What are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers might be your best choice if you want to rejuvenate your face without having invasive surgery. Dermal fillers can nearly eliminate facial wrinkles in the hands of an experienced cosmetic physician or plastic surgeon. They can also volumize the lips, provide definition to the cheekbones and chin, fine-tune facial structure, contour the face, reduce scarring, and hydrate the skin.

How Do They Work?

Dermal fillers fill in “empty” areas of the skin by adding volume. Our skin loses the proteins and fats that give it its elastic structure and youthful appearance as we age. Dermal fillers offer definition and volume to these areas, plumping the skin and reducing wrinkles while also enhancing the proportions of the face. In order to revitalize the face without using more invasive treatments, cosmetic physicians employ fillers to elevate the cheekbones, define the chin, plump the lips, and reduce bags under the eyes.

Hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers like Juvederm and Restylane are two frequently used fillers. Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring molecule that is abundant in our skin, aids in tissue regeneration and skin healing by promoting hydration and building structures that keep your skin appearing young. Because it is a hydrophilic molecule, or one that attracts water, hyaluronic acid (HA) is especially effective at adding volume. In order to moisturize and plump the skin, HA attracts water molecules within the tissue.

This is why HA is also used in a lot of expensive over-the-counter cosmetics. In the discussion that follows, we’ll look at some of the various types of injectable dermal fillers that are currently accessible to consumers.

Which Filler Suits Me Best?

Dermal filler products are currently available in a wide variety of formulas. Different fillers are more suited to particular target regions since they have varying densities and textures.

To choose the finest product for your needs, you will work with your aesthetic medical professional to find the best solution. To get you started, here is a quick rundown of the many filler products on the market right now:

Hyaluronic acid is used by Juvederm and Restylane to fill in wrinkles and scars to volumize the skin and improve its texture. Fillers made of hyaluronic acid are only temporary, lasting six to nine months (longer in some cases). They are a fantastic alternative for treating marionette lines, sunken cheeks, crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, grin, frown, or trauma scars. They are a great alternative for lip augmentation and can also help with “smoker’s lips.”

Particularly effective for treating the lips, cheeks, and nose is Restylane. The backs of the hands, one of the first areas of the body to exhibit early indications of ageing, can also be filled in and rejuvenated using Restylane.

With either Restylane or Juvederm, the skin looks firmer and plumper while eliminating wrinkles and fine lines and adding volume. While the benefits of Juvederm are instantly noticeable, those of Restylane can take up to a day or two to fully manifest.

Benefits of Dermal Fillers

Patients who wish to rejuvenate their faces but don’t want to have invasive surgery can use injectable dermal fillers. Fillers don’t require any recovery time and only create mild soreness at the injection sites because the operation is a quick, minimally invasive one that is done in the doctor’s office. Patients who do not wish to permanently alter their bodies may be interested in fillers because they are reversible and many are simply reabsorbed into the body over several months. By increasing the amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin, hyaluronic dermal fillers can be utilized for an extended period of time to promote skin hydration. As we age, our natural hyaluronic acid levels are depleted, particularly in areas like the face, neck, and hands that are exposed to pollutants from the environment and daily wear and tear.

Am I a Good Candidate for Dermal Fillers?

Anybody in good health who doesn’t smoke, has proper skin care, and has reasonable expections is a good candidate for this treatment.

Risks and Side Effects

The FDA reports that the following are the most frequent side effects of dermal fillers:

• Bruising
• Redness
• Swelling
• Pain
• Itching

Among the less frequent side effects are:

• Infections
• Lumpy skin surface
• Discoloration

Dermal Filler Treatment Areas

• Forehead lines of scowl or frown
• Temples
• Cheekbones
• Under-eye bags
• Folds in the lips
• Lips
• Chin and Cheeks
• Chest & Neck

Pre-Treatment Preparation

One week before your treatment:

• Pause the use of supplements, especially the following:
  • Vitamin E
  • St. John’s Wort
  • Ginseng
  • Gingko biloba
  • Primrose oil
  • Garlic

A day or two before treatment:

• Stop taking the following medications since they thin the blood and will make you bleed during and after your procedure:
  • Alcohol
  • Painkillers sold without a prescription (aspirin and NSAIDs)
  • Using hair removal products, such as wax, tweezers, bleach, and wax, on the treatment area
  • Topical products promoted as “anti-aging” remedies, including glycolic acid, retinoids, retin-A, and retinol

On the day of treatment:

Before marking the area at the chosen injection sites, the doctor will likely clean your face with antiseptic. To make you more comfortable, they may use topical anesthetic before injecting the dermal filler. The aesthetic doctor will then use a light massage to help the filler spread more evenly across the treated area. The process shouldn’t take longer than 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many locations need to be treated. Then you may get back to your daily routine!

Recovery Tips

The best course of action is to avoid physical activity for at least 12 hours following your dermal filler injections. For at least three days, stay out of the sun, and abstain from alcohol for at least one day. To hasten recovery and reduce swelling, massage the injection site gently for a few days and apply cold compresses (if your physician so advises). Within a week, swelling ought to decrease.