There is a straightforward way to go about it: do not view the face as an assortment of dents in need of filling but as an entity. Conservative dosing and an understanding of facial anatomy are what produce a natural look; so too is a plan that will let any swelling subside prior to putting in more product.
I am Walter Ashcroft. In the course of my years photographing before-and-afters and the like in salons and treatment rooms, I have found the best results do not make a fuss of themselves. They present as a person who is well rested and in balance. You get into difficulty when each and every minor issue is made into an appointment and a syringe, leaving a puffy countenance in place of a fresh one. There is no call for beauty work to make your cheeks resemble carry-on luggage.
What Is Behind An Overfilled Look?
After dermal fillers, a face can appear unduly smooth, broad or heavy. This may be apparent at once or build up with the cumulative effect of repeated sessions.
You will hear people talk of “overfilled face syndrome” or “pillow face filler”. These are colloquialisms for an unseemly puffiness brought on by excess volume, a product in the wrong place or a disregard for the individual’s proportions, not medical diagnoses per se. It is important to avoid overfilling the face.
Reality As Opposed to Expectation
One would think it is a matter of softening a hollow or making up for age related loss of volume. But filler is not going to sit there as a dot under the skin. It has an impact on the contours around it, on the swelling and the light. A line in the nasolabial fold might be more to do with the cheek above it than the line itself; the under-eyes can be shadowed by bone structure or laxity. To address every line on its own is to end up with a patchwork job.
The Causes of Facial Overfilling
Unrealistic notions from social media and edited photos are part of it, as are the ordinary processes of ageing and swelling. Then there are the decisions made during treatment.
It is prudent to get to the bottom of the cause first. An injector worth his salt will tell you what is and is not possible with a filler and if Botox, surgery or a skincare regimen would be better served.
On Migration and Cumulative Filler
Over time a person will have a bit put in here and there – chin, lips, temples, jawline. Modest as each session may be, the total volume can get out of hand. And with hyaluronic acid attracting water, the filler can migrate and become evident beyond where it was put, which is of concern in areas of thin skin or where there is much movement.
Swelling, Skin And Ageing
Then there is the matter of swelling. Bruising and tenderness will put a skew on things for a few days and a sound treatment can seem overdone. But if the face is persistently puffy or its shape is altered, it is more than just swelling. Loose skin and the loss of collagen are factors; adding volume to it is not the same as getting lift, it can add weight.
Planning for Natural Results
A consultation should be had to see how the face is from all angles and in motion. A practitioner of repute will want to know your history and the state of your skin and existing product before he puts forward a recommendation.
Do not mistake a frozen or bloated look for a successful procedure. The face must be allowed to crease and show some feeling. Subtlety is the aim.
Take it slow with small amounts
This gives the injector a chance to see what he has done. On the jawline or cheeks where the silhouette can be altered with very little, a staged method is wise. Make sure to ask when you should come back for a review and resist the urge to pass judgement in the first couple of hours. One should not put one’s name to an automatic top-up without first giving it due consideration. “While you are here” is no substitute for a treatment plan.
Make A Record Of Your Treatment
Put on paper what product and how much was used, where the treatment was given, by whom and when. Having this at hand for your next visit will make any subsequent filler audit of more value and forestall accidental layering.
Such an audit is a way of putting under review the present state of your facial anatomy, any symptoms or photographs, the outcome you want and all prior injections. In so doing it can be determined if there is an excess of volume, asymmetry, swelling, nodules, skin irregularities or migration.
| Situation | Safer question to ask | The reason |
|---|---|---|
| First appointment | What problem are we treating? | To distinguish a clear objective from being generally dissatisfied. |
| Existing filler | Is there a chance some of the old product is still there? | The cumulative effect may alter what is deemed appropriate. |
| Under-eye issue | Are we looking at hollowing, a shadow or laxity of the skin? | Not every concern in that area is best put right with filler. |
| When more volume is asked for | What if we were to call it a day? | A conservative view is called for before going in again. |
| Pain or unusual swelling | Does this warrant an urgent medical opinion? | Promptness is required for certain complications. |
There is no formula of statistics to stand in for an in-person evaluation, nor any percentage of facial volume or number of syringes that is safe across the board. The right quantity is dictated by the product, the area, the patient’s anatomy and skin, as well as medical and treatment history.
Be On The Lookout For Warning Signs
You will be better placed to get an early review if you know the hallmarks of an overfilled face. They can be hard to spot in the beginning, especially as one gets used to the gradual alteration of one’s looks.
Do not trust your memory; put recent photos side by side in good light. They will reveal changes in width, shadows and movement of the face which a mirror in the bathroom does not.
Some of the visual and physical clues to be aware of:
A heavy or pillow-like countenance, puffy cheeks out of the ordinary, loss of definition, swelling of the upper lip, a lower face that has broadened or contours at odds with the rest of the face. There may be firmness, lumps, tenderness, asymmetry or product straying from its original place. While these do not of themselves confirm too much filler, they are sufficient cause for a qualified injector or medical practitioner to have a look.
Then there are the urgent matters. Do not rely on the internet for answers to severe or worsening pain, redness that is spreading, marked heat, pale or dusky skin, sudden alterations in vision or neurological type symptoms. Make contact with the clinic or a medical service at once.
The Case For Being Conservative
A measured approach to filler preserves proportion and facial movement and leaves open future options. It allows for the normal ageing process rather than fixing you in a mould that might not be to your liking down the track.
It is not a panacea for facial rejuvenation. Botox will deal with expression lines by affecting muscle but it is not a volumiser and will not render dermal filler any safer.
Balance In The Face
Perfect symmetry is not the same as balance. Faces are not even by nature and to pursue it will see you having injection after injection for an artificial effect.
A sound plan takes in the profile and the front view, the relation of the chin, jawline, nose and lips, and what occurs when you smile, squint or turn.
Have A Stop Point In Mind
Come to terms with what constitutes “enough” ahead of time. Be it a little less shadow or a modest return of volume, it is not an open ended undertaking to appear younger or tighter. Have the practitioner put the plan on the table should you be left wanting. An impulsive top up is not as useful as a pause. After all, your face is not some renovation with a date to meet.
Select Your Injector In Australia With Some Care
An Australian cosmetic injectable is a medical procedure, not something to be treated as a casual beauty session. A proper injector will go through your history, the risks and benefits and leave you with time to put questions to him or her. You will know the product, the aftercare and what to do if anything is amiss. For independent consumer information on the subject, Healthdirect has guidance on cosmetic injectables.
Questions Worth Asking
Find out who is to be your injector and what their credentials are, the frequency with which they work on the area in question and their approach to complications. Request unvarnished results of patients with a facial structure like yours; do not be content with images that have been put in a good light.
Put questions to the clinic about their emergency protocols and if the injector will be available for a post treatment review. You ought to have pricing laid out for you before you go ahead. Given that fees are a function of the product, the practitioner and the area, an unusually low price is something to look into more closely rather than a bargain to be had.
Who Should Put Off Treatment?
An active skin infection or unexplained swelling, a recent visit to the dentist, an illness in the proposed area or any doubt as to what product is in your face are all cause for postponement. A qualified practitioner should be made aware of any pregnancy, allergies, medicines or if one is breastfeeding.
Should you be put under pressure or hurried into having several areas done for no apparent reason, make your exit. One does not want a shopping list from a consultation but some clarity.
Is An Overfilled Face Amenable To Correction?
In many cases yes, though it is contingent on the type and placement of the filler and how long it has been there. An assessment comes first, not a quick dissolving. Hyaluronic acid can at times be brought down with an enzyme, or so called dissolving filler, but this is a medical call that could result in unevenness, swelling or an incomplete fix and other fillers will not yield to the same method.
A Filler Audit
The purpose of an audit is to go over your history, goals, photographs and any symptoms. The practitioner might advise imaging, a referral, a staged correction or simply to leave things be. For persistent nodules or marked asymmetry an appropriately qualified medical professional should be consulted. Leave lumps to be; forceful pressure from home remedies will only aggravate the irritation and will not tell you the cause of the problem.
FAQs
What is the riskiest spot for fillers?
There is no such thing as a risk free zone. It is a matter of technique, the product, anatomy and medical history. Caution is warranted around the nose, forehead, glabella and inner eye where blood vessels run close by. Let your injector set out the risks for the area at hand instead of going by some general ranking.
Facial overfilled syndrome?
Not a diagnosis per se, but an informal way of describing a puffy or unnatural look from too much or too frequent treatment. A professional will be required to tell excess product apart from weight change, laxity, migration or an allergy.
How to debloat the face?
Dehydration, diuretics or unapproved supplements are not the answer for a treated face. Some mild swelling will abate following your practitioner’s aftercare but anything significant or unusual requires medical input. Debloating will not put right a case of filler migration.
How to tell if there is too much?
Heaviness, loss of definition, lumps, a widened contour or a photograph in motion that does not resemble your normal face are all possibilities. They are not definitive however, so have a qualified practitioner take a look at your anatomy and the product.
Is pillow face avoidable?
No result can be guaranteed but a conservative dose from a good cosmetic injector, proper records and patience for the swelling to go down will mitigate the risk. The surest way is to address the concern with the minimum necessary and then stop to see how it is.
To keep the result looking like you
Take your time with it. That is the best defence against overfilling. Set a goal, use sparingly and be willing to do less if that is what is safest. Dermal fillers of a natural sort are meant to complement balance in the face, not stand in for it. If you can still put on an expression and look recognisable in plain light, you have done well. It is a modest aim but then again, modesty tends to age very well.
