Reflecting on the past five years since the emergence of the notorious “Instagram face,” the journey and evolution of facial aesthetics has been nothing short of a whirlwind (or was it started by Kylie Jenner in 2015?) Either way, what began as an aspirational trend, amplified by apps like Facetune, the expressionless, rather feline-looking facial template has evolved from virtual editing to real-life alterations.
Fast forward a few years—and, returning seats to their upright positions—culture has raced to an extreme. Faces now appear formed by the effects of five years’ travel at near light speed in a wind tunnel, frozen and inexpressive. They’re overly plump at sub-optimal locations. Many influencers now even look a bit…similar. A backlash, or, at least, a course correction, is inevitable—and it’s taken on a catchy name: “filler fatigue.”
Is the fatigue really over filler? Or is it it overfilling with filler?
The “fatigue” in this particular case is the trending condition of our culture having grown, in essence, “tired of” the increasing occurrence of overfilled faces. But, for me and my purposes as a plastic surgeon, “filler fatigue” has long been the catchall term for the pillowy, doughy, even distorted features in a face where too much filler has been injected in locations that aren’t deep enough for sustainable and cosmetically-appealing results. Filler fatigue in a clinical sense, then, is the physiological condition resulting from an over-injection of fillers which tends to stretch the skin.
This recent flooding of opinion pieces that declare a wholesale reversal and dissolving of fillers everywhere is a flawed position. It’s the intention behind, and the execution of, fillers that require a course correction.
Most conventional filler procedures involve the placement of an injectable like hyaluronic acid, and there’s a limit imposed by the capacity of soft tissue. Overfilling beyond that capacity introduces the real risk of an unnatural appearance when attempting higher volumes, Deploying filler at a deeper level, though, relying on the sturdy foundation of facial bone structure and muscle layer for placement, actually elevates soft tissue and adds overall volume. It’s precisely this foundational strategy to creating volume along the face’s prominent edges– its leading edges–that led me to discover Y LIFT. the closed facelift,
The pitfalls of excessive filler: It’s not the “what,” it’s the “where”
Blaming the filler is, essentially, an unfair character attack. It’s like blaming the lumber or bricks or legos (you get the point) for an eyesore of a building when it’s the fault of the builder. Or, say you wanted the Flatiron Building and the result looks more like the Verizon Building, thanks to your plastic surgeon. (New York City residents’ most admired and most despised buildings, respectively).
How a closed facelift avoids overfilling by placing filler at a deeper level
Filler fatigue is ultimately a misnomer. We don’t blame a bullet, we may focus on the firearm, but mostly, the responsibility falls to the one holding the smoking weapon.
A closed or nonsurgical facelift offers the best chance of actually achieving the desired lift by creating volume along the face’s leading edges. It was the specific limitations of traditional techniques, which not only fail to deliver the lift but also tend to result in an unnatural appearance, that led to my discovery of Y Lift. I didn’t want to rely on the illusion of a lift. I wanted to create a real one.
To overcome the limitations of conventional fillers and how they’re used, the strategic shift in my technique relied upon deploying fillers at a deeper level–the deepest, actually. By relying on the integrity of the most prominent components of facial bone structure with the Y LIFT technique, I was able to place filler with a great degree of accuracy. The results illustrate a marked increase in overall volume.. The fillers in and of themselves aren’t the interesting conversation, its the ways and means of deploying them. The Y LIFT shift remains the only method in truly elevating the soft tissue,
Setting realistic expectations: Educating patients
Any seasoned practitioner prioritizes patient education. It is imperative to communicate transparently, ensuring that individuals comprehend the limitations and capabilities of dermal fillers. By fostering realistic expectations, we empower patients to make informed decisions about their aesthetic journey.
And remember, beauty isn’t an outcome; it’s a process of finding the harmonious balance of individuality and grace—a reflection of inner vitality captured within the contours of each unique face.
