That irresistible plumpness, vibrancy and abundance of a child’s face melts away over the many years of our lives. As our faces lengthen, we look more mature … and as we age even more, we lose so much volume of facial muscle, fat, bone and tissue that the overlying skin sags and wrinkles.
Dermal fillers restore some of that beautiful look of bursting vibrancy to even the most mature face. With skillful application, you’ll look just like yourself … only more positive, more alert, and all freshened up!
Dermal fillers are one of the most popular, non-surgical options for solving aging skin problems. They are also known as “injectables” or “soft-tissue fillers,” and do just what their name suggests – they fill in the area under the skin. Some fillers are natural and some are synthetic, but they all work to improve the appearance of aging skin in the following ways:
- filling in wrinkles, fine lines and deep creases
- improving other imperfections like scars
- filling out thin or wrinkled lips
- plumping up cheeks
- contouring the jaw line and other areas of the face
Dermal filler procedures are generally performed by a Physician or a Registered Nurse on an outpatient basis. During the actual procedure, the physician or nurse will give you a series of skin injections, the number and depth of which will depend on what you’re trying to achieve. Afterward, you can usually return to your regular routine right away.
There are a few different types of dermal fillers, which one you choose really depends on what you want to accomplish and how long you’d like the filler to last. Dermal fillers typically fall into specific categories: synthetic or natural, absorbable or non-absorbable.
Artefill, for example, is a non-absorbable, synthetic filler made of microbeads floating in bovine collagen. Because your body can’t absorb or metabolize it, Artefill, formerly known as Artecoll, lasts longer than collagen or fat injections. Experts refer to it as a “permanent” filler for its enduring results.
On the other hand, Radiesse, an absorbable, synthetic filler, is considered semi-permanent because its effects last only one to two years. How it works is simple: collagen, a protein that gives skin its structure, forms around the microspheres in Radiesse upon injection and firms the skin. This approved filler for great for treating wrinkles and folds that are moderate to severe.
If you have sensitive skin or often experience allergic reactions, you may want to consider natural dermal fillers instead of synthetics. These fillers use ingredients already found in your body, or very similar to those already inside of you, so they are less likely to react with your skin. Approved natural fillers have either hyaluronic acid or collagen as the major active ingredient.
The protein collagen is found naturally in the human body and helps keep your skin firm, strong and flexible. Collagen loss is a natural part of the aging process, and collagen dermal fillers use human, bovine or porcine collagen to help replace what you’ve lost. Since collagen fillers are absorbable and only last from two to six months, you’ll need repeated injections to maintain these dermal fillers’ effects.
Hyaluronic acid also appears naturally in the body. In addition to filling in wrinkles, hyaluronic acid also promotes new collagen growth. These fillers are also absorbable, but last from six months to a year or more. Commonly used hyaluronic fillers include: Teosyal, Juvederm and Restylane.
Dermal fillers give you many options to improve facial imperfections without surgery. No matter what kind of dermal filler interests you, make sure you talk to your doctor or nurse and thoroughly understand the benefits, side effects and longevity of the treatment you choose.