It’s true that age is just a number. But the sheer comfort of that saying wears off once we start seeing wrinkles and lines on our faces. Yet, it is only the beginning of the plethora of changes our skin will undergo as we age. Aside from wrinkles and lines that deepen over time, our skin will also turn dull and saggy. Fortunately, the cosmetic world never runs out of solutions to help us turn back the clocks. Case in point: face fillers.
You might have heard of this injectable before, but probably for other uses. Mainly used to enhance the lips, cheeks, and other areas, fillers have now become a quintessential anti-ageing treatment.
But how exactly do face fillers reinvent how we age, and how do they work? Read on for everything on fillers below.
Read more: Aesthetic treatments with minimal to no downtime

What are face fillers?
Also called dermal fillers or fillers, face fillers are gel-like substances derived from natural or synthetic materials. They help add volume and smoothen the surface of your skin. You can have them injected into your cheeks, mouth, jawline, under-eyes, and lips (their most popular use!) Fillers help treat the following skin issues:
- Deep scars
- Crow’s feet
- Hollow areas around the eyes
- Periorbital lines under the eyes
- Laugh lines or nasolabial folds
- Dull skin
- Marionette lines
What are the different types of face fillers?
There are different types of face fillers available, such as:
Hyaluronic Acid
As the most common type of filler today, it effectively reduces sagging, wrinkles, and fine lines. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is also naturally found in our body, typically in the eyes, joints, and skin. It holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, which helps maintain structure and hydrate your skin.
Synthetic Fillers
Synthetic fillers contain micro polymer agents, which trigger your skin to produce more collagen. This is essential in filling in hollow areas, wrinkles, and fine lines. But since they are made from synthetic materials, synthetic fillers may cause allergic reactions. If that’s the case, your dermatologist may recommend autologous fillers, which we’ll talk about next.
Autologous Fillers
Autologous fillers are the only kind that requires surgery. The process involves liposuction to remove fat from one area of your body and inject it into parts of your face that need volume. This injectable is best for static lines that remain visible even if you’re not moving your face.

How do face fillers treat signs of ageing?
Unlike its famous counterpart Botox, fillers fight ageing by filling in your skin instead of constricting it. Botox’s plan of attack is to freeze your muscles to prevent them from creasing, thereby preventing any lines from forming. On the other hand, fillers fill in your wrinkles and fine lines and make them look smoother and fuller. They also add volume to sagging skin, another obvious telltale sign of ageing. The filler types we also mentioned earlier boost collagen production, an essential protein that keeps the skin youthful, plump, and firm.
What are the benefits of face fillers?
Aside from reducing signs of ageing, the most significant advantage of getting face fillers is that it looks natural. Since fillers work gradually beneath the skin, it looks subtle and flawless. Another perk is that the entire procedure takes less than an hour. This means that you can squeeze your filler appointment into a busy day and carry on like nothing happened. (Except, of course, you will look much younger when full results appear!) Fillers also do not require that much recovery time or tedious aftercare.
Do all fillers look natural?
We know you are thinking of all the ‘fillers gone wrong’ images on your feed. Fillers can be tricky because too much can really show up as too much. The answer to getting your fillers right, as with all other injectables, is to find a doctor who knows when to stop. The best of doing this is to talk to friends who have a great filler job done or simply go to a trusted aesthetic clinic like our favourites at SW1.
Read more: The best Christmas gifts for women