Dermal Fillers

The skin is the largest organ in your body. It can also be a reflection of your overall health. So, it is understandable why people have an unquenchable thirst for lustrous and youthful skin. However, our skin becomes more fragile and less elastic with age because of the decreased production of natural oils.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there has been a 2% increase in the use of fillers since 2015, a trend likely to continue. In addition, according to a CNN report, the United States has seen a rise in the use of fillers from 1.8 million procedures to 2.6 million procedures in 2016.

A healthy skincare routine includes moisturizing, cleansing, and dermal fillers for people managing conditions like loose skin or wrinkles.

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are cosmetic treatments, usually gel-like substances injected beneath your skin to soften the creases, smooth lines, and restore lost skin volume.
Dermal fillers are often confused with Botox. Botox is a drug that works by paralyzing or weakening a targeted muscle. It contains purified bacteria that freezes the muscle. In small doses, it reduces the appearance of wrinkles on your face.

Both treatments are minimally invasive and are administered through injections to provide lasting results. However, dermal fillers and botox differ in efficacy, usage, cost, and side effects.

What can dermal fillers do?

There are different types of dermal fillers designed to treat varying signs of aging. Depending on the type of filler, they can:

• Soften the look of a recessed scar.
• Enhance or fill in the shallow areas on your face.
• Plump up thinning lips.
• Remove the shadow under the eye caused by the lower eyelid.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons states that not everyone is eligible for dermal fillers. Factors that make for an ideal dermal filler candidate include:

• Commitment to maintaining good skin health.
• Physical health
• Non-smokers
• People with realistic goals for the improvement of skin appearance

What can’t dermal fillers do?

With the increase in the popularity of dermal fillers, it is easy to overlook the importance of prior research on the procedure. Notably, professional doctors can’t use dermal fillers on your breasts, hips, thighs, or buttocks.

Types of dermal fillers

R3 Health works with different types of dermal fillers. The type of filler used varies depending on skin type and targeted treatment.

1. Juvederm Vollure XC

This product adds volume beneath the skin surface. Flat cheeks are a common problem while aging. It’s a suitable treatment for natural loss of volume in the cheek area.

2. Juvederm Voluma and Juvederm Volbella

Juvederm’s design softens parentheses lines, either moderate or severe. It also adds volume to your mouth and nose, producing results that last at least 18 months.

3. Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra plus

This dermal filler is primarily used to treat medium to deep wrinkles, lips enhancement, and smoothen depressed scars. The results can last up to a year after application.

4. Restylane® Silk

Restylane silk filler is an FDA-approved product that has been specially formulated for lips augmentation and smoothing the wrinkles around the mouth for people aged 21 years and above.

5. Restylane® Refyne and Restylane® Defyne

Restylane Refyne filler can treat moderate to severe laugh lines around the mouth. It brings out a natural look while maintaining your facial expression. It’s made from a naturally occurring substance in the skin, hyaluronic acid.

6. Restylane® Kysse and Restylane® Contour

Restylane Kysse is a lip filler designed for flexible movement and natural-looking volume that is proven to last for up to a year. It is great for maintaining a full range of expressions and improving the appearance of lines above the mouth. Restylane Contour is a dermal filler that helps restore the volume of your midface. When injected under the skin, it is used to increase the fullness of your cheeks.

7. RADIESSE®

Radiesse stimulates the natural-occurring collagen beneath your skin. It plumps up the folded or wrinkled areas on your skin, especially on your face. On application, it works immediately and can last up to two years.

What to expect during a dermal filler treatment

Dermal fillers are a minimally invasive procedure, so a doctor can do it in his office. The steps are pretty straightforward. They include:

Step 1: Facial mapping and assessment.

The plastic surgeon or a specially trained nurse will examine your face to determine the areas to be augmented or treated. Then, using a unique marker, they will highlight the areas as filler injection sites.

Step 2: Cleansing and anesthetizing

The injection site is cleaned using an antibacterial agent to reduce the chances of an infection. Then, they will chill the skin using an anesthetic injection or ointment. Although not painless, the following injections will be more tolerable.

Step 3: The injection

The process involves injecting, massaging, and evaluating the result. This procedure is repeated on all sites until complete. Depending on the marked areas, the process can last from 15 minutes to an hour.

Step 4: Clean-up and recovery

After the results are deemed satisfactory, the marking is wiped off. Then, you can use an icepack to alleviate the discomfort and reduce swelling.

What to expect after dermal filler treatment

Most filler patients get to see their results immediately; however, some can take seven to 10 days. The overall side effects of injectables are minor and includes:

• Tenderness around the injection site.
• Swelling
• Redness
• Bruising

The effects often resolve a few days to a week after treatment. Working with a professional team ensures your transition is easy and smooth.

How long do dermal fillers last?

The effects of dermal fillers differ from person to person and depending on the type of filler used. Generally, some can last between six and 12 months, while others can last from two to five years.