During the stay-at-home orders, we are watching tv and movies, reading books, obsessing over social media. We are being inundated with “beautiful” people! So, are you dreaming of plumper cheeks, smoother skin, or fuller lips?
Now More Than Ever, They Are in Reach!
The latest injectable treatments are:
- Accessible
- Affordable
- Safe
- Long-lasting
- Designed to be subtle
The days of surgical procedures being your only option have come and gone. Getting non-surgical procedures has become commonplace.
Most can even be administered during your lunch hour with next to no visible side effects. So if you are looking for the best option to smooth out those lines and wrinkles and get those luscious lips, dermal fillers are it.
What Type Should I Get?
The hardest decision you may have to make is what type of dermal filler to get. Not everyone has a trusted dermatologist or esthetician to guide them through the complicated world of dermal fillers.
That’s why we have created this comprehensive guide to dermal fillers. We’ll cover everything from:
- What dermal fillers are made of
- What each kind of dermal filler is best at
- How long you can reasonably expect the results of each filler type to last
Myth-Busting Time
First off, let’s bust a myth. Dermal fillers are just for filling out wrinkles. Wrong! Even though dermal fillers are commonly referred to as “wrinkle fillers,” they can fulfill a variety of purposes.
Dermal fillers can:
- Smooth out your marionettes, smile, and parentheses lines (lines around your nose and mouth
- Augment and rebuild sunken temples or cheeks
- Reduce vertical lines around the lips
- Plump up and enhance lips
- Smooth out creases in the chin
- Correct the symmetry of facial features
Dermal fillers can address all of these issues, and more, but not every filler is appropriate for every concern. And the results of each treatment last a different amount of time. But more on that later.
To understand why this is true, we must first learn more about what makes up a dermal filler.
Dermal Fillers Defined
A dermal filler is a substance that is injected into the skin on your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles and plump up lips and cheeks. Each substance is made up of a base.
Here we will explore these four non-surgical filler bases:
- Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
- Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA)
- Poly-L-lactic Acid (PLLA)
- Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)
Filler Base #1: Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
Hand’s down, the most popular filler type on the market right now is Hyaluronic Acid (HA). That doesn’t mean it’s the best filler for every person or every condition, but it’s perfect for hydrating the skin and smoothing out wrinkles and creases.
The wonderful thing about HA is that it is a naturally -occurring substance that keeps your skin plump and hydrated.
This means you aren’t adding foreign material to your body. You are just enhancing what is already present. HA fillers are soft and gel-like, which produces subtle and natural-looking results.
You will likely recognize many FDA approved name brands of HA fillers:
- Juvéderm products: Juvéderm XC, VOLUMA, VOLBELLA, VOLLURE
- Restylane products: Restylane, Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, and Restylane Defyne
- Belotero Balance
Filler Base #2: Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHa)
Also, a naturally occurring substance, calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHa), is primarily found in the bones.
This filler is made up of a smooth gel that contains nearly microscopic calcium particles. Aside from the chemical makeup, the difference between an HA filler and a CaHa filler is that CaHa is thicker.
CaHA stimulates natural collagen production and is the perfect filler for smoothing out deeper lines and wrinkles. The most well-known FDA-approved CaHA filler is Radiesse®.
Filler Base #3: Poly-L-lactic Acid (PLLA)
The first of our non-naturally occurring filler bases is Poly-L-lactic Acid (PLLA). PLLA is a synthetic substance that is biodegradable and biocompatible (safe to use in the body).
PLLAs are perfect for treating deeper facial wrinkles and renewing collagen, which plumps the skin back up. An FDA approved brand of Poly-L-lactic acid fillers is Sculptra® Aesthetic.
Filler Base #4: Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)
The second of our synthetic, bio-compatible filler bases is Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). PMMA is made up of tiny balls that will not biodegrade.
This means that once injected under your skin. They are there forever. Collagen is added to PMMA to provide additional firmness and structure. A well-known FDA approved PMMA filler is Bellafill® (aka Artefill).
What to Expect When You Get a Treatment
Your provider will first determine where to make the injections based on your goals and how the fillers will best work with your features.
The treatment itself will typically take 10-30 minutes to perform. No anesthesia is required, though some providers prefer to numb the area with ice or cream before administering the injections. You can expect noticeable improvement within days.
Side Effects Associated With Fillers
Side effects tend to be minimal. The most common side effects include:
- bruising
- swelling
- redness
- pain
- itching
- infections
- discoloration or change in pigmentation
- lumps and bumps
The Longevity of Dermal Fillers
We mentioned earlier that the longevity of results depends on the filler. Results can last anywhere from six months to five years.
Why Such a Big Difference?
The longevity of results hinges on the dermal filler base used. To make things a little more confusing, sometimes the actual longevity of results differs from that reported by the FDA.
Why?
It has to do with the amount of dermal filler used for treatment. The FDA bases its longevity estimates on the use of a specified amount of filler, and that specified amount is rarely the amount used in one procedure.
You may be most interested in how long results will last on a specific area of the face, so let’s start there.
- Treatment in the eye area will last 12 months or even longer, depending on the filler used.
- Cheek treatments will last approximately 15-24 months with touch-ups about halfway through.
- Treatments around the nose will last up to 2 years, but you will need to get maintenance at six months and follow-ups around 9 to 12 months.
- Lip treatments last up to 12 months or more with multiple treatments.
- Treatments at the corners of the mouth will last a year with a touch-up treatment at six months.
- Chin treatments can last from 15 and 24 months with touch-up treatments.
Why Is the Longevity of the Results so Drastically Different?
Each filler base behaves differently after being injected. Here is how long you could expect results to last form each of the filler bases we listed above.
- Hyaluronic Acid (HA) breaks down gradually and can last anywhere from 6 to 18 months or longer. As HA breaks down, it is absorbed by the body.
- Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) particles typically last about 12 months.
- The gel in which Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is suspended dissipates after a couple of days, but results can last more than two years.
- Because PMMA microspheres remain even after the body absorbs the collagen gel, results can last more than five years.
Phased Approach
A phased approach is the best way to create long-lasting results. Visit your provider regularly for touch up treatments.
Touch-up treatments usually only consist of one or two syringes because some of the previous filler is still under the skin. This way, you don’t have to start all over, you can enhance what is already there to maintain results.
Fillers Aren’t for Everyone All the Time
Dermal fillers are generally considered safe, but as with every medical treatment, there are times when it’s best to hold off on getting one.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, now is not the time to get a dermal filler treatment.
- Are you battling a sinus infection? Wait until the infection has passed before going in for a treatment.
- Have an infection anywhere on your face? That infection could spread to the injection site, so you might want to hold off on getting a treatment.
Additional Consideration
Don’t schedule your dental visit too close to your dermal filler treatment. Schedule your dental treatment a week or more after your filler appointment. The pressure and stretching your mouth and face must undergo during a dental procedure can misplace the filler.
You Get What You Pay For
Treatments can cost anywhere from $650 to $2000. Because treatments can be costly, you may research deeply discounted deals.
Avoid these deals because you may end up with a counterfeit or diluted filler. Diluted fillers won’t give you the best results, and counterfeit ones can even be harmful to your health.
If you are ever in doubt about the product that is being used, it is your right to look at the box and check that the safety seal is intact.
What to Do When You’re Not Happy With the Results
Sometimes you aren’t satisfied with the way your face looks after the procedure. This doesn’t have to be a problem.
Most of the time, your provider can make adjustments that will enhance the results. Adjustments might include injecting additional filler to create balance or dissolving the filler altogether.
Choosing the Right Provider Is Crucial
We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to do your research and find the right provider. Don’t just pick anyone.
Even though dermal filler treatments are non-surgical and non-invasive, they are not to be taken lightly. Filler treatments are still medical procedures that should be performed by experienced medical providers.
You should choose a provider who:
- Has extensive knowledge of facial anatomy
- Has a good eye for aesthetics
- Exhibits surgical skill and precision
- Has a proven background in cosmetic medicine
- Is trained in the specific types of fillers that you want
- Has extensive experience administering the particular filler you want to get
When you go in for a consultation, the providers should have before & after photos of previous patients for you to look at so you can make an informed decision about whether or not you want to trust them with your face.
We Would Love to Be Your Provider!
EVEXIAS Medical Center and Aesthetic Laser Specialists have years of experience providing aesthetic treatments designed to make you look and feel younger, including a variety of filler injections.
We have a highly experienced staff that will ensure that your treatments are administered correctly to give you a naturally beautiful look.
Our Preferred Fillers
Our preferred fillers are in the Juvederm family. Juvederm is a safe and effective injection-based filler used to soften deep folds and reduce skin wrinkles in the face.
Approved by the FDA in 2006, this non-surgical treatment takes roughly 10-15 minutes, with results occurring in just a few days. This treatment generally lasts 9-12 months before a follow-up treatment is required.
JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC
The first and only FDA approved injection that will instantly add volume to your cheeks. This helps to correct age-related volume loss. With optimal treatment, this non-surgical process can provide a subtle lift for up to two years. The solution contains lidocaine to help improve comfort during treatment.
JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC
This injectable gel is indicated for injection into the mid-to-deep dermis for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds).
JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC
This injectable is the first and only FDA-approved filler proven to increase lip fullness and smooth the appearance of vertical lip lines for up to 1 year.
The gel can be injected into the lips for lip augmentation and correction of perioral rhytids in adults over the age of 21.
- 80% of people treated experienced improved satisfaction with their lips one year later.
- 75% of people treated experienced enhanced satisfaction with their vertical lip lines one year later.
Get In Touch With Our Specialists Today!
When it comes to injectable fillers, you’ll want an experienced specialist on your side. At EVEXIAS Medical Denver, we have a whole team of specialists who have years of experience administering injectable fillers.
Not only that, but they stay up to date on the newest procedures and products on the market so that they can give you the best experience possible and help you meet your goals.
Schedule your consultation or learn more by giving us a call at (719) 625-8045!
Resources
- Image attribution
- americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org
- plasticsurgery.org
- health.harvard.edu
- verywellhealth.com