JEWELLER Harry Winston once stated: “People will stare, make it worth their while.”

“Imperfection is beauty,” Marilyn Monroe said. Most of us just want to look like our more youthful selves — imperfections and all.

Volume loss occurs as we age because of collagen loss, fat loss and/or redistribution, and bone loss. As the skin ages, the middle layer of the skin becomes thin due to collagen loss, reducing the skin’s ability to retain elasticity and moisture. A youthful look depends on having the right amount of facial fat in the proper places.

Facial volume loss results from redistribution, accumulation and atrophy of fat. Fat begins to “space out”, so to speak, and different fat pads begin to appear as separate structures. A significant loss of facial bone also occurs as we age, and without its structural support, there are noticeable changes to our looks. Multiple fad diets can take a toll on the fat in our faces, and stress also plays a significant role if one loses weight as well as does not drink enough water.

A treatment with dermal fillers provides an easy way to enhance your looks. Essentially, the aim is to “fill” the areas from which fat has been lost: Give the volume back to those “hollow” places. The result of a single treatment can be seen instantly and lasts around one year for facial treatments and about six months for the lips. The dermal fillers will also achieve a natural-looking result that does not affect facial expression. The face changes over time, and they allow you to subtly control your looks as you age.

WHAT IS HYALURONIC ACID?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the body that helps to hydrate and add volume to our skin. Natural hyaluronic acid is broken down by the body in one or two days so is constantly replaced. As we age, however, this replacement mechanism slows down so the moisturising and plumping effects of hyaluronic acid decrease. Hyaluronic acid is used for aesthetic treatments, and has also been used for injection into arthritic joints to aid movement, as well as in eye surgery. It is present all over our body to provide support and structure.

WHAT ARE DERMAL FILLERS?

Dermal fillers are injectable hyaluronic acid. Some products are fully natural, while others have incorporated synthetic material. They have been in use and have a decent track record to date, with more than 30 million people across the world having been successfully treated.

The main type of dermal fillers in the market is a soft gel consisting of stabilised, non-animal hyaluronic acid. It is long-lasting but, just like the one that we make naturally, it is not permanent. It will also add volume to your skin by attracting water to the hyaluronic acid molecules which make them plumper.

WHAT AREAS CAN BE TREATED WITH DERMAL FILLERS?

Dermal fillers can be used to smooth away facial lines and wrinkles, create fuller lips, shape facial contours, and revitalise the skin. The most common areas treated are:

* The nose to mouth lines (nasolabial fold);

* Lines around the mouth (perioral lines and oral commissures);

* Natural lip enhancement and definition of the border;

* Natural cheek augmentation;

* Also can be used for replacing soft tissue volume loss and scar corrections.

HOW LONG IS AN APPOINTMENT?

The injection process takes a mere 15-30 minutes, you’ll also need to allow time to discuss what you are hoping to achieve with your practitioner before treatment. It is certainly a procedure one can easily do in one’s lunchtime.

HOW PAINFUL IS THE PROCEDURE?

Many of the products are made with lidocaine included, hence have the effect of the anaesthesia after the first injection. Generally, pain relief is not necessary when injecting into the skin to correct lines and wrinkles. Some people may experience mild discomfort with the treatment. A local anaesthetic cream can be applied to the area for a more comfortable treatment experience.

The lips are a highly sensitive part of the body and, therefore, anaesthesia is usually recommended before lip enhancement. This is achieved most effectively by using a local anaesthetic.

WHEN WILL THE CHANGE BE VISIBLE?

The aesthetic results are immediate. You’ll see the results as soon as your appointment is over, and the gift will keep on giving. There will be even more plumping as the months go on as it attracts water into the area.

Until next time, remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that beholder is you.

Dr Simone Van-Horne is a consultant in internal medicine. Currently, she is a hospitalist, where she does inpatient-hospital medicine in Florida and sees patients in a medical spa setting at Metamorphosis Medispa Wellness Center Inc in Hollywood, Florida, and at The Face Place Ja at 3 Carvalho Rd, Kingston, and The Skin Bar, #16 Freeport Shopping Centre, Montego Bay. Contact info@spamorph.com and www.spamorph.com for questions.