Dermal Fillers Explained
by Health Blogger Lisa Smith
As we age it’s no secret that our skin loses its youthfulness. While creams, lotions and potions can make a small change to our appearance on the surface, sometimes we need to go deeper to really bring back our youthful vibrance.
We’ve all heard about dermal fillers – it’s hard not to when reading celebrity gossip magazines – but not everyone knows exactly what they are and how they can make you look your best.
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are used to make the skin look more youthful. Typically used to fill in wrinkles, dermal fillers can also be used to reshape the face or emphasise a particular area. Popular areas to use dermal fillers include the chin, lips, around the eyes and around the mouth. They can also help to plump out aging hands and fill in acne scars.
Injected into the upper layers of your skin, dermal fillers are made from a hyaluronic acid base gel, which can fill in depressions such as wrinkles and scars. Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the body and as such, it is broken down by the body slowly over time.
Types of Dermal Fillers
There are several types of dermal fillers and more are constantly being developed. To break them up into two categories there are permanent and non-permanent dermal fillers.
Within those two categories there are numerous different products from a range of brands, but which all largely do the same thing. Some of the types of dermal fillers you may have heard of include Juvederm, collagen and Sculptra.
How long dermal fillers last depends a lot on you as a patient as well as a variety of other factors. As everybody is different, the time it takes for your body to break down the dermal filler will vary, and where you have the treatment will also affect the time. But as a general idea, non-permanent dermal fillers typically last six to 24 months while permanent fillers can last up to 10 years.
It is important to note that permanent fillers can not be corrected, so these are a less popular option as your face shape can change a lot over 10 years.
How do they work?
Before getting any type of dermal filler you will have a consultation with a doctor or nurse that specialises in dermal fillers. They will ask you about your background and medical history before developing the best treatment plan for your skin. They might decide that the effect you are after needs a combination of treatments, including dermal fillers. This is all discussed at the consultation.
When you arrive at your dermal filler appointment, your doctor or nurse will draw out the area or areas where the dermal filler needs to be injected. Most dermal filler products also contain local anaesthetic, to make the injection much more comfortable.
The treatment takes between 20-30 minutes per session and the effects are seen instantly.
Benefits of Dermal Fillers
Compared to other types of wrinkle correction methods, dermal fillers are much more accurate. They can allow for much more precise treatments and also effectively work on medium to deep wrinkles and are a good choice for people with deep facial scars.
There is no risk of losing the ability to contract your facial muscles, unlike options such as Botox, and they are a very reliable form of wrinkle treatment. They are also body-friendly in that they are made from ingredients that your body already produces, meaning there is much less chance of an adverse reaction.
Many people choose to use dermal fillers instead of having rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty is a very invasive procedure and can carry a range of risks. Dermal fillers can effectively reshape the nose – as well as other parts of the face – in a less risky and invasive manner.
Dermal fillers are also a good alternative to a facelift, which can often result in the face looking stretched and unnatural. Fillers create a youthful look without making huge changes to your natural look.
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