Face contouring – this is a collective concept that includes any operations and procedures on the face that lead to a rejuvenating or beautifying effect and are associated with a redistribution of volumes on the face and, as a result, a change in contours. And if everything is more or less clear with surgical contour plastic (well, who hasn’t heard of facelift or endoscopy of the face?), then with non-surgical contour plastic everything is much more complicated, since there are many techniques, procedures and manipulations in this direction.
Conventionally, all non-surgical facial contouring can be divided into 2 large groups: injection techniques and thread techniques. Injection methods include the introduction of a wide variety of special preparations (fillers), which differ from each other not only in composition, but also in the possible effect and duration of action. Thread techniques include the installation of surgical threads (both absorbable and permanent) and, to some extent, the procedure for setting mesothreads. Very often, injection and thread techniques are combined with each other to one degree or another to achieve the best result.
Injection techniques for non-surgical contouring
In principle, all fillers that have been injected or are being injected into the face can be conditionally divided into 2 large groups – absorbable and non-absorbable.
Non-absorbable fillers
These include liquid silicone, polyacrylamide gel and other permanent fillers. At the moment, non-absorbable drugs are practically over. It has become clear to most doctors and patients that it is not safe to use such drugs for injection into the face. The countless complications that practicing doctors have had to deal with in recent decades speak for themselves.
Absorbable fillers
They can also be divided into 3 large groups:
- hyaluronic acid preparations,
- calcium hydroxyapatite fillers,
- polylactic acid fillers.
Fillers based on hyaluronic acid on the market – a huge number, patients have plenty to choose from. It is worth focusing, perhaps, on the popularity of the manufacturer and certification documents for the drug. It is also worth considering the purpose of application: such fillers are used both for anti-aging (correction of nasolabial folds, restoration of the volume of the cheekbones and cheeks, correction of "wrinkles of sorrow", etc.), and with a beautifying purpose (lip augmentation, correction of the shape of the nose, etc.). .d.).
The procedure for introducing such fillers is quite fast and painless, the rehabilitation period is minimal and ranges from 1-2 to 5 days. The main contraindications to the procedure are – pregnancy and lactation, infectious processes in the injection area, severe diseases of therapeutic and endocrinological origin, a tendency to keloid scars and some other conditions.
Fillers are now being introduced by everyone – from young students dreaming of beautiful and lush lips, to mature men who want to stop time a little and rejuvenate.
Hyaluronic fillers. The main mechanism of hyaluronic fillers – this is filling an existing defect where there is not enough volume (for example, nasolabial folds) or giving volume where it would be desirable to increase it (for example, lips). Such drugs are administered either with a small, sharp needle or with long, blunt cannulas. Each of these 2 techniques – its pros and cons. For example, less trauma when working with the cannula – on the one hand, but a high consumption of the drug (which will ultimately affect the cost of the procedure for the patient – on the other.).
Due to the immediate results, the absence of a long rehabilitation period and the relative cheapness, the introduction of hyaluronic acid fillers is currently one of the most popular procedures in the world of aesthetic medicine. Main – choose “your” specialist.
Fillers based on calcium hydroxyapatite. The use of fillers containing calcium hydroxyapatite is less common. Reason – fairly narrow readings. In addition to augmentation of the zygomatic-buccal region (improvement of filling with the volume of this region), these fillers are rarely applicable in comparison with hyaluronic preparations. The special composition of calcium hydroxyapatite fillers, which makes them practically "semi-absorbable", makes patients wonder if it makes sense to risk their face by injecting a drug that will be under the skin for at least 1.5 years.
Some features of the introduction of such fillers (unpleasant sensations when the drug is injected into the tissues of the face, etc.) also played a significant role in some “limitations” using such methods. However, in the skillful hands of a specialist, they can completely solve the tasks set, giving exactly the result that suits the patient.
Polylactic fillers. Relatively new product in aesthetic medicine and their application is still not fully understood by most doctors. But this is a rather promising direction, which, for sure, will eventually occupy its niche – if only because of the duration of the effect, because some polylactic acid fillers are able to “keep” in tissues up to 4 years!
Thread techniques
Thread techniques – the second large group of manipulations related to non-surgical facial contouring. Although the definition of “non-operational” 100% applies only to the setting of mesothreads. Installation of surgical threads – it is still, though small, but an operation.
So, all thread techniques can be divided into 2 large groups – this is the implantation of surgical threads and the setting of mesothreads. Surgical threads come in 2 types – absorbable and non-absorbable.
Non-absorbable sutures. If in the case of non-absorbable fillers, many doctors believe that their introduction is a dangerous occupation, then in the case of non-absorbable threads, the process of such studies is only at the beginning of the path, since there are a considerable number of long-term complications when working with them, and not every doctor is sure that when placing such threads, it will be possible to avoid the appearance of tuberosity and asymmetry on the face.
Absorbable sutures. The use of absorbable threads for the correction of age-related changes in the face is currently referred to as “softlifting”. The procedure is conditionally non-surgical, since the use of a scalpel to make a small incision, for example, in the temporal part of the head – required.
The duration of the procedure is an hour or two (in case of correction not only of the face, but also of the neck). Rehabilitation – about 10 days. After the procedure, it is necessary to wear a support bandage for 7-10 days. Although, apparently, not all doctors remember this. And many patients are surprised when they hear that wearing such a bandage – a prerequisite for a good result. The effect of the procedure is really good and, importantly, quite long – up to 2 years old. In the case of the use of polymilk threads, not only the “lifting effect” (tissue tightening), but also a vitalizing effect (due to polylactic acid.) This procedure should be performed only by plastic surgeons, in contrast to the above methods, which can be performed as surgeons,
Mesothreads. Setting up mesothreads (thread lifting, 3D mesothreads) – a very young rejuvenation technique that came to us from South Korea. The technique quickly gained popularity among patients, although most doctors still do not understand what is the deep meaning of this technique. There is practically no lifting effect when using these threads (by the way, they are absorbable - made from the popular inexpensive surgical material PDS). Direct revitalizing effect (as in the case of polylactic surgical threads) cannot be in principle – the composition of the material does not allow. What then is the secret? The answer is simple – in the fibrosis that these threads cause. Fibrosis – this is internal scarring in the tissues. In terms of aesthetic outcome, this fibrosis is, of course, can be useful because it theoretically can slightly restrain the further descent of tissues, “saving” from increased ptosis. But this is all in theory. In practice, no slowdown of ptosis is observed.
The effectiveness of mesothreads is significantly increased in combination with fillers. The very procedure for setting these mesothreads – pleasant enough for the patient - no incisions, no severe pain. Maybe this is the reason for the popularity of thread-lifting?
In conclusion, we note that the effectiveness of any technique directly depends on its executor – doctor who conducts it. A competent specialist, skillfully combining several of the above methods, can achieve excellent results, comparable in effect to plastic surgery (albeit with a temporary result). Another can spoil any technique without taking advantage of the obvious advantages of the procedure. Anyone, no matter who they are, has the right to make mistakes. Main – so that it does not reflect on our patients.
According to the Portal of Plastic Surgery
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