There’s little doubt as to why dermal fillers have earned the number-two spot in minimally invasive anti-aging cosmetic procedures in the United States (there were roughly 7 million procedures in 2023) — it’s because they work.
From filling in deep lines to restoring lost volume due to age, dermal fillers are cosmetic injectables that are helping millions of people to achieve their cosmetic goals with very little hassle.
As with anything good, there can be a tipping point in which the great outcomes turn the corner into more questionable ones, which is the case with what people refer to as Pillow Face.
At Warrenton Dermatology & Skin Therapy Center in Warrenton, Virginia, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Juan-Carlos Caballero leads our team of expert cosmetic injectors who are very good at their jobs.
At our practice, we use the leading filler brand, Juvederm. There are a variety of Juvederm fillers, including Ultra XC & Ultra-Plus, Volbella for lips, Voluma®, Vollure, Volux and SkinVive. More importantly, we know exactly how to use these fillers to best effect — and how to avoid outcomes like “Pillow Face.”
Let’s first review what Juvéderm fillers can do, which includes:
This list isn’t complete, but it gives you an idea of the many uses of dermal fillers. The best part? We can achieve all of this with just a few injections of gel made of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a naturally occuring substance in your body.
The Pillow Face outcome that everyone is talking about, especially on social media, is the effect of using too much filler, which can create unnaturally puffy areas that make your face look like a pillow.
While capturing that youthful volume is achievable with dermal fillers, if too much is used, it can basically lead to disproportionate volume that looks unnatural.
Some people take Pillow Face so far that they lose contours in their face and their skin becomes oddly smooth and expressionless. Or their lips become far larger than you would normally see, or the filler migrates into unintended areas (i.e., Duck Lips).
While overuse is the primary culprit behind Pillow Face, we do want to point out that some filler migration may be responsible for some of the issue. For example, when filler is injected into active areas of your face, such as around your forehead, the movement can cause the filler to migrate to other areas and create unwanted bumps.
The best ways to avoid Pillow Face is to rein in your use of dermal fillers and to only get them from professional cosmetic injectors who have a good deal of training and experience, such as our team here at Warrenton Dermatology & Skin Therapy Center.
We know how to strategically use dermal fillers to give you natural-looking results that will have people guessing rather than gossiping.
So, if you want to use dermal fillers to bring out the best in your features, while avoiding Pillow Face at all costs, we urge you to call our office in Warrenton, Virginia, at 540-341-1900 today, or request an appointment online at your convenience.
