Dermal Fillers: What You Need to Know Before Getting Started

Imagine walking into a vintage store and stumbling upon an old, but truly magnificent painting. You buy it, and you hang it up on your wall, appreciating its charm and character. But there’s just one problem – over the years, its vivacity has faded, and the colors aren’t as radiant as they perhaps once were. 

Now visualize this: a skilled restoration artist works their magic on the canvas, revamping it without damaging its authenticity. Suddenly, its original beauty reappears, enhanced rather than modified. This is what dermal fillers can achieve for your skin! Before you book that appointment for your ‘facial rejuvenation’, let’s dive deep into all that you need to know about dermal fillers!

 

What is Dermal Filler Treatment?

Dermal fillers have become increasingly popular in the beauty industry, thanks to their capacity to restore lost volume and improve facial contouring, providing a more youthful appearance. Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are injected beneath the skin’s surface and help diminish facial lines, wrinkles, and creases by adding volume.

Dermal filler treatment is performed in an outpatient setting and can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more depending on the total number of injections required. The process involves injecting the dermal filler into targeted areas below the skin’s surface using very fine needles. Before the treatment begins, a numbing cream may be applied to minimize any discomfort patients may experience during the injection.

 

The Purpose of Fillers

Dermal fillers’ primary goal is to replace lost volume due to aging. As we age, our faces begin to lose subcutaneous fat – leading to sunken temples, hollowed cheeks, and skeletal-like features. Other factors such as stress, sun damage, and lifestyle choices can also contribute to the thinning of facial skin, causing wrinkles and fine lines. Dermal fillers are used to combat these signs of aging.

 

The Effectiveness

Dermal fillers have been extensively researched and are proven to be effective in restoring volume and smoothing out wrinkles. They can significantly improve the appearance of the skin with comparatively minimal downtime or side effects.

One factor that contributes to their effectiveness is the wide range of options available, each designed with specific goals in mind. From reducing fine lines to plumping up lips, there’s a filler designed for every concern. This allows for a customized treatment plan tailored to each individual’s needs. Moreover, compared to surgical procedures, dermal fillers are quick and relatively easy. Most treatments can take as little as 30 minutes and require no downtime for recovery. This allows individuals to return to their daily routine almost immediately after receiving treatment.

 

Discussing Your Health with a Doctor

Before undergoing any medical treatment, it is imperative to have an in-depth discussion with your healthcare provider about your health history. This is especially true for dermal filler treatments, which involve injecting substances into your face. You must ensure that you are a suitable candidate for this procedure and that any underlying conditions or medications will not interfere with the treatment process.

Furthermore, it is essential to mention any allergies you may have to specific substances, including drugs and food items. Some dermal fillers are made from animal products like cow or chicken collagen, and if you are allergic to these substances, alternative fillers must be used. Additionally, there have been cases of people developing allergic reactions to certain fillers even though they didn’t experience any adverse reactions in previous sessions. Hence, it’s always best to discuss this concern with your doctor to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Lastly, make sure that you share details about any past cosmetic procedures that you have undergone. This information will help your doctor understand your skin’s sensitivity levels better and determine which type of filler will work best for your skin type.

 

Different Types of Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers come in different types and brands, with each having a unique composition and purpose. Hyaluronic acid, collagen, calcium hydroxylapatite, polycaprolactone, and polymethylmethacrylate beads are among the most commonly used dermal fillers.

Hyaluronic acid fillers 

Juvéderm and Restylane are the most popular dermal fillers. They contain hyaluronic acid, which the body naturally produces to preserve the skin’s hydration and elasticity. When injected into the skin, these fillers add volume to depleted areas of the face, smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines. Unlike other dermal fillers, they are reversible using an enzyme called hyaluronidase.

Collagen stimulators such as Sculptra Aesthetic contain poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) that stimulates collagen production to slowly add volume over time. This type of filler may produce results gradually within several months while also allowing for a natural-looking outcome that lasts up to two years.

 

Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA)

This is another dermal filler made of minuscule particles suspended in a gel-like formula that stimulates the production of collagen. This treatment aims to promote new cell growth around the broken particles. Although it is not reversible, it lasts longer than hyaluronic acid fillers and produces a subtle lifting effect.

 

Polycaprolactone (PCL)

This is yet another novel biomaterial that stimulates collagen synthesis, offering prolonged effects lasting for several years while promoting tissue regeneration and restoration.

 

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads 

These are tiny microspheres added in a gel-like solution specifically for deep folds on facial impressions like nasolabial lines. These beads remain under your skin permanently because they do not dissolve over time.

Patients seeking dermal filler treatment have different goals, skin types, and individual needs. Therefore, it’s important to discuss all of the options with the treating physician to find the best solution tailored to meet individual goals. Suppose, for instance, one wants to add volume; a hyaluronic acid filler like Juvéderm may be the ideal choice. Understanding each type of filler helps identify which one is right for you. But beyond the composition of these dermal fillers lies the awareness of their effectiveness regarding wrinkle reduction and improvements in cheek and lip fullness, which goes hand in hand with choosing the correct type of filler.

Potential Risks and Side Effects of Dermal Fillers

While dermal fillers are considered a relatively safe treatment, there are still potential risks and side effects that patients should be aware of before undergoing the procedure. Understanding these risks can help you make an informed decision about whether to get dermal fillers or not.

Some common side effects of dermal fillers include bruising, redness, mild bleeding, discomfort, and swelling. These symptoms usually disappear within a few days to a week after the treatment. However, more serious adverse reactions are also possible. For example, some patients may experience an allergic reaction to the filler material used during the treatment. This reaction can occur immediately or several weeks after the injection.

In rare cases, severe side effects such as blindness and tissue necrosis have been reported. Blindness happens when a filler is accidentally injected into one of the blood vessels around the eye, which can occlude it, leading to a lack of blood flow to the eye. If this happens, immediate medical attention is required in order to avoid irreversible vision loss.

Tissue necrosis, on the other hand, means that the filler has obstructed circulation and caused tissue death in areas close to where it has been injected. This risk is higher for patients who have vascular compromise because of underlying medical conditions such as scarring from previous surgeries or tears in small blood vessels under the skin.

Comparatively, dermal fillers are like a tattoo that fades away. While the effects may last for several months or even a year, eventually your body will absorb the filler material, necessitating another injection to maintain the appearance.

While there are potential risks and side effects associated with dermal fillers, these issues are rare when administered by a qualified and experienced provider in a medical office setting. Before scheduling a consultation with a licensed doctor who is experienced with injectable treatments, make sure to review before-and-after photos of previous patients and discuss potential concerns about side effects during the consultation. By preparing properly for your treatment and selecting an appropriate provider, you can achieve the desired results safely and effectively.

 

Get Your Dermal Fillers in Royal Palm Beach, FL

Are you tired of looking in the mirror and seeing fine lines and wrinkles? Look no further! At Galiderm Aesthetics, we provide the best dermal filler treatment in Royal Palm Beach, FL, for your dermal filler needs. Our highly skilled professionals are here to help you achieve a youthful and rejuvenated appearance. 

Imagine the confidence you’ll feel when your skin looks smoother and more youthful. Our dermal fillers are a safe and effective way to achieve the results you desire. 

Don’t wait any longer, book your appointment today and start your journey towards a more vibrant and youthful you!