As we head into Halloween, spooky looks are on trend — but there are limits to this. If you are looking to boost your lip volume or hide lines and wrinkles, you don’t want to end up with a Halloween-ready face.
Like most cosmetic procedures, there are a lot of myths and urban legends about dermal fillers, from the absolutely ridiculous to those that are actually somewhat grounded in reality. Talk about scary filler results might put you off from getting injections. However, you can get natural filler results.
To help you navigate the process, here are some of the biggest fears people have about fillers and tips for natural results.
Fear #1: My Face Will Look Tight
Filler is used to add volume or replace volume lost to age. Is it possible to be injected with too much and end up with chipmunk cheeks or skin that looks overly tight? Yes, it can happen, but it isn’t very likely.
How can you avoid this? Start by working with the right plastic surgeon, then ask them about starting slow. You can always add more filler later if you think you’d like to take your results a little further.
Fear #2: Getting Filler Is Going to Hurt
Most people only feel a slight pinch when getting their filler placed. Afterward, there might be a little bruising and tenderness, but this resolves quickly. So should filler hurt? Not in most cases.
How can you make sure it doesn’t hurt too much? You can talk to your provider about taking steps to minimize pain. Most will already offer topical anesthetic and icing for the area.
Fear #3: My Face Will Be Forever Changed
This one is quite simply a myth. Part of the appeal of fillers over facial implants is that they aren’t permanent. Your body will metabolize the fillers over time, meaning that the results will steadily diminish until they are done unless you get maintenance injections. And if you are genuinely unhappy with your results, most fillers can be dissolved, unlike BOTOX.
With this one, there really aren’t any tips to keep in mind. So long as you are seeing an authentic provider using fillers from reputable companies, you aren’t going to end up with life-long changes to your face.
Fear #4: I’ll Look Weird Right after My Fillers
We won’t lie; the first 1 to 2 weeks after getting fillers can leave you looking a bit swollen. However, when done correctly, this will typically be noticeable to you, but not so much to those around you. Plus, you can always use makeup to disguise things. For most people, this swelling is gone in less than 14 days.
How can you avoid this? Swelling is going to happen no matter what, but you can take steps to minimize it. Stay hydrated, don’t touch your face and carefully follow your aftercare instructions.
Ultimately, the best things you can do to ensure you are happy with your results are select a qualified provider, verify their products are legitimate and be open in communicating your expectations. With this approach, you should love your results.
Dr. Chang earned his medical degree from Columbia University after graduating magna cum laude from Yale, and then completed a combined general and plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Medical Center, where he served as chief resident. After becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon, he returned to his home state and established Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, one of the premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery practices between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
