Anchoring: what it means in HOF technique
Quick facts
- Definition
- Use of stable points of the face, such as bone, as a base to support tissue.
- Core idea
- Give support where structure is lacking, instead of treating only the fold.
- Related terms
- Support, volumization, retaining ligaments.
- Caution
- The term is used in different ways by different authors and schools.
- Decision
- Technique and product are up to the qualified professional.
Anchoring is a technique term that, in general, describes the use of stable points of the face, such as bone or the retaining ligaments, as a base to support tissue that has lost its support. Because the vocabulary of HOF is not fully standardized, the meaning can change from one school to another.
Why talk about anchoring?
The logic behind the concept is to treat the cause of the visible change. A deeper fold, for example, may come from loss of deep support and descent of tissue, not from a lack of volume in the fold itself. Giving support to a higher or deeper area can change the position and look of the layers above.
| Reasoning | Focus |
|---|---|
| Filling the fold | Treating the fold directly |
| Giving support | Restoring support at anchor points and improving the transition |
| Volumization | Restoring volume lost in the area |
Which structures are usually mentioned?
Points tied to the skeleton and the ligaments, such as the zygomatic ligament, along with compartments such as the buccal fat pad. In techniques that work close to the bone, people speak of the supraperiosteal plane. Details of depth and exact points are execution technique and do not belong on a public page.
How can it be explained to the patient?
A simple comparison is usually enough: before treating the crease, we assess whether support is missing underneath. The patient understands why the professional may suggest an area that is not where they point, and why the plan may have more than one stage.
Also known as: structural support, support from fixed points.
Frequently asked questions
Is anchoring the same as support?
Not necessarily. Support is the effect of giving the tissue a base. Anchoring is a technical resource that uses an anchor point to do so, and the exact meaning varies by author.