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What are dermal fillers and how do they work

Dermal fillers, also known as face and lip fillers, are injectable gels most of which contain hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring hydrating substance. They are injected into the face in order to increase volume in the desired area. Read below to answer your questions like what is HA filler and how the dermal filler works

What are dermal fillers? 

Dermal fillers are popular non-surgical treatments that can help you look younger and more natural. They are used to fill in wrinkles, address dark circles, and contour lips while adding volume to the soft tissue of the face in places like the cheek, mouth, chin, around the eye, and jawline. Dermal fillers made from calcium hydroxylapatite, polylactic acid, or hyaluronic acid are the most common.

What is hyaluronic acid and how does it work? 

Hyaluronic acid, a sugar molecule found naturally in the skin, aids in the binding of water to collagen and traps it there, making the skin appear plumper, dewier, and more hydrated. But how does filler work on your face? Basically, hyaluronic acid makes the skin more moisturized, which can help you maintain a youthful, plump appearance. In order to give skin its plumpness, natural hyaluronic acid is bonded to water molecules on one side and connected to collagen on the other. 

Because hyaluronic acid and collagen are naturally lost as we get older, the skin is more susceptible to dehydration. In addition, adverse weather, sun exposure, heaters used in the winter, heredity, and lifestyle might also affect the facial skin. It can therefore be necessary to develop a customized skin-care regimen that contains hydrating products including dermal fillers.

How long do hyaluronic acid fillers last?

Depending on the patient's characteristics, lifestyle, and the areas treated, the results will differ. Dermal fillers can last between six months and two years, depending on the product. With touch-ups in between, they may last even longer.

Why are dermal fillers used?

Dermal fillers are used for cosmetic purposes to add volume and fullness to a patient’s skin. With dermal fillers you can:

  • Enhance the contours of the lips
  • Eliminate wrinkles and folds in different areas, including the face, neck, and décolleté
  • Improve the appearance of the scars
  • Decrease or remove the dark circles under the eyes
  • Restore the youth to the hands

Types of fillers

Cheek fillers

What are cheek fillers and who is the perfect candidate for them? Cheek fillers are indicated for patients whose cheeks have lost volume as a result of the natural aging process. They are also used for giving the cheekbone area a more contoured appearance for younger patients.

Cheek fillers can offer structure and support to enhance the cheekbones as well as lifted structure to reduce sagging. Hyaluronic acid fillers are the most frequently used fillers for cheek augmentation. The cheeks are instantly lifted and inflated for the ideal contour.

Face fillers

Dermal fillers can be injected into the face and hands to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles and volume loss brought on by aging or specific medical conditions. A single treatment produces immediate results that can last for 6 to 12 months. Dermal fillers allow you to control your appearance subtly as your face changes over time.

Dermal filler injections can produce a natural-looking result with no impact on facial expression. Facial fillers are great for smoothing out lines around the nose, mouth, and eyes (marionette lines, vertical lip lines, and crow’s feet). 

Lip fillers

In order to make your lips fuller and/or to address lip asymmetries, lip augmentation is a cosmetic treatment that involves injecting filler, typically one that is hyaluronic acid-based. Usually, the effects last for 6 to 9 months. To maintain the volume of your lips after that, additional injections are required. Some of the products contain local anesthetic, which significantly increases patient comfort during treatment.


Are cosmetic dermal fillers safe?

When used by qualified and authorized specialists, facial fillers are safe. Unsterile needles or improper technique might result in serious problems like infection, nodule formation, or blood vessel damage.

Mild side effects like swelling, redness, bruising, or discomfort are commonly occurring. These adverse effects typically pass quickly and disappear within a few days.

If you are allergic to something, pregnant, or nursing, using a dermal filler is not advised. Before having the treatment, you should discuss any further risks with your dermatologist.

Dermal fillers before and after the procedure

Injectable fillers can often soften facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face without surgery. Injection treatment with fillers may be ideal for you if you want to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles or enhance facial contours.

FAQ

How long does it take for filler to work?

The effects of dermal fillers are immediate, so you can see them right away. However, it might take up to 4 weeks for the filler to completely integrate into the tissue.

What happens to filler over time?

In most cases, the skin recovers and restores its natural shape as the filler wears off. The skin might actually look better in some cases than it did before treatment. Some dermal fillers help the body produce more collagen, which will enhance your appearance long after the filler breaks down.

Where can you put filler in your face?

You can apply dermal fillers to different areas of the face (cheeks, lips, areas around the eyes, mouth, and nose), neck, décolleté, and hands. It should be noted that dermal fillers should be administered by a board-certified medical practitioner. The results and safety of the procedure depend on the experience and technique of the doctor. 

How are fillers injected?

Your doctor or other healthcare professional may clean your skin and then apply an anesthetic-containing lotion or cream. Then the doctor injects tiny amounts of fillers under your skin using a fine needle. The fillers may be injected in several areas during the same treatment session.