Dermal Fillers: Learn How Dermal Fillers Work
Chances are you have a basic understanding of what dermal fillers are and what they do, but you may still have questions about how they work, how long they last, and when you should use them.
What Dermal Fillers Fix
Fillers can be used to fix a variety of concerns related to facial aging, including:
- Smoothing out deep creases from the nose to the mouth often called laugh lines or parentheses,
- Plumping thin lips and smoothing vertical lines around the edges of the lips,
- Enhancing the fullness of cheeks,
- Filling out hollows under the eye area, and
- Evening out scars,
How Dermal Fillers Work
Dermal fillers are directly injected into skin with the purpose of plumping that area to the point where the wrinkle, depression, or fold is gone. Depending on the type of filler, the effects can last anywhere from six months to two years.
Risks from Dermal Fillers
After all is said and done, the major issue for fillers is one of longevity, followed by risk of migration and lumping, and ultimately the skill of the doctor in placing the right amount of filler in exactly the right place. There is a learning curve to injection techniques. That means you need to find a doctor who has been injecting them for some time, and who has loads of experience, preferably with more than one type of filler.
Is there a Best Dermal Filler?
Despite what you might have read or heard, there really isn’t a best dermal filler; all of them have risks. Which filler substance is considered “best” or “preferred” depends on the doctor’s technique, skill, experience, training, your facial needs, and risk tolerance. It has nothing to do with headlines in the media or articles in fashion magazines.
It’s important to realize that over the past 20 years many of these products that were once showcased in fashion magazines or touted by doctors have since been discontinued for a variety of reasons. Getting headlines doesn’t always make for beautiful results!
When to Get Dermal Fillers
There are many reasons to consider a filler to correct signs of aging that are beyond what skincare products can do. It’s not that great skincare can’t make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin, but age, muscle movement, fat loss, gravity, and sun damage among other factors will eventually take their toll. Without question, fillers can help improve the appearance of deep lines and give skin a more supple, youthful appearance in ways that skincare simply cannot.
If you’re considering a filler, the next step is to consult with your dermatologist to figure out which type is right for you.
As with any cosmetic corrective procedure, you still need to use well-formulated skincare products and sun protection (even when it’s cloudy) as part of the anti-aging package that will keep your skin looking younger and healthier for a very long time!
