The face experiences many changes over time, most of which we don't invite or welcome. Volume loss is a concern that can make you look tired, weathered or worn-out, even when you get a full night of rest. For some, restoring youthful volume offers the most dramatic facial rejuvenation since it can reshape the face to a more attractive heart or oval shape. Dr. Maas provides a variety of treatment options for this aging concern, so you can choose the procedure that fits your needs and goals best.
Why does the face lose volume?
The primary culprit in volume loss is a protein known as collagen. During your youth, your body produces ample collagen to give your skin a smooth, supple appearance. As we get older, our bodies start to produce less collagen even though the skin still needs it to retain its optimal condition. Collagen depletion leads to common signs of aging like skin laxity and the formation of wrinkles. It can also result in tissue loss underneath the skin's surface that contributes to a hollow, haggard look.
There are two different ways to address this problem. The first is to stimulate the body to produce more collagen, which is possible with some dermal fillers like Sculptra. The other is to replace the depleted collagen with another means of support, which might include fillers, your own fat cells or a synthetic implant. Dr. Maas will assess your situation at your initial consultation to help you determine which treatment will produce an optimal outcome for you.
Dr. Maas frequently performs facial volume replacement with fillers like Juvederm Voluma and Restylane Lyft, which are very useful for adding volume. Many patients find that Voluma, in particular, tends to be long-lasting as well, with two-thirds still enjoying their positive results two years after their appointment. Another option is Radiesse, a small particle calcium hydroxyapatite that adds volume right away and stimulates collagen production to maintain fullness for a longer time frame. Sculptra is another filler explicitly designed to trigger collagen production for gradual results that can last longer than some of the standard filler products.
Injectable treatments are performed in our office and tend to be very comfortable since we always apply local anesthetic before injections. You may have a bit of slight swelling or bruising after your procedure, but side effects are usually mild and very temporary. While you may seem a bit overfilled at first, that effect wears off in a matter of days, and your final result will last for many months or even years in some cases.
Fat transfer is another option in restoring facial volume with long-lasting effects. Autologous fat transfer is the process of taking fat from an area where you don't want it, such as the hips, abdomen or thighs and placing it into areas of the face in need of a fullness boost like the temples and midface. In addition to transferring fat cells, stem cells are also placed into the treatment area, which turns on your body's repair mechanisms. This process means you will achieve augmentation with the transferred fat cells, as well as new collagen production, changes in the soft tissues and improvement on the surface of the skin.
Dr. Maas begins the fat transfer by harvesting the fat using gentle liposuction techniques that preserve the cells. The fat is then cleaned and placed into syringes for the injection process. Prepared fat will be injected into areas of the face in strategic locations to produce natural, long-lasting fullness in the areas that need it most. You will likely have some swelling and bruising after the fat transfer, but recovery is minimal, and side effects subside within a matter of days in most cases.
For patients that want a more permanent approach to their volume restoration, surgical options are also available. When the fat has been displaced instead of lost entirely, a mid-facelift is a way to raise the cheek to a higher position to create a younger facial profile. This surgery takes ptotic or hanging tissue and lifts it while smoothing away lines and wrinkles from this area of the face. Dr. Maas performs mid-facelifts percutaneously, which means he only makes a tiny dot incision in the cheek and another small incision behind the hairline to complete the rejuvenation.
Some people are born with a flatter midface or absence of volume in the temporal area. These patients are often good candidates for facial implants that offer the proportion needed to enhance the overall look of the face. Implants can also be used for patients that have seen the fullness decrease over time. While most people don't consider implants as a first line in restoring facial volume, Dr. Maas asks his patients coming in for fillers if they have ever thought about this option. For the right patient, implants can be a very satisfying treatment option. Incisions are generally hidden inside the mouth and recovery from the procedure is usually just a few days.
Loss of facial volume may not be the first thing you think of when you consider the signs of aging, but it can have a dramatic impact on your appearance overall. With a wealth of treatment options at his disposal, Dr. Maas is equipped to customize your volume restoration to your precise needs and aesthetic goals. To learn more about any of these procedures, call (415) 567-7000 or contact us by email.