INTRODUCTION
There is an increasing demand for non-invasive
cosmetic procedures that reverse the signs of facial aging as people want to look younger and more beautiful for longer.
Visual signs of facial aging include forehead wrinkles, brow ptosis, glabellar frown lines, lateral periorbital wrinkles,
loss of cheek and lip fullness, nasolabial folds, the appearance of jowls, and a sagging neck line.1, 2 These are caused by
age-related changes such as loss of collagen, soft tissues and skin elasticity, bone demineralization, redistribution of fat,
and hyperkinetic facial muscles.1, 3
An improved understanding of the aging process and the
underlying causes has led to better methods to treat these conditions.4, 5 For example, subcutaneous fat in the face is
compartmentalized, and facial aging is influenced by how these compartments change over time.6 Some facial areas are
characterized by fat atrophy, others by fat accumulation due to fat pad sagging.1, 7 Accordingly, some areas need to be
filled while others need lifting. This suggests that the face may not age as a single confluent mass; abrupt contour changes
and shearing between adjacent compartments indicate that facial aging is a three-dimensional (3-D) process.6, 8 Therefore, to return to the characteristics of a youthful face without wrinkles and folds but with large eyes, well-defined cheeks and neck line, and a small, well-defined chin,2, 9 a 3-D approach to facial rejuvenation, involving muscle relaxation, volumizing/filling, and recontouring/lifting of the whole face, is expected to prove most effective.
Facial rejuvenation methods are becoming more sophisticated, with the increasingly refined use of dermal fillers and botulinum toxins alone and in combination.10 As there are different underlying causes of wrinkles such as volume loss or hyperkinetic muscle activity, layering of different products is needed to address all contributing factors. The rationale behind this is similar to that of building a house. Inhibition of muscle contraction first provides a stable basis (the foundation) for the second stage using a highly viscous filler to improve structure (brickwork). Finally, the finishing touches are applied with a low-viscosity filler (the render). This approach also helps to satisfy the patient’s expectation that aesthetic treatment should not only improve wrinkles but also enhance their whole facial appearance. Indeed, a recent survey of nearly 3,000 women across Europe revealed their desire for a gentle, whole-face, holistic approach to managing facial aging.11
