Maybe you’ve toyed with the idea when Kylie finally admitted to getting them done on her lips, or that time that beauty influencer unveiled her sharper nose bridge. Whatever the instance is, as you age and figure out what you like to use on your face, the conversation turns to what you want to use in your face.
Where Should You Start?
Start by figuring out what you want, whether it’s fuller lips, a more symmetrical nose, more defined cheekbones, or something else. If you want, come with images, but also understand that like haircuts, your results will never be exactly like someone else’s. Make sure you’re also doing the procedure for all the right reasons.
Do your due diligence — so many clinics offer fillers, so ask for recommendations, read reviews and seek before and after photos from people you know because medical practices in Singapore are not allowed to advertise this! Remember to trust your gut. If you walk into someone’s office and you don’t feel safe, comfortable, and well cared for, don’t proceed.
When Should You Start?
Dr Rachel Ho, an aesthetic doctor at La Clinic in Paragon advises, “A good age to consider dermal fillers is when you are in your mid 30s or as early as when you see tell tale signs of aging. Sagging starts to appear as early as our mid to late 20’s and it typically starts in the mid-face. The cheeks start to lose volume and sag, laugh lines (nasolabial folds) and marionette lines start to worsen. Dermal fillers placed in the cheek can help with replacing the volume and correcting the flat or deflated looking cheeks. Cheek fillers also have a gentle lifting effect and can reduce the severity of the laugh lines.”
She adds, “However, if you are looking to treat specific features, say creating a sharper or slimmer face with Chin fillers or higher nose bridge with nose fillers, there isn’t a minimum age that you need to be to start considering dermal fillers. You can get this done at any age.”
Understand that There are Limitations
While fillers are no doubt one of the best gifts the beauty gods have bestowed upon us, you need to go through the procedure understanding the limitations so you’re far more aware of the results you’ll be getting. For one, the results you get from fillers is temporary. According to Dr Ho, “most commonly used dermal fillers are hyaluronic acid based fillers and they last for approximately 9-12 months. There are longer lasting ones that contain calcium hydroxyapatite (Radiesse) and they last 12-18 months. When the results of your dermal fillers have gone off, you’ll have to consider getting dermal fillers again if you would like to maintain your look.”
Beyond that of course, you should also be aware of other limitations that filler have. Dr Ho shares an example, “Although nose fillers work nicely for elevating flat nose bridges, nose fillers don’t work so well for bulbous noses and patients may have to consider alternative treatments such as nose threadlifts. Nose fillers may also cause broadening of the nose bridge due to the dermal filler spreading sideways. This is called the ‘Avatar effect’. This is also one major reasons why nose threadlifts are now overtaking nose fillers in popularity.”
