While much of the marketing and lay press has focused on Caucasian patients, 20% of all cosmetic procedures performed in the United States are on “non-white” patients.
There are fundamental differences in the aging process amongst different ethnicities. A “cookie-cutter” approach to plastic surgery and injectables often leads to unremarkable results. Lighter skin tends to be thinner and more easily damaged by the sun. The thinness in the skin predisposes Caucasian skin to wrinkles and sagging, which can be seen in a sagging neck and fullness along the jawline. Darker skin wrinkles less readily due to natural protection from melanin. Darker skin also tends to have more elastic fibers and collagen present, making it less prone to sagging.
One of the biggest concerns amongst Hispanic patients is the prominence of nasolabial lines. Dr. Shah’s extensive experience in treating patients of Hispanic backgrounds has demonstrated that specific fillers are ideal for certain skin types and thicknesses. Many patients of Latin American backgrounds complain that “restylane did not work for me.” Dr. Shah sees many of these patients who have been treated by outside physicians who either used the wrong filler or utilized it incorrectly.
For more information see the Facial Filler Homepage.