1. What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers also known as injectable fillers, injectable cosmetic fillers and injectable facial fillers are gel-like substances that are injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lines and soften creases, or enhance facial contours.
2. How Can Dermal Fillers Enhance My Appearance?
Here are a few of the common issues dermal fillers can help address: • Smooth out lines around nose and mouth (a.k.a. marionette lines, smile lines, and parentheses) • Enhance & restore volume to sunken cheeks or temples • Diminish vertical lip lines • Plump & enhance the lips • Smooth out a chin crease • Improve symmetry among facial features
3. What are Fillers Made With?
• Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that is already found in your skin. It helps keep skin plump and hydrated. HA fillers are typically soft and gel-like. The results are temporary, lasting 6 to 12 months or longer before the body gradually and naturally absorbs the particles. Most HA fillers are infused with lidocaine to help minimize discomfort during and after treatment.
FDA approved HA fillers include:
• Juvéderm products: Juvéderm XC, VOLUMA, VOLBELLA, VOLLURE • Restylane products: Restylane, Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, and Restylane Defyne • Belotero Balance
• Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA)
Calcium hydroxylapatite is also a naturally occurring substance, found pri-marily in our bones. The consistency of a CaHA filler is typically thicker than that of a hyaluronic acid filler and typically last longer as well, about 12 months for most patients. Calcium hydroxylapatite is also reported to help stimulate natural collagen production, and it is typically used for deeper lines and wrinkles.
FDA approved CaHA fillers include Radiesse®.
• Autologous fat injections (facial fat grafting)
Autologous fat injections are the only injectable filler treatment that requires surgery, but results can last for many years. Your own fat is harvested from another area (autologous means “from the same person”), typically using liposuction. The fat is then purified and injected into the face to help restore volume to the cheeks, temples, lower eyelids, or other areas. Fat injec-tions require specialized training to perform safely and achieve great results, and should only be performed by an experienced, board certified cosmetic surgeon.
Non-surgical filler treatment is still a medical procedure that requires specific training, knowledge and skill to ensure safe treatment and natural-looking re-sults
4. How Long Do the Results Last?
How long the effects of dermal fillers will last depends on the product, the area of treatment, and the patient.
Generally speaking, the denser the product is and the more deeply it is inject-ed, the longer it will last, although this is not a hard and fast rule. To maintain your results, your doctor will simply repeat treatment, adjusting the amount and techniques as necessary to ensure optimal results.
Hyaluronic acid fillers tend to be the most temporary option, and therefore are often recommended for first-time filler patients. These will typically last from 6 to 18 months. Injections to the lips will wear out a little faster than those to the nasolabial folds. Certain HA fillers, such as VOLUMA, are formulated to last longer, but are usually limited to certain areas, such as the cheeks.
Synthetic fillers tend to last longer, as they are not absorbed by the body. They can be a great option for the right patient, but you’ll want to be ready to commit to results that will be there for several years—and choose an experienced, qualified provider whose aesthetic style you like.
Fat injections are meant to last indefinitely; however, some of the injected fat is expected not survive. Initially, your cosmetic surgeon may overfill the treatment area, resulting in an initially fuller look that will gradually settle into a more natural appearance.