Dermal fillers

 Dermal fillers are substances injected into your face. They fill lines and wrinkles and also add volume to areas such as your lips or cheeks. You need to know that fillers are not permanent. How long they last depend on things like the type of filler and where it’s injected. They usually last between 6 and 18 months.  If you have fillers, the rest of your face will continue to age as normal.

What happens when you have dermal fillers?

First of all, an anesthetic cream might be used to numb your skin. Injections are given around the area of your face being treated, which is then massaged. It might feel uncomfortable but should not be painful. The treatment usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes, according to the area being treated.

Why Dermal Fillers?

You are an excellent candidate for dermal fillers if you both have fine lines and wrinkles and want to look younger. As you age, your skin loses moisture and elasticity, meaning when you show facial expressions like laughing or frowning, your skin won’t “snap back” as it did when you were younger. That’s how fine lines and wrinkles form. You may find them:

• At the corners of your eyes, where they are known as crow’s feet
• Running across your forehead, where they are known as furrows
• Between your eyebrows, where they are known as glabella
• At the corners of your mouth, where they are known as marionette lines

Dermal fillers work by plumping your skin, essentially filling in the fine lines and wrinkles in the process. During treatment, the liquid filler material is injected into your skin. The number of injections will vary according to the area treated and your individual characteristics. Your skin will appear dramatically smoother after treatment.

Dermal filler treatment is very popular because it is:

• Quick, taking only a few minutes
• Long-lasting, with results that remain for 6 to 18 months
• Inexpensive, often costing less than other cosmetic services

If you want to look your best and take years off of your face, you are a good candidate for dermal fillers. If you want smooth, younger-looking skin, you are a good candidate for dermal fillers.

Types of Dermal Fillers

There are several classes of dermal fillers on the market. They vary in viscosity, duration, and material. One of the most popular materials used in fillers is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally produced by the body, and as such, it is considered to be a safe option for adding volume to the face. Some studies have found that repeat injections build levels of collagen in the body over time, which in turn means patients don’t have to return to their doctor for repeat fillers as often

What Are the Benefits of Dermal Fillers?

There are lots of advantages to getting dermal fillers over other options available for restoring facial volume. With dermal fillers, there is no surgery, which means there’s little to no downtime. They offer a convenient solution to lacking facial volume, and you can return to your daily activities right after an appointment. For their versatility, natural-looking results, and efficient solution to lacking facial volume, dermal fillers are one of the most popular options available today for people who are looking to add more volume to their face in areas where it’s lacking.

Different Options for Dermal Fillers

There are currently countless options in dermal fillers. Some of these products have been used to treat fine lines and wrinkles caused by volume loss, while others can be used to strategically reshape the lips or nose. Certain dermal fillers last for months before being broken down and metabolized by the body. Others can last for one year or more. Determining whether you’re a suitable candidate for any one of these solutions will entail a review of your cosmetic concerns, your aesthetic goals, your ability to tolerate primary ingredients and your overall experience with dermal filler technologies.

More often than not, long-lasting facial fillers are usually reserved for those who have had ample opportunity to test these materials out and are ready to make long-term commitments to their treatment results. With short-term fillers, it’s necessary to receive repeat injections throughout the year to maintain a consistently youthful appearance. As such, many dermal fillers are used once every six to nine months by patients to limit the appearance of static wrinkles across the visage.

What are the risks of dermal fillers?

The risks of dermal fillers depend on whether the procedure was done correctly and the type of filler used. Speak to your practitioner about the risks.

Serious problems are rare but can include:

• infection
• a lumpy appearance under the skin, which might need to be treated with surgery or medicine
• the filler moving away from the intended treatment area, which may need to be removed using surgery
• scarring
• blocked blood vessels in the face, which can cause tissue death and permanent blindness

How to prepare for dermal fillers?

In order to reduce the amount of bruising or swelling from the injection sites, please follow the instructions below. ​

• Avoid blood-thinning over-the-counter medications such as Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, and Aleve for 1 week prior. Please consult your physician if you are taking Aspirin for medical reasons!
• Avoid supplements including, primrose oil, garlic, ginseng, and Vitamin E for 1 week
• Avoid topical products such as Tretinoin (Retin-A), Retinols, Retinoids, Glycolic Acid, or any “Anti-Aging” products for 3 days prior
• Avoid waxing, bleaching, tweezing, or hair removal cream on the area to be treated for 3 days prior
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours prior to treatment
• If you have previously suffered from facial cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another eruption of cold sores.
• Do not use dermal fillers if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are allergic to any ingredients, or suffer from neurological disorders.

How soon will you see any result and how long does it last?

Results are seen instantly after the treatment, although this gradually improves over the course of the following 2–4 weeks. Results can last between 9–18 months although optimal results can be maintained over a long period of time through regular repeated treatments. The longevity varies from person to person depending on your requirements and the severity of the wrinkles that are being treated, in addition to the particular dermal filler being administered.

Are there any side effects?

Today’s dermal fillers have come a long way since the first-generation of collagen injections. Advanced injection techniques, coupled with the use of micro-cannula (blunt needle) and improved product safety means that significant side effects are extremely uncommon but may include:

Injection-related reactions: these reactions may include redness at the injection site immediately after the treatment.

Infection — as with all injections, this procedure carries a risk of infection. The syringe is sterile and standard precautions associated with injectable materials are taken.

Bruising: occasionally bruising can occur. However, the use of micro-cannula (blunt needle) dramatically reduces the risk of bruising.

Necrosis:  one of the worst possible complications of dermal filler. Fortunately, this is extremely rare. It happens when the dermal filler is accidentally injected into a blood vessel and it subsequently blocks the blood supply to the skin/tissue in that area.

Blindness — This is a very rare complication. There have been approximately 100 cases in the world and is caused by injecting the dermal filler into the blood vessel which has a connection with the artery which supplies blood and oxygen to the eye. There is no treatment so far for this that has been successful.