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