superficial wrinkles;
Ultra 3 - corrects medium-depth folds;
Ultra 4 - effective in the fight against deep wrinkles, also used to shape the oval and increase the volume of the lips;
Hydrate - has the lowest density and is used for extra hydration of the skin; an additional substance of the drug is mannitol (mannitol);
Voluma is the densest gel in the line, therefore it is effective in combating deep wrinkles and modeling facial contours;
Volift - consists of hyaluronic acid, lidocaine, phosphate buffer; fills tissues well, coping with deep wrinkles and “floating” facial ovals.

As for the price, the cost of Juvederm Hydrate and Ultra 2 ranges from 7,500 rubles, the rest of the line will cost approximately 10,000–13,500 rubles per package (2 bottles of 1 ml).

Restylane (Sweden)

The line is represented by the following products:

Restylane (Restylane) is a basic filler, the action of which is aimed at filling shallow nasolabial folds, facial wrinkles and wrinkles near the forehead, restoring facial skin and lip filling;
Touch is an ideal option for those with thin skin, having a finely dispersed structure and designed to fill shallow wrinkles, as well as correct scars and post-acne areas;
Perlane - the gel has a dense consistency, therefore it is used to fill deep nasolabial folds, model clear shapes in the cheekbones and chin, and is also used in intimate plastic surgery;
Lipp - recommended for use in cheiloplasty;
Lip Refresh and Lip Volume - the products are flexible and are intended for the correction of male and female lips if the patient wants to maintain their most natural appearance;
Sub Q (SubQ) is a gel with a dense texture designed to fill the subcutaneous tissues in patients suffering from lipodystrophy (lack of fat deposits) of the cheekbones and chin.

The cost of the drug is about 7,000 rubles per package.

Princess (Austria)

Release options:

Rich - in addition to hyaluronic acid, the preparation contains glycerin, which gives the gel a more viscous structure, due to which it moisturizes, improves tone and eliminates fine wrinkles of the skin;
Filler - the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the product is close to physiological (23 mg/ml), which allows you to replenish a small volume of tissue;
Volume - effective for contour-volume plastic surgery, as it fills deep wrinkles, smoothes scars, evens out the surface layer of skin, and eliminates acne;
gels with lidocaine - Princess Filler Lidocaine and Princess Volume Lidocaine , which provide pain relief during injections.

The cost of Princess drugs ranges from 2,300 to 5,000 rubles.

Teosyal (Switzerland)

During the production of Teosyal gels, the protein is completely removed, so they are highly hypoallergenic. Recommended even for patients with hypersensitive skin. The fillers in the line have the following features:

Redensity 1. Contains two drugs - one that rejuvenates the eyes and one that evens out the contours of the face. Main components of the gel:

hyaluronic acid;
vitamin B6;
copper and zinc;
antioxidants.

Redensity 2. The product contains:

zinc;
copper;
amino acids;
vitamins.

Ultra Deep. Corrects pronounced wrinkles and sagging facial skin, evens out the surface layer.

Kiss. Used in cheiloplasty of any level: filling, correction, strengthening, moisturizing.

are also available :

Deep Lines PureSense - eliminates eyebrow and nasolabial folds;
PureSense Global Action - smoothes wrinkles of medium depth and has an accumulating effect with each procedure;
RHA 1 - evens out the skin while maintaining mobility, making the face look natural after the procedure;
RHA 4 - eliminates deep wrinkles and maintains mobility.

The cost of Teosyal drugs is 10,000–15,000 rubles. Redensity products will cost approximately 6,000–7,000 rubles.

Surgiderm (France)

The composition contains high concentrations of hyaluronic acid, so the product is recommended for people over 35 years of age.

The most popular Surgiderm gels (Surgiderm):

24 XP - eliminates the effect of a “floating” face and skin aging, fights small and medium wrinkles, increases the volume of the lips;
30 XP is the most powerful drug in this series, which copes with noticeable signs of aging.

Both products are distinguished by long-term biodegradation - more than 1 year.

The cost of Surgiderm drugs is about 7,500–9,000 rubles.

Indications ↑

age-related changes;
scars, post-acne, post-traumatic scars;
deep nasolabial folds;
eyebrow wrinkles;
facial wrinkles;
wrinkles in the corners of the mouth, on the forehead;
Plastic surgery also eliminates minor defects: sagging corners of the mouth, tear troughs, chin folds, etc.

Photo: Areas of application of the procedure

How does the procedure work?

Before resorting to facial contouring, it is important to choose a good clinic and a highly qualified dermatocosmetologist. The final result depends on how experienced the cosmetologist is, and the likelihood of side effects will be minimized. In addition, it is worth checking the expiration date of the drug and checking the availability of a certificate for the selected product.

Important! The filler package must be opened in the presence of the patient. Further storage of the gel is not allowed. And the master is obliged to give the client a reminder with the number, name of the drug and the date of the invasive lifting.

After the patient is laid on the couch, the facial contouring session begins:

First, makeup is removed from the surface of the skin.
Next, anesthesia is performed. To do this, apply a gel with an anesthetic effect to the dermis and wait 30–40 minutes.
The skin is treated with an antiseptic.
A drug based on hyaluronic acid is administered. Depending on the problem that needs to be solved, injections are made: subcutaneously, intradermally, or to the desired depth of subcutaneous tissue. During the administration of the drug, the treated areas can be kneaded to distribute it evenly. The recommended dose of filler for each injection is up to 0.1 ml. Moreover, it is better to use no more than 1–2 ml of gel per session for the entire treated area. The introduction of large doses is fraught with oversaturation of the filler and such consequences will have to be eliminated. In cases where the specified amount is not enough, experts recommend repeating the contouring procedure after 10–14 days.
The entire surface of the skin is treated with an antiseptic drug.
It is possible to use a soothing mask.

The duration of the procedure depends on the size of the treated area and is 30–90 minutes including anesthesia.

If the patient wishes, painkillers may not be administered. This step is often skipped when using lidocaine gels.

Methods for performing contour plastic surgery

Photos of models before and after this procedure show that the changes after it are quite noticeable. However, unlike non-surgical methods, in some cases the use of a scalpel is still practiced here, but this is only if there are such problems:

skin irregularities;
its subsidence after losing weight;
too deep wrinkles.

A simpler method of contouring is injection.
So, injections with drugs of one group or another (for example, vitamins or nutritional mixtures) are injected into the pores of the skin. Another option is injections of hyaluronic acid, which not only completely fills the voids in the skin, but also causes the tissues to produce keratin and collagen. Very often, patients choose contouring performed with fillers. Using a filler, a solution based on compositions such as:

nourishing biogel;
hyaluronic acid;
Botox;
vitamins;
threads that help combat wrinkles on the bridge of the nose, cheeks or corners of the eyes.

Also, in addition to fillers, plasma lifting is widely practiced . It is recommended to perform it for those who do not have too many problems with their skin against a background of relative cleanliness. Under the necessary conditions, the blood is processed, and then cosmetologists perform contouring, correcting the shape of the face through injections.

Surgery

The most complex technique is surgical intervention for the purpose of correction. It is performed in several stages:

determination by a doctor of the degree of deviation of a person from the existing norm;
drawing up a skin application scheme;
Carrying out diagnostics in order to identify the presence of concomitant diseases, allergic reactions, etc.:
anesthesia and surgery.

Most salons perform this procedure under local anesthesia ; it is recommended not to save on this expense item for your own good. The fact is that one or another part of the body is selected, from which a small part is cut off and then sewn to the dermis. This procedure is quite serious and can leave scars on the body.

Facial contouring: before and after photos

In the photo you can clearly study which deficiencies were corrected and how they were corrected during the contouring procedure.

Rehabilitation period

Immediately after the procedure there may be swelling, redness and minor bruising. In most cases, such phenomena disappear on the second to fourth day. Less commonly, the situation persists for up to 10 days.

Skin care after the procedure

To avoid the risk of infection, as well as to achieve the desired effect from hyaluronic acid, you should follow certain rules.

On the first day after facial contouring, the following is prohibited:

use decorative and skincare cosmetics;
touch the treated areas with your hands;
rub the drug injection sites.

Within two weeks you need to give up:

visits to baths, swimming pools and saunas;
solariums;
physical activity (including sports).

Such measures are aimed at avoiding the release of hyaluronic acid during intense heating.

Also, until the wounds at the puncture sites are completely healed, they need to be treated with an antiseptic. Special massages are also recommended to help distribute the gel more evenly under the skin. A doctor should perform such manipulations.

You should avoid aggressive procedures for a month: peeling, microdermabrasion, physiotherapy, etc.

When will the result be noticeable?

In most cases, one procedure is sufficient. Sometimes additional correction may be necessary, which can be done after two weeks.

The result lasts depending on the structure of the patient’s skin and the drug administered - on average 6–18 months.

Drugs used ↑

Preparations for contouring are made on the basis of hyaluronic acid.

Plastic surgery with hyaluronic acid ↑

Injectable fillers for such plastic surgery are made from stabilized hyaluronic acid. It is used for non-surgical solutions to various cosmetic problems and is an integral element of contouring; all anti-aging preparations consist of it.

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the intercellular substance. The largest percentage of hyaluronic acid found in the human body is found in the skin, but the amount decreases throughout life due to a decrease in the activity of acid synthesis and its rapid destruction. It has no side effects, including no allergies or irritation. The effectiveness of plastic surgery is explained by the amazing properties of hyaluronic acid: it absorbs and retains water molecules and fills wrinkles with it.

Facial contouring with hyaluronic acid maintains the achieved results for eight to eighteen months. The substance later leaves the body naturally.

Contour plastic with fillers ↑

Fillers are injectable medications that fill wrinkles and increase and restore skin elasticity. Fillers activate the growth of your own tissues and correct facial imperfections.

Natural fillers are made from hyaluronic acid and are the most effective treatment because they regenerate the skin and stimulate the skin's production of elastin and collagen. Fillers are completely hypoallergenic and come into contact with body tissues without problems.

By doing so, they not only help the skin get rid of signs of aging, but also help the skin to prolong its health and natural functioning.

Plastic surgery with threads ↑

Thread lifting is a one-of-a-kind accelerated method of facial rejuvenation that takes very little time both for the procedure itself and for rehabilitation after it.

Circular facial plastic surgery with threads gives an effective and long-lasting effect thanks to strong supporting threads. Polylactic acid is the main component of threads that fix facial tissue. In addition, the threads have a positive and beneficial effect on the skin, which, after introducing the threads, begins to actively produce connective tissue around them, providing skin elasticity, especially in the middle and delicate facial area. This lifting will be very effective for patients with a double chin.

Contraindications

Contraindications to contour plastic surgery are:

pregnancy and lactation period;
age under 18 years;
skin damage;
a large number of moles in the treated area;
infections of bacterial, viral and fungal origin;
severe diseases - epilepsy, diabetes, immune disorders, tumors;
tendency to form keloid scars;
fear of injections;
allergy to the drug.

Important point! You cannot inject a drug based on hyaluronic acid if silicone filler has already been injected in this area. It is worth refusing to have a facelift during menstruation.

Recovery period

A distinctive feature of beauty injections is the short rehabilitation period. On the first day, you should adhere to minor restrictions that will help you recover quickly and avoid all sorts of complications.

Reminder after contouring:

for 3 hours, do not touch your face with your hands or rub;
avoid spicy, salty and excessively hot foods;
for 7–10 days, avoid visiting the bathhouse, sauna, solarium and swimming pool;
if lip augmentation was performed, postpone going to the dentist for 1–2 weeks (if possible);
in winter, limit exposure to frosty air and wind;
in summer, do not appear outside without applying sunscreen with SPF of at least 30;
do not apply masks, move the skin or massage for 14 days after the procedure;
the ban on all kinds of peelings and facial cleansing lasts the same amount of time;
You cannot be on the beach, sunbathe or swim in the sea for at least 2 weeks.

During the recovery period, try not to take blood-thinning drugs, give up high-proof alcoholic drinks and beer. When caring for your face, forget about decorative cosmetics and creams for 24 hours.

If herpes appears after the procedure, treat it with antiviral drugs and ointments - Acik or Acyclovir. Anti-inflammatory and absorbable gels with heparin, Keladerm, Lyoton, Traumeel-gel help well against swelling, but applying them without a doctor’s permission is not recommended.

Possible consequences

Expected early consequences include the following:

swelling;
hematomas;
redness;
itching and soreness at the injection sites.

Within two weeks the following may appear:

herpetic rash (in persons prone to manifestations of herpes);
disruption of blood supply at the puncture site if the gel gets into a blood vessel;
allergic reaction;
whitish accumulations under the skin;
dense nodes that form as a result of an excessive amount of injected drug or when fibrous tissue forms around the puncture;
filler migration;
infectious inflammation.

If at least one of these signs appears, you should immediately see the doctor who performed the injection.

To get the desired result, it is important to inject the gel to the desired depth and in a certain amount. Incorrect administration of the drug is fraught with the following consequences:

bumps and other irregularities - the gel was injected too close to the top layer;
gray or dark circles under the eyes appear for the same reason;
purulent inflammations and granulomas - the drug was injected very close to the sweat/sebaceous glands, or sanitation rules were violated during facial contouring;
lack of effect - the gel is injected very deeply and does not have the desired effect;
migration of filler under the skin - improper kneading was carried out after injections and the product was squeezed out of the areas that should have been filled.

Only an experienced doctor can correctly determine the required dose and depth of administration of the drug.

Why does the drug not work?

There are cases when, after facial contouring, there is no desired result. The reasons for this may be:

puncture is too deep - the effect of the drug is not noticeable, since the gel does not work in the layers where it is needed;
low quality filler - the product is not certified or is a fake;
individual characteristics of the patient's skin - this happens in rare cases.

After contouring, the following recommendations should be followed:

First day:

Do not touch your face with your hands in the injection area
Do not remove crusts at the injection site if they appear
You cannot use cosmetics
Don't wash your face with water
It is advisable to sleep on your back the first night after the procedure.

Three days:

Intense physical activity is contraindicated
Facial massage is not allowed
Do not take any medications without consulting your doctor

Three weeks:

Hot baths, steam baths, saunas and solariums are excluded
The skin should be protected with sunscreen if you plan to go outside.

Despite all the effectiveness and safety of facial contouring with hyaluronic acid, it must be taken into account that it is not suitable for everyone - it cannot be performed on patients with bleeding disorders, acute periods of illness, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In any case, before contouring, you need to follow the doctor’s recommendations and, if necessary, undergo testing procedures to exclude unwanted effects.

Comparison with other anti-aging procedures

Contour plastic surgery is often confused with other invasive techniques: mesotherapy, Botox, PRP therapy. But they have characteristic differences.

Thus, mesotherapy is used to saturate the skin with useful components, improve its general condition, stimulate cellular metabolism, and moisturize. The composition does not necessarily have to contain hyaluronic acid.

The effect of Botox is due to the effect on the nervous system due to the introduction of botulinum toxin into wrinkles. The muscles in this area stop contracting, and the formation of facial wrinkles stops.

PRP therapy based on the introduction of a specially created drug based on the patient’s own blood plasma. The injections are designed to eliminate ptosis and stimulate the natural production of collagen and elastin.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of facial contouring include:

obtaining long-term effect;
quick results;
the procedure does not last long;
You can return home immediately after the session;
rare cases of complications (if the procedure is performed by an experienced specialist);
short rehabilitation period.

The disadvantages of a contour lift include:

the possibility of side effects;
high price.

Opinion of cosmetologists

In their reviews, cosmetologists emphasize that contour plastic surgery can only be performed by a doctor:

A cosmetologist talks about whether lumps after gel injection are normal and whether there is a risk of fibrosis from Chinese drugs in this review:

When analyzing a case where a patient experienced complications after contouring, and three-time injections of hyaluronidase did not help, the cosmetologist advises resorting to ultrasound therapy with hydrocortisone and magnetic therapy. She also suggests that in this case, trauma to the periosteum could have occurred and recommends treatment with Nise with a course of antibiotics.

General preparation for the contouring procedure

Before injection surgery, you must adhere to some recommendations:

At the first consultation, it is necessary to notify the doctor whether contour plastic surgery has been done before, where fillers were inserted, if any, when and what drugs were used. You will also need to inform your doctor about previously used cosmetic procedures and medications.
1-3 days before the procedure, alcoholic beverages and intense physical activity are excluded.
The doctor may conduct a sensitivity test to the drug several days before the procedure.
If there is a history of herpetic manifestations, in particular in the facial area, it is suggested to take antiviral drugs 3-4 days before plastic surgery.

Patient reviews

Patients have different opinions about the contour plastic surgery performed.

Some are delighted and try to bring their face closer to the ideal by injecting fillers into different areas.

Here the patient says that after 6 months the result is still noticeable and she plans to repeat the procedure in the future.

The following review tells how long the effect lasts after contouring and that there were no complications after the procedure. The patient also talks about the disadvantage of the technique - cost.

And in this review, the patient tells how painful the procedure was for her, even with the use of anesthesia:

And representatives of the fair sex share their experience of using different drugs. Thus, for this patient it was unsuccessful when using the drug Amaline. Here the product is compared with Princess Volume:

Facial contouring can be a successful experiment. But before deciding on such a procedure, it is important to choose a doctor who is well versed in the nuances of using the technique and the features of the drug. Before the session, you should inquire about the origin of the gel and make sure its expiration date.

And also keep in mind that facelift can cause complications . Only under the supervision of an experienced dermatocosmetologist and following all his recommendations after the session can you count on an ideal result with the least risk to health and a minimum of side effects.