These days, it seems everywhere you look people are smoothing out wrinkles and crow’s feet after visiting a plastic surgeon. They’re plumping up their lips, enhancing their cheeks and getting smaller waistlines too.
You’ve heard a lot about Botox, but it’s not the only popular treatment for smoothing out lines in the face and anti-aging. The other popular treatment turning back the clock is injecting dermal fillers into various parts of the face.
How Dermal Fillers Work
Injectable dermal fillers create a more youthful appearance by filling in wrinkles and making the skin look smoother. The various fillers on the market are made out of:
- Purified human or cow collagen,
- Calcium hydroxyapatite, which is a mineral and a component found in bone,
- Hyaluronic acid gel, which is produced naturally by the human body, and
- Poly-L-lactic acid or PLLA, which is a biodegradable and biocompatible material that is synthetic in nature.
The above materials are used to treat moderate to severe wrinkles in the face. They’re also used to treat skin folds, such as marionette or smile lines, and to augment the lips or cheeks. The majority of the FDA-approved dermal fillers on the market provide temporary results that last around six or more months.
“Why are injectable dermal fillers temporary?” It’s because over time, they are broken down by natural processes in the body. If you are considering dermal fillers, please be aware that not all products are FDA-approved. To learn about the FDA-approved dermal fillers, click here.
Some of the FDA-approved dermal fillers, include:
- Restylane
- Radiesse
- Juvéderm
- Arterfill
- Juvéderm Voluma XC
- Juvéderm Volbella
- Sculptra Aesthetic
The most common side effects associated with FDA-approved dermal fillers include: pain, itching, swelling, redness, and bruising. Rarely, if the filler is injected into an artery, this may cause complications such as tissue loss or even blindness. It is very important to make sure that the treatment is performed by a well qualified professional who is able to recognize and treat any potential complications.
While the FDA has approved dermal fillers to smooth out lines in the face and enhance the lips and cheeks, it has not approved injectable dermal fillers for larger parts of the body; for example, it has not approved them to enhance the buttocks or the breasts. Injectable dermal fillers are not FDA-approved for large-scale body contouring. However, sometimes injecting other areas of the body may provide a benefit and is performed by highly skilled injectors.
Contact our office todayto schedule a consultation with our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Yuly Gorodisky.