Can filler stretch the skin and make it worse over time?

This is an interesting and not uncommon question. I also often hear "if I stop doing fillers/botox, will my face fall." The answer to both is no. There is no appreciable stretching of the skin or any long term experience to suggest this. Since we've been injecting fillers for over a decade with millions of patients with different skin types all over the world, we have yet to see or hear reports of this. Many people find that Botox or Fillers last longer over time, and I've had many patients who stop their treatment for various reasons, and when we assess them years later, they still look better than had they not done any treatment at all. Most important is to see a highly trained and experienced cosmetic physician such as a dermatologist for optimal safety and results.

No, fillers will not "stretch" your skin over time. Hyaluronic acid based fillers like Restylane Refyne and Defyne are my preferred treatment for nasolabial folds. I would combine this with a good at home skincare regimen which should include antioxidants, sun protection, retinol, and peptides. 

The answer is that if filler is dramatically overdone it is possible to stretch skin or even compromise blood flow. Fortunately, with a reputable injector, this result is highly unlikely. More commonly, the wrinkle is filled from below in a very natural fashion with the filler and the injection and the material inside the skin typically trigger fibroblast activity within the skin that can naturally "fill in" the wrinkle over time.