Dermal Fillers
What are Dermal Fillers?
Types of Dermal Fillers
Why Dermal Fillers?
What Conditions Are Dermal Fillers a Solution to?
Steps to getting your procedure
Frequently Asked Questions
Cost of Procedure
Procedure

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are injectable soft tissue fillers that help diminish wrinkles and volumize facial tissues. Dermal fillers are widely used injectable treatments that make cosmetic improvements to the face for a better and young-looking face. Various brands offer dermal fillers with more or less the same results — restoring lost volume. As we age, our facial tissues lose subcutaneous fat resulting in loose skin, more prominent smile lines, and crow's feet. Other factors that contribute to the wrinkling of the skin include genes, sun exposure, and lifestyle. Plastic surgeons and cosmetologists use Hyaluronic Acid (a naturally occurring substance in our bodies) dermal fillers, which makes absorption into the skin easier.

What are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are soft tissue fillers made of Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in human bodies. The production of hyaluronic acid declines with age and lifestyle, resulting in wrinkles, smile lines, crow's feet, and loss of volume.

People get dermal fillers to improve their facial features or gain a youthful appearance. The procedure is half an hour long, and recovery time is minimal. Results are immediate, lasting for a maximum of one and a half years, based on the type of filler and the site where they are administered.

There are several kinds of dermal fillers. Upon consultation, your health practitioner will discuss your options with you. One of the many reasons people do dermal fillers is that these fillers can be dissolved using special injectable liquid in case of adverse effects or undesired outcomes. Other potential reasons why people choose dermal fillers are:

  • Add volume to sagging skin

  • Enhance shallow contours

  • Soften facial wrinkles and creases

  • Relatively painless with immediate results

  • Diminishing acne scars

  • Defining facial features by sculpting jawline

Dermal fillers are a much sought-after procedure for those having early signs of aging or having lost skin laxity due to health issues, sun exposure, or lifestyle.


Procedure steps

The dermal fillers procedure involves the following steps:

Facial assessment and mapping

Board-certified plastic surgeons or specially-trained nurses always do a thorough facial assessment before injecting the fillers. They evaluate your facial features and skin tone and examine the areas of your face that need to be redefined or augmented.

Your doctor marks strategic points on your face to specify the injection site. Before and after photos are also taken as a part of the facial assessment.

Cleansing and anesthesia

The injection site is first cleaned with an antibacterial wash. Then a topical numbing cream or anesthetic ointment is applied to the injection site to ease the discomfort caused by the injections. Painlessness makes the recurrent injections tolerable.

The injection

After cleaning, the process of injecting, massaging, and assessing the results is carried out. Depending on how many areas are treated, the entire procedure takes a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 60 minutes.

Clean up

Once the injections produce satisfactory results, strategic markings are cleaned, and ice packs are rubbed to the target area to relieve the stinging sensation followed by the injections. (Usually, when the numbing subsides, there is an itchy feeling inside the injection site.)

Types of Dermal Fillers

  • Which Dermal Fillers are Right for You?

    No cosmetic product has contributed to the cosmetic world more than dermal fillers. These minimally invasive products address multiple concerns related to facial aging and offer innumerable benefits ranging from lips to fine lines and facial creases.

    A consequence of the increasing demand for dermal fillers is a need for more knowledge about the products. An expansive variety of filler types and brands gets patients caught in a confused state of mind. They need help deciding which filler is the best and what facial concern a specific filler addresses. It is not just a cosmetic treatment but a medical procedure that, in some cases, might have potentially adverse effects. Therefore, knowing which product is safe and fulfills individualized needs is mandatory.

    This article provides insight into fillers' types and what they can do. However, a brief consultation with your board-certified cosmetic surgeon before choosing any filler is a sagacious approach to achieving your desired aesthetic goals. 

    Several dermal fillers are specific to treating one facial problem, likewise, one single filler can address more than one issue. Whatever the product, the biggest advantage of all dermal fillers is that they are biosynthetic in nature, meaning they contain no animal product and are never tested on animals.

  • Calcium hydroxylapatite

    Commercial name: Radiesse 

    Calcium hydroxylapatite is a mineral-like compound and is found intrinsically in human bones. 

    Loved by many dermatologists and patients for their natural-looking results, calcium hydroxylapatite fillers (commercially called Radiesse) are used to: 

    • Treat moderate creases and nasolabial folds, marionette, and frown lines. 

    • Volumize cheeks and enhance facial features. 

    • Define jawline and contours. 

    • Restore lost facial volume due to certain medications. 

    These dermal fillers are produced biosynthetically, meaning neither animal products are used in manufacture nor are tested on animals. It lowers the risk of allergic reactions and gives the most natural-looking results. With fewer side effects, it has a proven safety record.

  • Hyaluronic acid

    Commercial names: Juvederm, Restylane, Esthélis, Elevess, Hylaform, Perlane, and Captique (to name just a few).

    Hyaluronic acid fillers are the most widely used category of fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in our bodies in soft tissues, around the eyes, in the cartilage, and in joint fluids. It is extracted and reformulated. Common areas addressed by hyaluronic acid fillers are: 

    • Smile lines 

    • Acne scars 

    • Cheek depressions 

    • Frown lines 

    • Crow's feet 

    • Asymmetrical lips 

    • Jowls(sagging skin between chin and jawline) 

    • Nasolabial folds 

    • Wrinkles 

    • Aching joints (to ease pain and provide extra cushioning) 

    • Smoker's lines 

    • Worry lines 

    • Burns and wounds

  • Polyalkylimide

    Aquamid is a brand name for a semi-permanent dermal filler made of polyalkylimide. Its biocompatibility with the human body means that no allergy tests are necessary prior to its administration. Additionally, the fact that it is radio-transparent means that it does not interfere with X-rays. A very small amount of the product is enough to produce significant changes, and a single dose can inject large volumes. In about a month, a thin layer of collagen will form around the injection site. Furthermore, the filler is stable and can be removed if needed. It is especially effective for treating deep wrinkles and nasolabial folds, as well as for plumping up thin lips.

  • Polylactic acid

    The brand name Sculptra is a Polylactic acid which is a synthetic dermal filler. It is a stimulator that triggers or accelerates collagen production in the body. It is non-toxic and biodegradable and has been used for more than 40 years as a suture material in surgery. Polylactic acid helps volumize laugh lines, expression lines, and deep nasolabial folds. It is remarkably effective in the lower section of the face. Since it is a stimulator, the patient needs several treatments before seeing results as the body responds and produces more collagen. However, unlike other fillers, it doesn't deliver instant results. Polylactic acid fillers are considered semi-permanent, and most patients only need occasional touch-ups.

  • Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (PMMA)

    The brand name Bellafill is used to refer to microspheres of polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) which are utilized as semi-permanent fillers to take care of medium to deep wrinkles, scars connected to facial tissues, nasolabial folds, and furrow lines. These are also employed to augment and contour thin lips. This method is a more enduring solution than hyaluronic acid fillers or collagen replacement therapies. As PMMA has been in use for a number of years in permanent medical implants, the doctor is likely to start with a lesser quantity of fillers initially and can add more later if needed.

    The one big downside of this technique is that a few injections are needed to plump up the targeted area, and a waiting period of up to three months is necessary to see the full results. It may also be seen under the skin. To dodge undesirable effects, it is important for the plastic surgeon to be experienced in the proper injection technique, which involves injecting at the dermal, and subcutaneous junction using threading or tunneling methods.

Dermal Fillers

Why Dermal Fillers?

You cannot stop aging take its course, but you can slow down the speed as it marches on. Dermal fillers are a great addition to the anti-aging regimen of most men and women beyond their 40s. 

Patients who book their consultation with doctors from our list of board-certified plastic and cosmetic surgeons for dermal fillers are constantly astonished at how life-changing and transformative these procedures are. Today dermal fillers are helping accomplish aesthetic goals that were only possible through cosmetic surgery.  

Each filler brand helps restore volume loss of one kind or the other in facial tissues. However, wisely choosing the filler type optimizes the results.  

Dermal fillers are also called 'liquid lift' because they restore the lost volume and maintain youthfulness without going under the razor.   

Dermal fillers are safe to use, FDA-approved, versatile, and highly individualized, specifically tailored to the desired outcomes of patients, and they're a perfect addition to your skincare routine. Typically, their results last for 6-24 months, but mostly it depends on the patient's facial anatomy, genetics, lifestyle, and age.  

The best thing about dermal fillers is that you can get touch-ups any time you want, and in case of adverse effects, your doctor can reverse the treatment. 

Dermal fillers are the go-to skincare plan for most men and women because they offer:

  • Increase collagen production
  • Immediate results
  • Minimal risk
  • Boost confidence
  • Minimize looks of scars

What Conditions Are Dermal Fillers a Solution to?

Dermal fillers have become a miraculous solution for men and women looking for quick ways to look younger. You do not need to get a complete facelift for addressing minor facial aging concerns when minimally invasive and cost-effective dermal fillers can serve the purpose. Most dermal fillers are formulated with hyaluronic acid (HA). Being naturally found in the body, HA makes your skin glowing, supple, and youthful. It's just the biocompatibility of the substance that makes it a safe and efficacious treatment. Dermal fillers provide a quick fix to multiple facial aging issues. Over time, collagen production in our bodies decreases (collagen is the component that gives our skin that plump, rejuvenated, and youthful look). As the skin ages or is exposed to the sun, it stretches and loses elasticity. We gain more fine lines and wrinkles while losing volume resultantly. As this happens, lines around the eyes or mouth become more prominent even when our face is resting. When these issues occur, injectable dermal fillers can save the day by reversing those tell-tale signs of aging. Another fantastic fact about dermal fillers is that they are safe even for pregnant women. The most common problems addressed by dermal fillers are discussed below: :

  • Signs of aging

    Dermal fillers offer a multifaceted approach to combat the signs of aging. As we age, we are more prone to unfavorable changes in our skin, like deep wrinkles, crow's feet, smile lines, lip thinning, jowls, etc. Dermal fillers are a patient-friendly and effective way to slow the aging process by diminishing the facial lines, restoring the lost volume, and giving a younger-looking self overall.

  • Skin depressions

    Hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers are a great way to help boost skin volume, as they work continuously by attracting the body's water to the injection area. Dermal fillers are reported to show an immediate improvement in skin depressions, sunken cheeks, areas under the eyes, and wrinkles in a considerable population of patients undergoing the process.

  • Scarring

    When acne goes, and scars remain, it feels like that acne never really went. Good news for those going through this self-conscious phase: Dermal fillers effectively treat and eliminate certain acne scars. Radiesse, Restylane, and Belotero are the best products for acne scars treatment, as they can reduce the appearance of certain types of scars while improving the skin's texture.

Steps to getting your procedure

Step 1

Research

Step 2

Matching with a doctor

Step 3

Getting financing

Step 4

Booking a consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

A. Some dermal fillers, like Radiesse and Sculptra, are considered permanent, meaning that you will not be able to reverse them or dissolve them with Vitrase. However, their results fade away slowly with time. Because the body naturally breaks down the filler over time, the effects will begin to fade, and maintenance treatments may be needed to maintain the desired look. Other options of fillers can last a long time but will allow you to reverse their effect if you choose. For example, Restylane and Juvederm brands will give excellent results for as long as you plan to use them.

A. Signs of aging start taking a toll on your looks and confidence. You cannot stop aging, but turning the clocks back has never been this easy. This injectable solution can easily erase 5 to 10 years off your face by filling facial wrinkles and restoring volume to the skin. Dermal fillers lift droopy skin, restore lost facial volume, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, reduce crow's feet, and plump up thin lips. In other words, dermal fillers provide a holistic approach to looking 5 to 10 years younger. Mid 20's is the right time to start with dermal fillers to keep aging at bay.

A. It is difficult to say which one of the dermal fillers or Botox is better than the other, as it is like looking at two different types of fruits. Botox tackles dynamic wrinkles on the face, whereas filler functions to add volume to sagging skin and reduce the appearance of scars. Usually, fillers last longer, but both are good at treating wrinkles and scars, and using them in tandem yields the best outcome. The two treatments are distinct in that Botox can be used to treat chronic migraines, something that dermal fillers cannot do.

A. Fillers are temporary solutions. When the effect wears off, or you stop getting touch-ups, your face returns to its original state. Because fillers don't stop the aging process. they only slow that down. With time, hyaluronic acid breaks down and metabolizes in the body. It takes 6 to 12 months. Therefore, wrinkles and fine lines start reappearing after this time. That is why you must get touch-ups every few months if you want to maintain the best results. Otherwise, you will eventually return to where you had started.

Cost of Procedure

Most health insurance plans don't cover cosmetic procedures or related complications in their list of services. Before deciding the budget for dermal fillers, the surgeon's experience and the patient's comfort with them should be the top priority. A surgeon's fee for dermal fillers is usually based on their years of experience, the type of fillers, the longevity of the outcomes, the amount of filler you need, the complexity of the procedure, and the geographic location of the surgeon's office. According to the most recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of the dermal fillers ranges from $680 to $2500, as it varies from filler to filler: 1- Hyaluronic acid: $684.2- Calcium hydroxylapatite: $717. 3-Polylactic acid: $853. 4- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): $981. 5- Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres: $1,058. 6- Fat grafting: $2,508. This average cost, however, is only a fraction of the entire cost and many times patients need more than one syringe – this cost does not include operation theatre facilities or other related expenditures. Surgical costs may include the following: 1- Hospital or surgical facility costs 2- Medical tests. 3- Prescriptions for medicines. 4-Surgeon's fee. The procedure may be subject to higher prices depending on special techniques or the type of fillers used. Review your health insurance plan carefully before getting dermal fillers. The surgeon will provide an itemized quotation at your initial consultation once you decide on the type of 'filler' you require and the desired outcomes.