Volumizing the Brow with Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

As one ages, the characteristics of the eyes change in generally predictable ways: the skin thins and becomes less elastic, brows may descend, the upper lid may recede or enlarge, and the bones around the eyes appear more prominent.  While surgery has long been the accepted standard and offers significant benefits to many patients, injectable treatments are proving to be a viable option for taking years off the appearance of aging eyes.

An article appearing in a recent issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, a publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), details the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers as a reliable and long-lasting method for improving the eye area.

Since the 1980s, the standard method for volumizing the brow line has been by fat injection.  Excellent results can be achieved using this method.  The risk with fat injections, however, is that over time some of the fat may not survive.  In some cases, the injected fat may actually grow as the patient ages or gains weight, resulting in unevenness in the brow area. 

Hyaluronic acid has been used to treat the brow and upper lid since its introduction in 2005, using a technique similar to that of fat injections. In the brow area, HA has been shown to produce long-lasting results, extending beyond two years.  In addition, the effects of HA can be reversed immediately, using hyaluronidase (an enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid), should the patient be displeased with the volumization effect.

The use of injectable fillers in the brow is a complicated process and requires great skill and experience.  Because of its dependency on technique, only qualified injectors and a board-certified plastic surgeon should be performing this procedure.  When performed properly and by appropriate medical professionals, the use of HA fillers is safe, effective, and produces long-lasting results.