A personalised approach to hyaluronic acid fillers starts with your face, not a syringe

One of the most common things we hear from patients considering dermal fillers is:

“I want to look natural.”

Often, this is followed by another concern: “I don’t want too much filler.”

These are understandable concerns. Social media has made aesthetic treatments more visible than ever, but it has also created misconceptions about what good injectable treatment should look like.

At The Aesthetic Clinic, we believe dermal filler treatment should never be about changing your face into somebody else’s or simply adding a predetermined amount of product.

The starting point should be you: your facial anatomy, your concerns, your goals and what can realistically be achieved.

This philosophy is also reflected in an expert perspective published by Allergan Aesthetics with Dr Izolda Heydenrych, which emphasises individualised treatment, appropriate product selection and a whole-face approach when using hyaluronic acid injectable gels.

What are hyaluronic acid injectable gels?

Hyaluronic acid, often abbreviated to HA, is widely used in aesthetic medicine in injectable gel formulations.

Depending on the product selected and treatment objective, HA injectable gels can be used to define, refine and balance facial features, and may also form part of a broader treatment plan alongside other aesthetic modalities.

JUVÉDERM® is a portfolio of hyaluronic acid injectable gels manufactured by Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company.
Importantly, there isn’t simply one JUVÉDERM® filler for every area of the face.

Different gels within the portfolio have different characteristics and are designed for different aesthetic needs. That brings us to one of the most important principles in modern injectable treatment: The right product needs to be selected for the right patient and the right area.

Aren’t all dermal fillers basically the same?

No.

This is one of the misconceptions specifically addressed in Allergan Aesthetics’ expert article.

Patients may arrive at a clinic believing that all HA injectable gels are essentially interchangeable or requesting a particular amount of filler for one specific area. However, different products have different characteristics, which influence where and how they may appropriately be used. This is why choosing treatment based purely on the number of millilitres or price per syringe can miss an important part of the picture.

When Dr Anton Mathey assesses a patient, the question isn’t simply:

“Where should we put filler?”

Instead, we need to understand what you would like to address, why that concern is present, how it relates to the rest of your face and which treatment is most appropriate.

Sometimes filler may be appropriate. Sometimes another aesthetic treatment, or a combination of treatments, may be recommended instead.

What does a “natural-looking” filler result actually mean?

Natural-looking does not necessarily mean using the smallest possible amount of filler.

It means creating a treatment plan that respects your existing features, proportions and anatomy.

The Allergan Aesthetics expert perspective highlights the importance of choosing the appropriate HA gel for the appropriate facial area and taking a holistic, whole-face approach to treatment rather than viewing one feature in isolation.

Think about the face as a connected structure.

The cheeks relate visually to the lower face. The chin contributes to the facial profile. The lips need to be considered in relation to the chin and nose. Changes in one area can affect the way we perceive another.

This doesn’t mean every area needs treatment.

Quite the opposite.

A whole-face assessment helps an experienced medical practitioner decide what should be treated, what shouldn’t be treated and how different treatments may work together over time.

Why your consultation matters

The source article describes an in-depth, structured consultation as the beginning of the patient’s treatment journey.

This includes an open conversation about realistic expectations, previous health history, the patient’s motivations for seeking treatment and their desired outcome.

It also recognises that treatment of one facial area can influence another.

We strongly agree with this approach.

Your consultation with Dr Anton Mathey isn’t simply an administrative step before treatment. It is part of the treatment itself.

It gives you an opportunity to explain what bothers you and, equally importantly, what you would like to preserve.

Dr Mathey can then assess your facial anatomy, skin, movement, proportions and treatment history before recommending an appropriate plan.

That plan may also develop gradually rather than trying to achieve everything in a single appointment.

Why practitioner expertise matters

Even an excellent product cannot replace practitioner expertise.

The Allergan Aesthetics article highlights three particularly important elements: an in-depth consultation, a detailed understanding of facial anatomy, and the technical ability to place the correct product volume in the appropriate injection plane. These factors can influence outcomes while helping to minimise the risk of complications.

This is especially important with facial injectables.

The face contains a complex network of muscles, blood vessels, nerves, fat compartments and other anatomical structures. Treatment therefore requires much more than knowing how to operate a syringe.

At The Aesthetic Clinic, Dr Mathey brings more than 17 years of experience in aesthetic medicine to his consultations and injectable treatments.

Product choice matters. Technique matters. But so does knowing when, where and whether to treat.

Do you always need a lot of filler?

No.

There is no universal number of millilitres that constitutes the “correct” treatment.

In the source article, Dr Heydenrych explains that the characteristics of different JUVÉDERM® products allow her to work towards natural outcomes without using excessive volumes.

However, this shouldn’t be interpreted as a rule that less filler is always better.

The appropriate volume depends on the individual patient, product, treatment area, anatomy and desired outcome.

Rather than beginning with a predetermined quantity, we prefer to begin with what you are hoping to achieve.

Can dermal fillers be combined with other treatments?

They can form part of a broader aesthetic treatment plan.

The Allergan Aesthetics article notes that HA injectable gels may be used alone or alongside other modalities as part of a holistic treatment approach.

This is particularly relevant because not every sign of facial ageing has the same cause.

Volume changes, dynamic lines, skin hydration, texture and laxity are different concerns. Depending on the patient, addressing them may require different treatments rather than relying on dermal filler to do everything.

This is another advantage of beginning with a comprehensive consultation rather than choosing a treatment yourself.

Good aesthetic medicine should still look like you

For us, this is ultimately the most important point.

The purpose of personalised aesthetic treatment isn’t to create a standardised version of beauty.

It’s to understand your face and your concerns and, where appropriate, use carefully selected treatments to support an outcome that remains in keeping with your individual features.

That requires the right product, sound medical knowledge, appropriate technique and honest communication between patient and practitioner.

As the Allergan Aesthetics expert perspective concludes, achieving personalised outcomes involves bringing together product, patient and procedural knowledge.

At The Aesthetic Clinic, that’s a conversation we believe should begin before any syringe is opened.

Considering dermal fillers in Pretoria?

If you’re considering hyaluronic acid fillers but aren’t sure which treatment or product is appropriate, book a consultation with Dr Anton Mathey at The Aesthetic Clinic Waterkloof.

You don’t need to arrive knowing what filler you want or how many millilitres you need. Come and talk to us about what you would like to address.

Phone: 082 894 0967 / 012 346 1800
Email: dranton@theaestheticclinic.co.za
Contact The Aesthetic Clinic Waterkloof

Individual results vary. A comprehensive consultation with Dr Anton Mathey is required to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your individual needs. A consultation fee applies to all bookings and will be waived if you proceed with your prescribed treatment following your consultation.

Sources

This article was developed for patient education by The Aesthetic Clinic and draws primarily on Unlocking the Full Potential of Hyaluronic Acid Injectable Gels: An Expert Perspective from Dr Izolda Heydenrych, supplied by Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company.

The original Allergan Aesthetics publication draws on JUVÉDERM® Directions for Use, peer-reviewed literature and Allergan Aesthetics data on file. It also identifies some statements as the clinical experience and opinion of Dr Heydenrych and notes that “natural outcomes” are subjective and individual results may vary. The source’s complete reference list appears on pages 8 and includes literature relating to HA fillers, facial treatment planning, tissue integration and aesthetic practice.