Fillers: Fact or Fiction

Posted February 13, 2018 in Fillers

As we age, our skin becomes more susceptible to wrinkles, fine lines, and laxity of the skin. Facial tissues start to break down after years of sun exposure and muscle movement. Luckily, there are treatments to reduce the signs of aging and keep us looking younger for longer.

One of these cosmetic treatments is fillers. Dermal fillers are facial injections applied to specific areas of the face that a patient may want to enhance. The injectables contain products, such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, and calcium hydroxyapatite. Various types of fillers are available, and each is designed for a specific purpose.

What Is Possible With Fillers?

Dermal fillers, or facial fillers, can treat a number of problems. They can correct fine lines and wrinkles, poor skin texture, and volume loss; they can also add volume to thin lips, enhance shallow contours, and improve the appearance of recessed scars.

Fillers only offer temporary results and cannot achieve the same results as a surgical facelift, brow lift, or eyelid lift. Depending on the desired results of the patient, surgical treatment may be a better approach.

What You Can Expect From Treatment

Treatments are performed in the office and last approximately 10 to 20 minutes. They consist of a series of tiny injections under the skin and require no downtime following treatment. However, it is recommended that the patient refrains from strenuous activity and excess sun exposure for 24 hours. Side effects from these treatments are typically mild swelling and bruising at the injection site. Other residual side effects subside within seven days. Due to their temporary nature, soft tissue filler treatments will need to be repeated every few months to one year, depending on individual results.

Did You Know…

• BOTOX® Cosmetic is not a filler but a purified toxin that relaxes facial muscles; instead, fillers fill in spaces, such as with wrinkles, fine lines, and shallow folds.
• Soft tissue injections are not considered painful. They are usually combined with lidocaine to minimize pain, or your doctor may apply a topical numbing ointment.
• There will not be any drastically noticeable physical changes that would bring unwanted attention to your skin. Rather, the changes are mild to moderate.
• Fillers are not permanent. If you are unhappy with the result, it will usually wear off in three months to one year.

For more information about dermal fillers or to schedule a consultation call (716) 631-1220.