If you are looking for a quick way to smooth out your skin and reduce signs of aging, a dermal filler might be the right choice for you. These injectable treatments offer a plethora of benefits today, from minimizing facial creases to restoring youthful volume. With a broad array of formulations to choose from, it is easier than ever to customize your injectable treatment to your specific concerns and your desired results.
What are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are injectable solutions that provide support to the underlying skin structure and promote the body’s own production of collagen. Collagen is an important substance that works in the underlying tissue to give skin its soft, supple appearance. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, which leads to skin laxity and the appearance of facial creases. Dermal fillers can reverse some of that damage on a temporary basis, giving skin the supprot it needs to restore its youthful vitality.
Options in Dermal Fillers
There are a variety of dermal fillers on the market today and each offers its own advantages in terms of anti-aging and skin rejuvenation:
Hyaluronic acid fillers – These fillers, which include well-known names like Juvederm and Restylane, contain a synthetic version of the same hyaluronic acid naturally produced by the body. These fillers offer a variety of benefits, depending on the size of the particles and the smoothness of the formula’s consistency. Some will work in even the most delicate areas like the lips and under the eyes, while others will provide volumizing benefits in the mid and lower face.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite – Calcium hydroxylapatite is also a substance that is naturally produced by the body and found in the teeth and bones. These microspheres offer even better skin support to smooth away deeper creases around the nose and mouth. Radiesse is the commercial name for the dermal filler containing this ingredient.
Poly-L-Lactic Acid – This substance, found in the dermal filler Sculptra, provides a double benefit. In the short-term, the solution offers the support the underlying skin structure needs to begin the evolution to a more youthful state. In the long-term, this substance stimulates significant collagen production to produce natural, long-lasting results. Sculptra was originally designed for use in patients suffering from loss of facial fat due to HIV. The filler provides subtle results over the long term, so it looks like the clock is gradually turning back on your skin.
Uses for Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are generally recommended for the following concerns:
- Facial creases extending from the nose to the mouth (known as nasolabial folds)
- Deep indentations in the corners of the mouth (known as smile lines)
- Lines that run from the mouth to the jawline (known as marionette lines)
- Chin wrinkles
The treatments can also be used to restore volume to areas that lose their youthful plumpness over time, such as the cheeks, under the eyes and along the jawline. At the same time these solutions produce fullness to these areas, they successfully address mild signs of skin laxity, firming and tightening the skin in these areas.
A single dermal filler may be used to address a specific concern. However, many patients prefer to combine their dermal fillers in a single treatment, which is sometimes referred to as a “liquid facelift.” This approach allows for more dramatic results in a single treatment session. Botox or Dysport may also be used to address wrinkles around the forehead and upper face area.
About the Procedure
Dermal filler injections usually take just a few minutes to complete and involve minimal discomfort. For injections that are placed deeper under the skin’s surface, lidocaine might be included in the formulation to make the procedure more comfortable. After your treatment, you are able to apply makeup and return to your regular activities right away. Any swelling or bruising around the injection sites is likely to subside within a few hours after your procedure.
Positive Results
Dermal fillers offer positive results that can be seen right away and continue to improve over time. Your skin will appear smoother, with a visible reduction in aging symptoms. The results of dermal fillers are just temporary, so you will need to repeat your procedure periodically to maintain poositive results. The durations of dermal fillers varies considerably from formulation to formulation and patient to patients. The quickest-acting fillers may last just six months, while longer-acting formulations could last two years or more.
Is an Injectable Dermal Filler Right for You?
Dermal fillers are a quick, relatively simple way to achieve your aesthetic goals without incisions, anesthesia or downtime. They are usually recommended for men and women in the early to mid stages of the aging process. Patients that require more correction may want to consider a surgical procedure to mee their goals.
If dermal fillers sound like the right treatment for you, learn more today. Contact Coastal Plains Surgical Care at (361) 354-2832 to find out if dermal fillers are right for you.