From Hollywood to suburban cafes, itโs impossible to look around without seeing women and men whoโve had some kind of professional assistance in addressing how theyโre ageing. Among the most in-demand, non-surgical cosmetic procedures are injectables (aka freezers and fillers) โ products injected under the skin to either reduce the appearance of wrinkles or boost facial volume.
These arenโt for everyone, but 35 per cent of Australian adults were considering non-surgical cosmetic procedures when surveyed last year by the Cosmetic Physicians College of Australasia. The research also found 80 per cent of people who worry about premature ageing believe itโs acceptable to use such treatments. So whether youโre considering injectables, or are simply curious, hereโs what you need to know.
๏ฟผWhatโs the difference between freezers and fillers?
The technical term for anti-wrinkle injections is neuromodulators.
โNeuromodulators temporarily stop the function of muscles and help relax the look of dynamic wrinkles that are formed most commonly when frowning, raising your eyebrows and smiling,โ explains plastic surgeon Dr Steven Liew.
While neuromodulators are useful for smoothing out dynamic lines, theyโre not very good at plumping static lines (the ones that remain even when the muscle isnโt active). โFor these types of lines, fillers are better as they are designed to plump up the tissue,โ Dr Liew says.
๏ฟผWhere should freezers and fillers be used?
Both can be used on the face, depending on whether youโre trying to fill a line, add volume or freeze movement, however, neuromodulators are more commonly used above the nose.
โAs a general rule, most facial wrinkles associated with animation (smiling, laughing, getting angry, being surprised) happen around the nose and eye region, so neuromodulators are better at relaxing the muscle and preventing deeper lines forming there,โ reconstructive and plastic surgeon Dr Jack Zoumaras says. โFillers, meanwhile, are most commonly used in the nasolabial fold (also called laugh lines), lips and jaw region to restore volume to where it once was.โ
๏ฟผShould freezers and fillers be used together?
Experts now say a combination often works best. Itโs a misconception that fillers should only be used once neuromodulators stop working.
โFor those with fixed, deeper lines, volume can be restored with fillers to make the area look good at rest,โ Dr Liew says. โBut if those lines happen to be in a place where the muscle is actively moving, we can use a combination of the two.
โUsing an anti-wrinkle injection will prevent dynamic lines from deepening further by paralysing the muscle.โ
Who should inject fillers and freezers?
โPlastic surgeons are specialists in facial aesthetics because they operate and see the anatomy of the face daily, โ Dr Zoumaras says. โBut a dermatologist or nurse whoโs had training and supervision by a plastic surgeon should be the minimum qualification that you seek.โ
Always do your research before consenting to any type of cosmetic procedure โ and ask to see proof of a practitionerโs qualifications.
โAfter checking these credentials, I recommend going into the practice and having a good look around yourself,โ Dr Liew adds. โIf the staff look a bit odd, perhaps a bit frozen in the face, thatโs probably a good sign you need to look into going elsewhere for your treatment!โ
How much do fillers and freezers cost?
The cost is worked out on how many units of neuromodulator or filler are injected. The units required are entirely individual and depend on which areas are being treated, and whether you want to soften or eliminate lines.
โThe average person will have three syringes for multiple injections around the area weโre targeting โ thatโs roughly 20 units of [neuromodulator],โ Dr Zoumaras says.
๏ฟผWhy do the prices of fillers and freezers vary so much?
This can reflect lesser-known neuromodulator and filler brands being bought by practitioners at a cheaper rate than popular or more established brands. Always ask your practitioner for the brand name and the active ingredient of the products that they intend to use.
โAlso, having a nurse or someone who doesnโt have the same expertise as a plastic surgeon administering your injections can alter the price,โ Dr Zoumaras says. โBut remember, you do get what you pay for.โ
๏ฟผHow long before results are noticeable?
โWith anti-wrinkle injections, most women will notice an improvement within seven to 14 days,โ Dr Liew says. โWith fillers, you will see results (extra volume and plumpness) immediately.โ
๏ฟผWhat about pre- and post-injection care?
Avoid any skin tightening or ultrasound facial treatments before investing in fillers.
โ[Ultrasound facials] can dissolve fillers within a six-week period,โ Dr Zoumaras says. โAlso, avoid lying face down for the first four hours after treatment and restrict strenuous exercise for 24 hours. These actions can cause the injected product to migrate (elsewhere in the face) and cause an unwanted effect.โ
How long do the effects last?
Neuromodulators last, on average, three to four months and fillers start dissolving after six months.
โI tend to inject neuromodulators into the same patient three to four times a year and fillers only once or twice,โ Dr Zoumaras says.
Is my skin suited to freezers and fillers?
He adds, โSkin with excessive wrinkles, sun spots and blemishes will react poorly to fillers and neurotoxins, and may require surgical correction instead.โ
