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Dermal Fillers
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Dermal Fillers
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal filler injections are a type of nonsurgical cosmetic procedure. Dermal fillers plump up wrinkles, smooth lines and restore volume in your face. Your healthcare provider injects these substances just under your skin.
People choose to get dermal fillers to enhance their facial features or gain a more youthful appearance. This elective treatment usually takes less than half an hour, and recovery time is minimal. Results are seen right away and last months to years depending on the type of filler and the location.
There are several kinds of dermal fillers. Your healthcare provider will discuss your options with you. As with any cosmetic procedure, there are risks, including infection, bleeding and bruising. Health insurance plans generally don’t cover elective cosmetic procedures such as filler injections.
Why are dermal fillers used?
As you age, your body starts to lose collagen. Collagen is an important substance that exists all over your body, including in your skin, muscles, bones and connective tissues. Decreased amounts of collagen in your skin causes skin laxity (loose) and loss of volume. Skin becomes thinner, loses its elasticity and starts to sag.
You may choose to get dermal fillers to:
- Add volume to sagging skin.
- Make your facial features more symmetrical.
- Plump up lips and cheeks.
- Smooth wrinkles and creases in your face.
Some medications prescribed to treat medical conditions such as HIV and AIDS can cause thinness in your face. Some people choose to get dermal fillers to restore volume to their face after taking these medications.
How common are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are very common. Every year in the United States, more than 3 million people choose to get dermal fillers.
What are the types of dermal fillers?
There are many types of dermal fillers. In addition to “off-the-shelf” fillers that use synthetic (manmade materials) and substances that naturally occur in your body, healthcare providers can use fat from your own body. Healthcare providers call this procedure “autologous fat grafting,” where they remove fat from one part of your body and inject it into your face.
The types of off-the-shelf fillers include:
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring acid in your skin. It gives your skin volume and keeps it hydrated. With age, your body stops making hyaluronic acid. Results from HA injections usually last six months to a year. Restylane is a commonly used type of HA filler.
- Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) is a type of filler that consists of a substance you have in your bones. Results from these fillers typically last around a year. Healthcare providers usually use CaHA fillers for deeper wrinkles. Examples of CaHA fillers include Radiesse.
- Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a substance that helps your body create its own collagen. Healthcare providers usually use poly-L-lactic acid to smooth deep wrinkles on your face. The results can last two years or more. Types of PLLA fillers include Sculptra.
- Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) fillers consist of collagen and very small balls that stay under your skin after your healthcare provider injects them. The balls give your skin volume and keep it firm. Bellafill is one type of PMMA filler.
Your healthcare provider will review the types of dermal fillers and discuss the right option for you. Talk to them about setting realistic goals and the results you can expect after getting injections.
What happens before a dermal filler procedure?
Before you get dermal fillers, you’ll have a consultation with your healthcare provider. You may wish to see a dermatologist, a healthcare provider who specializes in caring for skin. They’ll examine your face and ask about your goals and what areas you’d like to enhance.
They may mark your face with a pen or marker to show where the injections will be. They may also take pictures of your face. Your healthcare provider will recommend a specific type of filler or fillers and review possible side effects and recovery time.
During this consultation, your healthcare provider will also ask about your medical history. It’s important to tell them if you’re taking any medications, as some drugs can increase the risk of complications after getting fillers. Tell your healthcare provider if you have:
- Allergies.
- History of bruising or bleeding after similar procedures.
- Neurological problems.
- Skin conditions.
What happens during a dermal filler procedure?
You can get dermal fillers in your healthcare provider’s office. Some people choose to get dermal fillers in a medical spa (also called a medspa or medispa). This is a medical clinic that delivers cosmetic procedures in a spa-like environment. Your healthcare provider cleans your skin and may apply a lotion or cream with an anesthetic. The anesthetic numbs the area so the treatment will be more comfortable.
Using a thin needle, your healthcare provider injects small amounts of fillers under your skin. The needle will pinch or sting, but most people don’t experience much pain during these injections. Your healthcare provider may inject the fillers in several areas. The whole process can take a few minutes or up to an hour.
What happens after a dermal filler procedure?
After receiving dermal filler injections, your healthcare provider will cleanse your skin. They may give you an ice pack to ease pain and swelling.
You may have bruises, swelling or discomfort after getting the injections. Usually, these side effects are mild and go away in a few days.
Many people see results right away after getting these injections. But everyone’s results are different. How long it takes to see results (and how long they last) depends on several factors, including the type of treatment you received.