Fillers are injectable treatments based on hyaluronic acid — a substance naturally present in our body — that fill wrinkles, add volume to lips and cheekbones, and redefine facial contours. Hyaluronic acid has the ability to retain large amounts of water, providing skin with hydration, firmness, and volume. Fillers are currently one of the most widely used and appreciated aesthetic medicine treatments for their versatility, speed of execution, and reversibility of results.
Fillers are suitable for those who wish to correct signs of aging or improve facial volumes without resorting to surgery: • Nasolabial folds (lines from the nose to the corners of the mouth) and marionette lines • Thin or asymmetric lips that need volume and definition • Flat or deflated cheekbones, to restore projection and fullness to the mid-face • Dark circles and deep tear trough that give a tired appearance • Receding chin, to improve the profile without surgery • Hollow temples and generalized facial volume loss
The treatment is not recommended in the following cases: • Pregnancy and breastfeeding, as a precautionary principle • Active skin infections in the treatment area, such as cold sores, inflammatory acne, or impetigo • Active autoimmune diseases, which may cause abnormal inflammatory reactions • Known allergy to filler components • Anticoagulant therapy, which increases the risk of bruising • Unrealistic expectations regarding achievable volumes in a single session
The treatment takes 15-30 minutes depending on the number of areas being treated and the amount of filler needed. No special preparation is required and recovery is immediate: the patient can return to normal daily activities right after the session. Mild swelling or redness in the treated area may occur and resolves spontaneously within a few hours. Avoiding intense physical activity, sauna, and direct sun exposure for 24-48 hours afterward is recommended.
No actual anesthesia is needed. A topical anesthetic cream is applied to the treatment area for 15-20 minutes before the procedure. Additionally, latest-generation fillers contain integrated lidocaine in the gel, which progressively numbs the area during injection, making the treatment comfortable and well tolerated even by the most sensitive patients.
Results are visible immediately after treatment: wrinkles and folds appear instantly softened and volumes restored. The final result is appreciated after 3-5 days, once the slight initial swelling has resolved. The duration of the effect varies from 6 to 18 months depending on the treated area, the type of filler used, and individual metabolism: areas with greater muscle mobility (such as the lips) tend to metabolize the filler more quickly, while more static areas (such as the cheekbones) maintain the result longer.
Discomfort is minimal and well tolerated by the vast majority of patients. The application of topical anesthetic cream before treatment and the presence of lidocaine within modern fillers make injections virtually painless. After treatment, a slight tightness in the treated area may be felt, which disappears within a few hours. For particularly sensitive patients, ice application can be added to further reduce discomfort perception.
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