The Facts on Injectable Facial Fillers
Think back to how your skin looked back before the stresses of life caused aging; fine lines and wrinkles? Remember when you had a perfectly supple face? Luckily, there is a way you can actually take back years of aging. Dermal fillers help restore volume in your face and can instantly rejuvenate, making you look 5-10 years younger. There are different areas to apply fillers and brands to consider. Our expert doctors at Shorthills Dermatology, are here to give you the facts on fillers by answering your preliminary qualms and questions; we ensure your concerns will then vanish as quickly as those age lines.
What Are The Different Types of Fillers?
There are two types of filler; natural and synthetic. Natural fillers are made up of hydraluronic acid (HA), a substance naturally found in the body and collagen. Common top brands include Juvederm Ultra XC/Juvederm Ultra Plus XC, Perlane/Perlane-L, Restylane/Restylane-L, Puragen and Prevelle Silk. Natural fillers are very forgiving as they break down depending on the metabolism of your body. They do however require maintenance, which is a factor to consider when choosing a dermal filler.
The second types of filler are Synthetic fillers. Dermal fillers such as Sculptra and Radiesse are considered semi-permanent. This type is becoming less commonly used due to the fact that the results are permanent.
Where Are Common Areas To Inject?
Smiling is a good thing. But have you begun to notice laugh lines or nasolabial folds? These are deep creases from your nose to mouth that can easily be plumped with dermal fillers. Another common area for fillers is plumping lips and evening wrinkles around lips. Other areas include augmenting cheeks, jaw structure, and hollow area under the eyes and smoothing our scars including chicken pox.
What is The Procedure?
A dermal filler injection is performed in a dermatologist’s office under an hour. The site can be numbed with a topical cream before injection. Different brands offer options; however, Juvederm uses a complete whereas, Restylane is offered in both 0.4cc and 1.0cc sizes, ideal for receiving smaller treatments more often.
When Will Start To See Results?
The results are immediate. Patients will see results upon completion of procedure.
How Often Should You Inject?
Most dermatologists recommend scheduling yearly treatments for patients who are already receiving treatment. New patients may receive treatment twice yearly. Natural fillers usually last 3 months to 1 year and in some cases 18 months, depending how long a patient has been receiving treatments. Restylane typically lasts 6-9 months. Juvederm often lasts 9-12 months with an FDA label up to 12 months. Studies have also indicated that combining dermal filler treatment with Botox can increase the longevity of HA fillers.
Does Receiving Frequent Injections Hold Better Over Time?
Each time you inject the area with fillers, the area is already dissipate with the injectable; however, there will still be some present. It is recommended to maintain your achieved look by consistent upkeep. The benefit of maintaining treatment is that your body will actually begin to naturally produce more collagen, resulting in a better hold over time.
What Are The Risks?
Like any minimally invasive procedure, there can pose a risk for infection, allergic reaction or undesirable results such as migrating or lumping over time. Minor swelling is common. While these may be very low risk, its still important to know this is subject to bacterial infections from pathogenic microorganisms such as Streptococcus aureus (staph infection). Furthermore, remember that a syringe should never be stored for later use to avoid any possible bacterial infection.
Patients see less chance of any kind of risk or side effect by choosing natural fillers, which contain hyaluronic acid, a natural FDA approved since 2003. Choosing permanent fillers in the body, however only benefit short term, because as the aging process continues, the treated areas remain intact while skin around the fillers continues to age, thus the patient will need more treatments.
What Are The Costs?
The cost of one syringe can vary from $450-700 dollars depending on brand. Cost is more so based on what the doctor determines what each patient needs in order to achieve their desired aesthetic.
It is advised that first time patients receiving facial fillers in all areas can determine the number of syringes needed by decade. For example a woman in her 30’s would require approximately 3 syringes of filler whereas a woman in her 40’s would require 4 syringes.
Perfect Time To Plump
How do you know if dermal fillers are right for you? If you have experienced fat loss, sun damage, have scarring, or begin to notice lines and creases, then perhaps its time to consider dermal fillers. Though no product can permanently erase aging, dermal fillers will ensure you age gracefully in a very natural and beautiful way. Contact Shorthills Dermatology today!
