Facial fillers (otherwise known as 'dermal fillers') are injectable gels used to restore or add volume to the face. Fillers vary in density (thickness), which determines the area they can be used in and what they’re designed for, whether that is to provide lift or contouring, create symmetry, fill in lines or deep folds, or enhance a particular feature such as the lips.
Whilst they may look like a rather unexciting clear gel, the biotech science behind them is impressive: Essentially, our faces have volume partly because our cells produce a gel like molecule called hyaluronic acid. In the fairly recent past, scientists found the human gene sequence that encodes for the molecule. They cloned (copied) it and then inserted the gene into a certain bacterium which would then unwittingly produce the gel. Because the gel is produced for a human gene sequence, your body does not regard it as a foreign substance when it is injected.
The non-permanent range of fillers have durable, long-lasting results (up to 24 months, depending on the particular filler and the areas treated), but your body is able to break the filler down naturally and eventually the results will fade.
Although facial fillers can be made of different ingredients, they all aim to produce a result that is seen instantly after treatment. Facial fillers may be used as an alternative to surgery, helping you to avoid invasive and expensive procedures.
