What is a puffy face or pillow face?

It’s a face that shows signs visible to all (experts and non-experts alike) of filler accumulation, and hyaluronic acid in particular.

These signs are :

• Thickened skin
• Edema, visible water bags around the eyes, accentuated in the morning
• Eyes that appear small in relation to the rest of the face
• A face with no mobility, except at eye level (doll-like)
• A waxy complexion
• Rounded features (absence of alternating convexity and concavity)
• The person’s natural features have disappeared
• Overloaded at first glance

How do we get there?

In my opinion, there are 3 factors responsible for puffy face or pillow face. These factors can accumulate, but only one of them is enough to lead to puffy face.

• Injection frequency (quantity)
• The injection plan
• Filler type

Injection frequency

Lifting fillers have a lifespan of almost a year. Some patients, especially in the United States, visit their aesthetic doctor every month, especially if they have the means to do so. Stars, in particular, are far more susceptible to influence than you’d think, and some medical professionals are particularly adept at playing on the emotional appeal of their appearance in relation to their success. A little slack in the career and we inject to boost. It’s a bit graphic, but not far from the truth.

Within a few months, hyaluronic acid accumulates and “overflows”. Patients lose their expressions, drowned in excess hyaluronic acid.

The injection plan

For me, this is the most fundamental factor. Yes, because if the injections are carried out in the right plane (i.e. deep into the periosteum for the lifting filler), even if you overdo it a little on quantity and frequency, there’s no chance of getting a pillow or puffy-face effect. You lose naturalness, but the face moves and remains expressive.

But what’s the deep plan?

It’s all about going deep into the face, against the bone. This is the famous Deep Plane Face Lift.

Recently brought to the fore by a worldwide buzz following Kris Jenner’s appearance in Paris to support her daughter.

This involves repositioning deep fat, muscles (SMAS) and skin higher up on the face. This technique guarantees an extremely natural effect. On the other hand, the technique appears to require considerable dexterity, with a risk of facial nerve damage during dissection.

In aesthetic medicine, Liquid Deep Plane Face Lift is performed by depositing highly cross-linked hyaluronic acid against the periosteum using a cannula. Although the effect is more restrained than a surgical Deep Face Lift, it is nonetheless incredibly effective, with no social eviction, long-lasting and guaranteed natural effect. Much less expensive, it can be repeated once every 12 to 18 months.

This prevents Pillow Face.

Deep Plane Face Lift requires advanced training in aesthetic medicine.

Our SAMBA Academy offers a Liquid Deep Plane Face Lift approach based on a perfect knowledge of anatomy and a precise hyaluronic acid injection protocol, ensuring safety and effectiveness.

Make no mistake, very few practitioners worldwide have truly mastered the deep plane with the cannula. It’s not that difficult, but it does require interest and training.

Filler type

To make a good Liquid Deep Face Lift, you need good, well-crosslinked hyaluronic acid.

It must have the following rheological characteristics:

• Elastic
• High G’
• Little plastic
• Low retention

By choosing the right hyaluronic acid, you can further reduce oedema and the puffy face effect.

In conclusion

There’s no doubt that fillers in excess or as isolated treatments have no future. We have already seen, in previous blogs, the need for combined treatments. You now know that you also need a flawless injection technique, based on a solid knowledge of anatomy.