How Effective Are Dermal Fillers?

How Effective Are Dermal Fillers?

Dec 01, 2019

Often, after a dental procedure or surgery, you may end up with folds and wrinkles or lines that affect your appearance. Moreover, as we age, we lose volume in the skin, fat, and face muscles that cause wrinkles to form. Our skin also loses elasticity causing it to sag. If this happens, dermal fillers may help smoothen, replenish, and restore a youthful appearance.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers, a soft gel, are substances that are injected under your skin to smoothen, thicken the lips and lift the cheekbones.

We recommend dermal fillers for patients who have marionette, forehead, frown, or laugh lines, crow’s feet, folds, compression or atrophic wrinkles, and elastic creases among others.

Botox Vs. Dermal Fillers

Although they are both non-surgical procedures, Botox and dermal fillers are different. Botox is made from purified bacteria that works by blocking nerve signals or freezing muscles. This restricts movement on selected muscles in the face and improves wrinkles.

Botox works only on wrinkles caused by muscle movement and it’s not permanent as it lasts for three to four months. Side effects of Botox include drooping eyelids, weakness of surrounding muscles, headaches, dry mouth, nausea, and flu-like symptoms.

Because Botox and dermal fillers address different skin problems, the doctor or plastic surgeon can combine both to enhance the results.

Types of Dermal Fillers

We provide different types of dermal fillers;

  • Hyaluronic Acid fillers

Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring substance found in our body and it helps to hydrate the skin. HA fillers, once injected can last for more than six months depending on the chemical used.

Since it occurs naturally, HA can stimulate the body’s production of collagen which helps reduce lines and wrinkles.

On the downside, HA dermal fillers can cause redness, swelling, and bruising. The fillers may also be visible as tiny bumps, but this improves with time.

Other natural fillers include Calcium Hydroxyapatite (found in the human bones) and Poly-L-Lactic acid helps in collagen production.

  • Synthetic fillers

Synthetic dermal fillers are lab-made substances that are not necessarily found in the skin. Synthetic fillers are long-lasting, but they all have similar side effects, which include swelling, redness, and bumps under the skin.

Furthermore, if not used correctly they could cause skin disfigurement.

  • Collagen dermal fillers

Collagen can be natural (extracted from animals) or synthetic. Surprisingly, synthetic collagen is safer and are suitable for most people than the natural one. Collagen from animal sources can cause an allergic reaction.

Collagen fillers have a natural look, but on the downside, they are not as long-lasting as the other dermal fillers.

  • Autologous wrinkles

These fillers are made of fat extracted from another body part such as stomach, thighs, and buttocks.

The results of these fillers are semi-permanent although they will need a series of injections over time.

How to Minimize dermal fillers risks

  • Don’t let price be a consideration. Dermal fillers are expensive, which makes people turn to the black market or online stores to save the cost. If the dermal filler costs far less than the standard treatments, they have likely been compromised in quality. When injected, these substances can cause allergic reactions, infection, and death of skin cells. FDA has warned consumers not to buy dermal fillers from online stores or the black market as they are either contaminated, fake, or harmful.
  • All dermal fillers should be done by a licensed specialist. So, come to our dental clinic as we are certified to offer dermal fillers in Clearwater. We inject the fillers in a sterile medical environment and instruments. Treatments are done at home, in spas or hotels could be harmful regardless of who is performing them.
  • Use sunscreen to protect the fillers against post-inflammation pigment

Dermal fillers are safe if performed by a board-certified dermatologist or surgeon. If administered incorrectly, you risk damage, infection, and tissue scarring.

Schedule an Appointment

If you like to learn more about dermal fillers, schedule an appointment with our doctors. We will be happy to answer all your questions and guide you in choosing the right dermal filler.

We care about your smile and it's looks. We are located just a little away from you and providing general, family & cosmetic dentistry appointments surrounding the area of Clearwater:

Font Resize
Contrast
Click to listen highlighted text!