Facial support: what it means in harmonization

In orofacial harmonization, support is the ability of the tissues to hold the structures of the face in position. It depends on several elements at once: the bone, which serves as the base; the retaining ligaments, which work as anchors; the fat compartments; and the quality of the skin, with its collagen and elasticity.

With aging, all of these elements lose strength. Bone is resorbed, ligaments loosen, fat diminishes and shifts, and the skin thins. The result is what patients usually call sagging: more marked folds, loss of the jawline and a squarer look in the lower face.

How does HOF work on support?

The most discussed approaches are:

• Filler at support points, such as the cheekbone and the temples, which can have an indirect effect on the regions below.
• Collagen biostimulators, which improve skin firmness over months.
• Thread lifts, which anchor and slightly reposition the tissue.

The combination and sequence are decided by the qualified professional, after assessment. With marked laxity, injectable options have limits, and a surgical indication may be more appropriate.

Why is support not the same as volume?

Adding volume where the tissue has dropped can weigh the area down even more. That is why the reading of the face first looks for where support is lacking, and only then for where volume is lacking. This reasoning avoids the puffy look that patients fear.

Also called: facial support, anchoring, lifting effect (popular term).