Everything You Need to Know About Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are becoming an increasingly popular choice for getting smooth, plump and youthful skin. While you might have come across the name before, you may not have comprehensive knowledge about this cosmetic procedure.
If you’re looking to learn more about dermal fillers or plan to get them, here’s everything you need to know.
What are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are small injections that are typically made up of hyaluronic acid. These injections are used to fill in wrinkles and to add volume to soft tissues in different parts of your face. You can get dermal fillers in these parts of face: checks, around the eyes, mouth and jaw line.
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lines, soften creases, or enhance facial contours. Over the past few decades, they have become a popular solution for facial rejuvenation without the need for surgery. These fillers are typically made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the skin known for its capacity to attract and retain moisture. Other common types of fillers use ingredients like calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, and polymethylmethacrylate. Each of these substances is designed to address various signs of aging or other cosmetic concerns.
The procedure for administering dermal fillers is relatively quick and minimally invasive, typically completed within 30 minutes to an hour. It usually requires little to no downtime, making it a convenient option for individuals seeking to diminish the appearance of aging.
In simple terms, dermal fillers are a cosmetic procedure that is designed to help reduce the appearance of visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. These fillers work well at adding volume to your face, but in a good way. The reason many women get dermal fillers is due to the loss of collagen and elasticity that takes place in their skin after the age of 25.
How Do They Work?
Dermal fillers are designed to restore the lost volume to your face: it helps plump areas and smoothens out deep-set lines and other aging signs. They are minimally invasive, highly versatile, and quite low risk, making them a great choice for reducing aging signs. Although they treat similar skin problems, dermal fillers are quite different from neurotoxins like Botox.
Here are some aspects of your face that dermal fillers help with.
- Frown Lines
- Brow Furrows
- Crow’s Feet
- Under Eye fine lines
- Pronounced Nasolabial Folds
- Acne Scarring
- Vertical Lip Lines
- Fine Lips
- Cheek Enhancement
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
Dermal fillers are a relatively fast procedure and require no downtime. They are also referred to as a ‘lunchtime facelift.’ Depending on how many areas of the face need treatment, it typically takes no more than one hour for the procedure to be completed. Moreover, unlike other cosmetic procedures that require surgery, there’s no recovery time required after receiving a dermal filler.
How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?
Depending on what type of hyaluronic acid is used and how your body reacts to dermal fillers, you can expect them to last anywhere between six and eighteen months. The effects of dermal fillers are notably visible immediately after the treatment, and they can last anywhere from six months to over a year, depending on the type of filler used and the individual's skin type, lifestyle, and age. They are most commonly used to plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases and wrinkles, and improve the appearance of recessed scars.
Dermal fillers can also be used for hand rejuvenation, making them a versatile solution for age-related volume loss. It’s crucial for individuals considering dermal fillers to consult with a qualified healthcare professional who can assess their suitability for the procedure and discuss potential risks and benefits. While dermal fillers are generally safe, it's important to understand that all cosmetic procedures carry some risks and side effects, such as redness, swelling, or bruising at the injection site. Therefore, a thorough consultation and a qualified practitioner are essential for a safe and satisfactory outcome.
Do Dermal Fillers Have Side Effects?
Just like any other facial injection, dermal fillers have certain temporary side effects, such as redness, swelling, tenderness, slight discomfort, and bruising. However, certain people might also have reactions to the fillers, which will be immediately evident. If you have a reaction to a dermal filler, you can expect to experience redness, pain, swelling, bruising, itching, and tenderness. The side effects and reactions of dermal fillers are typically mild and often disappear within a few days of getting an injection.
Where Should You Go To Get Dermal Fillers?
The problem is that every second salon or beauty spa has begun offering injectable treatments. If you’re planning on getting derma fillers, never visit a spa or salon. The face has various underlying structures that are quite sensitive, such as the eyes, nerves and vessels, especially when removing deep wrinkles. If the person injecting the fillers isn’t careful or trained, they can end up causing serious damage or infection, leading to tissue death and scarring.
Therefore, it’s imperative that you search for a registered medical professional who has knowledge, training and experience when it comes to facial injections.
Do Dermal Fillers Hurt?
Dermal fillers aren’t very painful, but they do cause slight discomfort when it is being injected into the face. However, most licensed physicians minimize the discomfort by applying an anesthetic cream before treatment. Moreover, most dermal fillers also come with a pre-mixed local anesthetic that provides relief and alleviates pain as much as possible.
Are There Different Types of Dermal Fillers?
There are various types of dermal fillers, the most popular being hyaluronic acid. This substance is naturally found in many parts of the body, such as the joints and skin. It can hold almost up to 1000 times its weight in water, helping the skin remain in keeping itself hydrated, maintaining its shape, and evening out any depression.
Another quite popular type of dermal filler is Poly-Caprolactone (PCl). This filler acts as a great collagen stimulator. When injected in areas of the face, it triggers the natural response of the body to produce more collagen, keeping your skin from getting saggy.
Is There a Difference Between Botox and Dermal Fillers?
There is a vast difference between Botox injections and dermal fillers. Botox works to stop the muscles in your face from making any movements that can cause wrinkles. On the other hand, dermal fillers work to plump the layer below the wrinkles, helping smooth them out and giving you youthful skin.
How Much Do Dermal Fillers Cost?
The cost of dermal fillers is highly dependent on which fillers you’re opting for, how many fillers you’re planning to get, and who you get them done from. While the rates differ from clinic to clinic, you can expect to pay around $600 per syringe.
How Long Will It Take to See the Results After Getting a Filler?
The results that a dermal filler treatment produces are immediate. If you get a wrinkle relaxer treatment, it can take a week or two before the results are evident. On the other hand, hyaluronic acid fillers set under the skin right after being injected, giving you a noticeably younger appearance right away.
Are Dermal Fillers Only for Wrinkles?
While dermal fillers are one of the most common cosmetic treatments for facial wrinkles, they serve other purposes as well. Dermal fillers are used to reduce the appearance of eye bags and dark circles. They are also used by some physicians to reduce acne scars and to get rid of hand wrinkles. Dermal fillers are great for any area of the face that requires a lift and some volume.
While they are indeed effective for smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines, their uses extend far beyond that. One of the primary uses of dermal fillers is to add volume and fullness to areas that have thinned due to aging. This includes plumping up thin lips, enhancing shallow areas on the face, and filling in under-eye hollows.
Additionally, dermal fillers are frequently used for contouring and defining facial features. They can be used to accentuate cheekbones, reshape the jawline, or modify the shape of the nose in non-surgical rhinoplasty procedures. They can also correct asymmetries and improve the overall facial balance. Furthermore, dermal fillers can improve the appearance of recessed scars and are sometimes used in hand rejuvenation treatments to restore lost volume.
Additional Information about Dermal Fillers
They are Great for the Lips
While dermal fillers are used in many areas of the face, they are especially great for plumping your lips, making them appear fuller. Moreover, they also help smoothen out the lips.
Dermal Filler Material Is Safe
The substance injected into your skin via dermal fillers is FDA-approved, making them safe. The most commonly used dermal filler is hyaluronic acid, which improves the hydration of your skin, making it appear plumped and nourished. All other materials used for dermal fillers, including calcium hydroxylapatite and Poly-L lactic acid, are also quite safe.
Dermal Fillers Look and Feel Natural
Unlike Botox, dermal fillers produce natural-looking results for wrinkles and fine lines. It smoothens out your skin, but doesn’t make your face look ‘done,’ which often happens after getting plastic surgery procedures. You should discuss the kind of results you’re looking for with your physician. Dermal fillers can be hard to overdo within a single sitting. This means that you will have to make multiple sittings before you can get the fuller results you want.
Wrapping Up
Dermal fillers are a great option for reducing aging signs, such as wrinkles and fine lines. Moreover, the face injectable also serves other purposes such as reducing dark circles and acne scars. However, if you are looking for another way to decreasing the appearance of aging signs, try out the 0.5% Retinol Moisturizing Cream by ML Delicate Beauty!
This is one of the best natural anti-aging skincare products made with organic ingredients that work to restore the youthful look of your skin!
Have you ever gotten dermal fillers? Do you plan on getting them? Let us know in the comments below!
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About Author:
Jennifer Valdino is a Facialist and Skincare Expert. She frequently shares her general approach to caring for your skin through many public speeches. Jennifer truly understands how confidence having a bad skin can be, and she’s passionate about sharing her knowledge for tackling it. She knows first-hand how skin is so intrinsically linked to confidence as well as the best science-backed method to handle it.
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