How Safe are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are FDA-approved and a popular treatment option for achieving plump, young, and smooth skin in the face, cheeks, lips, and even the back of your hands, but, before you commit to your first session, you might be thinking, “How safe are dermal fillers?”
As we age, our bodies discontinue generating collagen and elastin, our face tissues weaken, and lines around the nose and mouth appear. The center of our faces also shifts down, causing our cheeks to sag somewhat.
If you are unhappy with any of these signs of aging, dermal fillers can help to diminish them. These injectable therapies are simple to obtain, long-lasting, and tailored for discretion, with little to no downtime.
However, if you are considering getting them or have heard about them and want to learn more, it is critical to understand the process, how safe are dermal fillers, and any potential risks you may face.
Read on to learn about exactly how safe are dermal fillers.
What are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers, also known as facial fillers, are tiny injections of gel, generally composed of hyaluronic acid, that fill in wrinkles, restore lost volume, smooth lines, and soften creases, or improve facial weight features.
Dermal fillers can be used in various areas of the face, including the eyelids, cheeks, lips, jawline, and lip fillers injected directly into the lip tissue.
They are injected underneath your skin with a needle, as the names imply.
Every year, over 1 million men and women choose this popular facial rejuvenation therapy, which may be a cost-effective method to appear younger without surgery or downtime.
How Will Dermal Fillers Improve My Appearance?
While dermal fillers are commonly referred to as “wrinkle fillers,” they are capable of much more than just smoothing out wrinkles, though they are good at this as well!
Here are a few of the most frequent concerns that dermal fillers can help with:
➣ Lines around the nose and lips should be smoothed out (a.k.a. marionette lines, smile lines, and parentheses)
➣ Increase the fullness of depressed cheeks or temples.
➣ Reduce the appearance of vertical lip lines.
➣ Lip plumping and enhancement
➣ Remove a chin crease
➣Improve the symmetry of facial characteristics.
What are Fillers Made With?
Fillers are classified into different types, according to the FDA. Each is called for the substance from which it is made:
Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) Calcium hydroxylapatite is a naturally occurring material that is mostly present in human bones. Calcium particles are virtually tiny and suspended in a smooth gel when used as a filler.
A CaHA filler has a thicker consistency than a hyaluronic acid filler and usually lasts longer, around 12 months for most patients. Calcium hydroxylapatite, which is generally utilized for deeper lines and wrinkles, is also suggested to assist increase natural collagen synthesis.
Poly-L-lactic Acid Poly-L-lactic acid is a synthetic material that is biocompatible (meaning it is safe to use in the body). It is also biodegradable. For many years, it has been utilized in medical equipment such as dissolvable sutures.
Poly-L-lactic acid products are officially classed as “collagen stimulators,” because their primary method for smoothing small wrinkles is to assist your skin in rebuilding natural collagen—the filler gel itself fades a few days after treatment.
Poly-L-lactic acid is generally used to repair deeper face creases, with effects lasting up to two years.
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is a biocompatible synthetic material that has been utilized in medicine for the majority of the last century. PMMA is used in dermal fillers in the form of a “microsphere” or small ball that stays underneath the skin eternally to give support.
Collagen, a naturally occurring protein in the skin that gives structure and stiffness, will also be present in PMMA fillers.
Autologous fat injections (facial fat grafting) The only injectable filler therapy that needs surgery is autologous fat injections, although the results can persist for years. Liposuction is often used to extract your fat from another region (autologous meaning “from the same person”).
Following that, the fat is cleaned and injected into the face to help restore volume to the cheeks, temples, lower eyelids, and other regions.
Hyaluronic Acid One of the most prevalent forms of fillers is hyaluronic acid, which you may know as a frequent component in certain cosmetic products. It is generated naturally by your body and is already present in your skin and cartilage.
Hyaluronic acid may make your face seem plumper and moisturized since it helps skin retain moisture. It is also used as a moisturizer in lotions, but no cream can replace lost volume—only injectable hyaluronic acid can accomplish that.
Hyaluronic face fillers assist to retain the form, smooth out skin depressions, and improve skin elasticity. Fillers composed of hyaluronic acid typically last 6-12 months.
FDA approved Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers include:
- Radiesse
- Juvéderm
- RHA
- Restylane
- Revanesse
Juvéderm, RHA (together with Xeomin), and Radiesse are three well-known name brand hyaluronic fillers that Skin Theory Aesthetic uses.
Radiesse Dermal Filler: Radiesse can help you regain your young appearance and restore your natural collagen by restoring lost volume.
For the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles and folds, a synthetic dermal filler composed of calcium hydroxyapatite is used.
Radiesse can assist to regenerate new skin under the surface, restoring fullness and a young appearance without the need for invasive surgery.
Because the body produces collagen around the microspheres, adding weight to the injected areas, this injectable is a longer-lasting filler. Radiesse Plus and Belotero Balance are two more Radiesse variants.
Juvéderm Dermal Filler: It is a hyaluronic acid-based injectable gel that is soft but durable. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring component in the skin that aids in the addition of moisture and volume.
Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra Plus are two other Juvederm variants. The distinctions between these changes are minor, but their features provide varying degrees of influence.
RHA: Dermal filler based on Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA®): These fillers are more flexible than conventional fillers and may shape and flex in response to our expressions.
This means that RHA® fillers will produce the most natural-looking outcomes.
RHA® fillers are classified into three types: RHA®2, RHA®3, and RHA®4. Depending on how deep the injection must be put into the face, each filler may cure different types of wrinkles.
Restylane Dermal Filler: A non-animal, biodegradable hyaluronic acid filler gel authorized by the FDA for cosmetic injection into subdermal face tissues.
Skin becomes more prone to wrinkles and sagging as it ages. Sun exposure and years of muscle activity (squinting, chewing, smiling) lead to tissue breakdown and loss of volume in the skin.
Restylane is a soft tissue filler that adds volume to the skin through small injections while smoothing facial creases and creases around the lips and eyes.
Revanesse Dermal Filler: Revanesse Dermal Filler is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler that may treat moderate to severe facial creases and folds, including nasolabial folds.
How Do I Decide Which Dermal Filler To Use?
A qualified medical professional, after analyzing your unique facial structure, and listening to your concerns will explain the best treatment option for you. If this does not happen; if no consultation is provided to allow a professional to uniquely recommend the best treatment for you specifically, then our suggestion is to seek another medical spa option.
What works well for one person can be disastrous for another, or have no visible results at all. And keep in mind that the most natural-looking results for you may necessitate the use of more than one type of filler.
Within each category, there are many various brands of fillers, and the products differ in how they should be used (for example, filling out cheeks) and the concentration of the active component.
For example, Restylane, one kind of hyaluronic filler, contains five distinct lines, each of which is utilized for a distinct purpose. Restylane Lyft has bigger particle sizes—imagine them as foundation blocks.
Larger particles weigh to “rebuild” thinning cheekbones, whereas smaller particles, such as those found in Restylane Silk, are ideal for treating fine lines and plumping lips.
Further, if the claims appear to be too true to be believed, they probably are. Beware of false claims and fake injectables.
What To Expect During Treatment?
Dermal filler injections are non-surgical procedures that are generally performed during an office visit. The first step in your treatment will be a consultation with your cosmetic surgeon to discuss your problems and goals.
STEP #1 Consultation Before Treatment
Your cosmetic practitioner will assess your areas of concern and discuss your medical history during your appointment.
While the dangers of dermal fillers are low, you must completely reveal your medical history before treatment since certain allergies, skin and neurological disorders, or medicines might compromise your safety or outcomes.
For example, if you have been using NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) or blood thinners, you must inform your aesthetician, as they increase the probability of bruising.
STEP #2 Your Injectable Filler Treatment
The region will be cleansed just before the treatment, and you may be given a topical anesthetic to numb the region before injection. Many filler products also contain lidocaine, a mild anesthetic that is meant to reduce discomfort during and after your procedure.
Your aesthetician will next carefully inject a specific quantity of filler underneath the skin.
You should be able to see effects quickly following filler injections, depending on the product and the regions treated. Mild bruising and swelling may occur in some individuals, but they are transient and should go away after a few days after treatment.
You will be able to resume your usual activities immediately following treatment, although your aesthetician may request that you refrain from exercising or engaging in vigorous activity for the day.
How Safe Are Dermal Fillers?
Yes, in general, fillers are completely safe, and FDA-approved fillers are natural chemicals that are already present in your body. Severe problems from dermal fillers are uncommon among recipients.
However, like with any medical treatment, there is a danger of infection, discoloration, and tumors if injections are not administered appropriately.
Clients frequently mix side effects with responses, so it is critical to understand what side effects to expect. The following are the most prevalent issues:
- Skin rashes
- Itching
- Pimple-like eruptions redness
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Swelling/Unappealing look
If you are suffering any adverse effects of dermal filler treatment, cooling or massage might provide quick relief.
The good news is that Hyaluronidase can dissolve hyaluronic acid-based filler if you do not like the way it looks. That is, they may be removed if necessary, providing you with peace of mind.
Remember to avoid dermal fillers from the black market> Because dermal fillers may be costly, many people have turned to the Internet black market for a do-it-yourself solution.
While saving money may appear to be a big benefit at first, some amazing risks and issues may arise from self-injecting fillers or having non-medical-grade fake injectables used, or non-certified professionals providing injections.
The FDA has issued an official caution to customers, advising them to “never buy dermal fillers on the internet.” They might be counterfeit, polluted, or harmful.” Furthermore, fillers purchased online may contain a range of non-sterile ingredients, such as hair gel.
When these chemicals are injected, they can induce allergic responses, infections, and the loss of normal healthy skin cells. Incorrect injection methods can cause edema, lumpiness, and embolism, which can lead to blindness.
Is Dermal Filler Treatment Painful?
While the filler is being injected into the face, there may be some pain. However, we can reduce this by administering an anesthetic cream before treatment.
To give additional relief and to reduce as much discomfort as possible, our fillers contain a pre-mixed local anesthetic.
Skin Theory Aesthetic Is The Place To Go For Safe Dermal Filler Treatment
Dermal fillers, which give volume and plumpness to the skin, are a safe and efficient therapy for mild-to-moderate face wrinkles and scars. The majority of adverse effects are minor and self-limiting, while more significant adverse effects are uncommon.
This non-surgical filler therapy, however, is still a medical technique that needs special training, expertise, and the ability to assure safe treatment and natural-looking outcomes.
And choosing the proper professional to conduct your dermal filler injections is critical if you want to utilize the product for a long time without experiencing any side effects.
If you are ready to learn more about your choices, the next step is to schedule a consultation at Skin Theory Aesthetic.
We have a comprehensive understanding of facial anatomy, a sharp aesthetic sense, and the expertise and accuracy of an experienced practitioner.
At Skin Theory Aesthetic, safety is always a major priority. Our highly educated and experienced staff safely produce attractive and natural-looking outcomes as evidenced by our happy clients and stellar five-star reviews.
To book a consultation, please contact us at 951-735-5570.
