Migration is mostly observed in areas like the lips, central cheek, and tear trough region, although it can happen anywhere you get injected with filler.
This is because when filler migrates, it only does so very slightly (within a few millimeters) and rarely causes medical complications. But, if you see small lumps and/or raised skin around the treatment area, this may be an indication your filler has moved slightly or your skin has been overfilled.
It's also not uncommon for the filler to slowly migrate away from your cheeks or chin over time, meaning that corrective treatments may become necessary.
Dr. Frank says the best way to deal with migration is to dissolve the filler with hyaluronidase (an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid gels). In just a few hours, hyaluronidase softens the filler and returns the lips to a more natural shape, projection, and size.
Answer: Fillers and Migration
Fillers can move and may be a result of poor injection technique or poor choice of filler for the given location injected.
"We have different tissue planes," says Dr. Samolitis. She explains that there are three layers to the skin: the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue, as well as fascia, which is on the bone. "Injecting the filler in the wrong layer can also cause the filler to (migrate).
Calcium hydroxylapatite is biosynthetically produced, which means that no animals or animal products are used. This lowers your risk of an allergic reaction and no skin testing is required. This type of dermal filler is known to produce a very natural result, doesn't migrate and side effects are rare.
In rare cases, facial fillers like Juvederm can migrate to another site of your face within a few days of your injections. This happens when the filler moves before it has fully bonded with your facial tissue.
Even though the results of filler will be visible right away, migration can happen almost immediately, with a few days or weeks, or even up to years later in rare circumstances, depending on what the root cause of the issue is. “If overfilling is the culprit, it will be noticeable almost immediately,” says Dr. Horn.
Dermal fillers can be used to restore mid-face (cheek) volume and sculpt the jawline, in order to reduce the appearance of sagging jowls. The procedure is not painful, does not require any significant down-time and is excellent at lifting and sculpting the skin, where volume needs to be replaced.
In reality, fillers take up to four weeks to “settle,” according to Healthline. Different types of fillers can settle more quickly, and your lifestyle and similar factors can also affect the amount of time it takes to settle.
In recent years, however, there have been many media stories of dermal fillers gone wrong. Filler complications such as necrosis, infection, filler migration, lumps and unnatural results are all possible.
Generally, any lumps or bumps that appear after fillers will disappear on their own within one to two weeks. Give the treatment a couple of weeks to improve, applying ice regularly.
If your lip fillers have migrated, it will almost always be noticeable visually. This can be presented in many ways; from a puffy upper lip, a lack of a defined border between the lip edge and above and/or below the lip border.
Lumpiness is very common to feel in your skin in the days after injection of dermal filler into the face, including the upper lip body and the cheeks and the chin area and along wrinkles and folds when injected to lift these. It will usually resolve within a couple of weeks.
Cheek filler
They are ideal for replacing volume loss, enhancing cheek volume, and can improve the appearance of the lower eyelid by volumising the upper cheek area. We recommend using as little as 1ml per session for an enhanced appearance.
Dermal filler doesn't 'normally', move after treatment. Immediately after treatment, in certain areas of the face, I do gently massage the area/s that were injected to help mold the product and prevent lumps. It does take about 2 weeks for the filler to settle and integrate into the tissue.
Different fillers tend to naturally dissolve at different speeds. Most hyaluronic acid fillers used in the lips, jawline, and cheeks, including Juvederm and Restylane, metabolize after 6 months to a year. Sculptra can continue to provide results in the face for up to two years.
Where Facial Filler Migration Occurs. In rare cases where there is facial filler migration, it typically occurs in two locations. They are most likely to migrate around the lips or under the eyes.
Composed of hyaluronic acid, a substance that's naturally found in the body, more people are discovering that fillers can help slow down the effects of the natural ageing process. Over time, as facial movement increases in areas like the lips or cheeks, it causes the filler to break down and dissolve at a quicker rate.
The effects of the fillers will wear off after months or years, but the treated area is likely to return to its original state. The benefits of both Botox and fillers will be gone and you'll notice that those lines and volume loss will come back.
When you have had too much filler, then you may appear to have a bulging forehead, an overly pointy and sharp chin, and overly protruding cheekbones. Furthermore, the filler can stretch and weigh down your skin over time, which is known as filler fatigue.
Avoid itching, or picking around the injection site. Avoid applying intense heat to the treated area, that includes hot tubs, saunas, sunbathing or tanning. Don't drink alcohol the day of treatment, and try to avoid it for 2 days after. Avoid exercising for 2 days or until swelling subsides.
The most common cause of lumps after a filler treatment is swelling and bruising from the injections themselves. These should naturally subside within the first week.