Fighting Fine Lines, Scars and Wrinkles
Do you know what causes facial wrinkles? One primary factor is the skin’s natural volume loss as we age, and a popular solution is dermal fillers. Fillers work by restoring lost volume to create a smooth, youthful appearance to the skin. Fillers are an excellent option for people who want to make slight changes to their faces by adding volume to their lips, cheeks, or even minimizing the appearance of scars.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at dermal fillers, which are one of the best anti-aging procedures for beautiful, youthful skin.
What are dermal fillers, and are they safe?
A dermal filler is an substance that is injected below the skin to restore fullness in areas where the skin has lost volume. Injectable fillers are an excellent option for people who want to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
There are several types of fillers on the market, consisting of different formulations and key ingredients. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is perhaps the leading ingredient in today’s most popular dermal filelrs. The benefits of using a hyaluronic acid based filler are that HA is a naturally occurring substance in the body, and it’s reversible. The ability to melt away the injected product without any complications is a major advantage. For more information on filler removal, check out our article Removing Facial Fillers with Hyaluronidase.
Where can you use a dermal filler?
Dermal fillers can be used in numerous facial zones. First off, as we age, we start to lose volume in our cheeks, which leads to a deepening of the nasolabial folds. This cheek volume loss also deepens the groove between the mouth and cheeks, which can make the face appear to be sagging inward and down. Placing filler in the cheeks can reshape the face and restore a youthful look.
Also, the lips are a common area to use fillers, especially for a more plump, full look. Other ideal zones for filler treatment include the marionette lines, which run downward from the mouth to the chin. Your dermatologist can also place filler to reduce the depth of acne scars and other inward-oriented scarring.
When will you see results from dermal fillers, and for how long?
For the most part, the results of dermal filler injections are immediate. Some people experience minor swelling at the injection site, so it may take a few days for the injected product to settle in. Each formulation of dermal filler lasts for a different length of time, based on how soft or “heavy” it is. Each filler manufacturer, such as Juvederm, Belotero and Restylane, feature wide lines of HA products that are formulated with different product attributes, carefully designed for different indications and injection locations.
Speaking of placement location, where the product is injected will also influence the length of time that a filler will last. Filler in the lips, for example, won’t last as long as filler in the cheeks, as our lips move much more. And finally, there’s a “wildcard” factor — namely, every patient’s unique metabolism. Everyone’s metabolism is a unique, and every patient will metabolize the filler at his or her own rate, so the duration of results varies from patient to patient.
On average, most patients enjoy their results for approximately nine months – but it can range from 6 months to 24 months, based on the factors outlined above. You can schedule touch-up injection appointments whenever you feel like you need. If you start to see your wrinkles returning or feel like your lips are losing volume, simply contact your medical specialist for another consultation. Let’s have a look at what an initial consultation might look like.
Dermal filler consultation
When you arrive at your cosmetic consultation, have a list of questions ready to help you and your dermatologist decide which procedure might be right for you. It’s also helpful to have a list of your current medications handy, as well as any recent surgical or dental procedures. These days, most patients have a collection of Instagram favorites or even a Pinterest board featuring images of the look they hoping to achieve. Show your doctor your dream look to kick-off your consultation to help you get on the same page together.
You and your dermatologist will discuss the following:
- Probable results
- Possible side effects
- Which filler(s) will best produce your desired outcome
- How long the results will last
- Follow-up care and pre-treatment preparation guidance
It’s common for patients to have some swelling and minor bruising after treatment. Most patients are requested to visit their injector again roughly 14 days after treatment, to be sure that the final result is balanced. If there’s any visible imperfections, your doctor will touch-up your treatment.
Procedure and aftercare
Preparation for dermal filler treatment is very straight forward. You don’t need to perform any special skin preparation before your dermal filler injections. However, your doctor will give you some general guidelines to follow before treatment, such as avoiding certain medications. During the filler treatment session, your dermatologist may numb the injection site to increase comfort, and then place small amounts of dermal filler in targeted locations.
After treatment, it’s important that patients do not rub or massage the injection area, as this may cause the dermal filler substance to spread. Note that in some cases, your injector may actually request you to touch and gently massage the injected area for a few days following treatment – so make sure to be clear on that aspect of post-injection steps. Otherwise, you are free to apply makeup following the procedure and follow your regular skincare routine. Note that it’s best to wait a couple of days following your procedure to resume vigorous exercise, and alcohol consumption should also be avoided for a couple of days.
Dermal fillers for anti-aging
Dermal fillers are just one of many steps that you can take to restore a youthful, glowing appearance. Great skin starts with a great skincare routine and healthy lifestyle. A gentle cleanser, antioxidant serum, moisturizer, and daily sunscreen are the building blocks of beautiful skin. From there, you want to make sure you are eating right, exercising regularly, and doing your best to live a stress-free lifestyle. Or if you are like most of us, daily stress is unavoidable – so make time for stress-busting activities in your daily life.
Even with these baseline steps to live a youthful life, the clock will keep ticking, and signs of aging will no doubt creep in. That’s where dermal fillers can help you roll-back the clock and reverse the signs of aging, helping your appearance match how youthful you feel on the inside. Licensed medical practitioners can buy dermal fillers at Health Supplies Plus, one of the world’s leading online portals for medical supplies.