Over the last decade, the popularity of and market for dermal fillers has grown significantly, with more than three million people currently receiving injectable fillers each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic.¹ Dermal fillers can help replace lost volume that comes with aging, and many clients receive injections on a regular basis.

One popular type of injectable dermal filler uses a naturally occurring polymer known as hyaluronic acid. Treatment with hyaluronic acid is now common in modern aesthetics practices. Results typically last for a period of six to 12 months because the body begins to break down the hyaluronic acid over time, diminishing the result of the initial injection. Clients who wish to maintain their desired results typically return to their doctor for touch-ups or additional injections once or twice each year.

MORE IS MORE

While the filler market has been quite robust in recent years as clients prioritize the use of injectables such as dermal fillers, they have become aware of the limitations around these common types of fillers. Notably, during the COVID-19 lockdown periods, clients experienced a lag in their maintenance schedules and ability to receive treatments. This unique point in history, combined with an emerging concept known as filler fatigue, has driven clients to demand longer-lasting alternatives. In a recent survey, 90% of regular dermal filler clients said they would be interested in a longer-lasting alternative.²

Filler fatigue is a term associated not only with client frustration around the time and cost of maintaining filler results but also the treatment outcomes when filler injections are used over an extended period of time. In some cases, the amount of product needs to be continuously increased, and in other cases, overuse of hyaluronic acid fillers can result in an unnatural or distorted appearance. 

Dr. Irene Gladstein is an ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon as well as the founder and medical director of a multi-location aesthetics clinic, Project Glammers. She also established the aesthetics hands-on educational program, Project Glammers: LEAP out of Naples, Florida. She is a highly regarded speaker and is regularly involved in large-scale injectable demonstrations and hands-on training for a variety of aesthetics platforms. From 2019 to 2020, Dr. Irene served as a president for the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. She is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, has authored multiple articles and book chapters, and served as a principal investigator in FDA clinical trials for new products and devices.