Should You Get Dermal Fillers In Your Face To Look Younger?

Updated 4/23/17. A common question I often get from my clients (particularly those in their 40s and 50s) is “My dermatologist told me she thinks I should put fillers in my face to bring back some volume. She said she would just do a very small amount of it, but I’m nervous, as I still want to look like myself. Do you think I should do it?” If this sounds familiar, read on as I have a definite opinion on this!

I always ask these clients, “Why do you want to get fillers? Is it because you’re feeling self-conscious simply because your doctor suggested it? Or is it because you hear other people are getting them and you don’t want to miss out?” We all want to look our best, so it’s understandable that people want to seek out procedures that will help them look younger.

However, I believe that some doctors may have a personal reason for suggesting fillers—money. Services such as fillers and Botox are profitable because they are not covered by insurance. It’s hard to know the true intentions and integrity of any person, but the best doctors are the ones who don’t push these services on everyone. Sadly, I feel like they are few and far between these days. As women, we are very vulnerable when it comes to someone suggesting that we don’t look our best. I can’t tell you how many times a client has said, “I thought I was aging pretty well, but my doctor thinks I need fillers. Renée, do you think I do?”

I also explain to my clients the possible risks involved when getting fillers. They are as follows:

– You WILL look different. My clients who want fillers still want to look very natural. They want to look like themselves, but the whole purpose of fillers is to make you look different. Fillers alter your appearance by changing the shape of your face. Sure, a small amount of filler is intended to only make a subtle difference, but it’s still all about creating change so you have to really decide if you’re up for the change—whatever that may be.

– You may not be able to remove it once it’s in. For some fillers like Sculptra and Artefill, once they’re in, there’s no going back—at least for a while until they wear off. What happens if you hate it? For those with husbands, there is nothing worse than your spouse commenting on how you look strange or unnaturally full-faced.

My client, actress Lisa Rinna, has publicly spoken about how she started to lay off fillers when her husband, actor Harry Hamlin, told her to do so. “He said I was looking like a freak!” she said. While I do have a lot of clients who absolutely love the way their faces have improved with fillers, I also have clients who really regret it. However, you’ll never know the outcome and if you like it until you actually do it. (Note: fillers like Restylane and Juvederm can be dissolved with hyaluronidase to reverse it if you should not like the look it gives your face.)

– There are always risks. When you inject a substance into your face, there is always a risk of a negative reaction. This is the main reason why I don’t personally do fillers. What if something went horribly wrong? What if I had an allergic reaction and caused serious disfigurement to my face? I’m in the appearance industry and my skin is always judged, so is this a risk I’m willing to take? My answer is no. There are plenty of less risky things I can do to improve my appearance. I choose to do those instead. Read seven ways to look younger.

I have been an esthetician for the last 27 years. As someone who examines faces every day, I know the skin definitely loses volume as time goes by. Fillers are certainly an option for reversing the loss of volume, but they aren’t the only solution. In addition to retaining volume, achieving a more youthful appearance is about creating the smoothest texture possible for your skin. This keeps lines, wrinkles and pore size to a minimum. Furthermore, you’ll look younger if you keep discoloration at bay by maintaining even-toned skin.

This can all be achieved by using a product with retinol over a long period of time, using products exclusively for your skin type, getting professional facials, laser treatments and chemical peels, as well as wearing sunscreen faithfully. Simply put, taking the best care of your skin will yield amazing, natural-looking results. Finally, it’s also about other components of your appearance. How you dress, how you wear your hair, the bounce in your step and a confident attitude can have a huge impact. I believe that each of these things are components of the real truth about looking amazing for your age. I talk more about this here.

I’m not at all against fillers, in fact many of my clients who have had them look really great. But I truly believe that before deciding to get them, you should seriously weigh this decision. You should determine that you’re doing this for the right reasons, that you understand all the risks, and if a permanent change is really best for you.

Read: 34 Tips to Get Your Best Skin Ever

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Renée Rouleau

Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real-world solution — products that are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”