Dermal fillers (or facial fillers) are a safe, nonsurgical way to add volume to highly targeted areas of the face, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin and creating a healthy youthful appearance. They can also be used to plump thin lips and reduce the appearance of dark under eye circles.
Dermal fillers are commonly used in conjunction with Botox so that both “static” and “dynamic” lines can be addressed.
Dermal Fillers | All You Need to Know
The most common types of fillers are Restylane, Belotero, Versa, and Juvéderm. These contain hyaluronic acid, which restores plumpness and hydration to the skin.
These fillers are gel based so after injection, they can be easily smoothed and distributed across the treated area. The result is volumized, smooth, and healthy skin that has a youthful appearance.
Facial fillers can be used for wrinkles and fine lines, sunken cheeks, saggy skin, hollow under eyes, and dark circles. They are also highly effective at minimizing deep scars and neck folds (tech-neck).
What to Expect During a Session
Based on your desired results, your skincare expert will select the best filler for your needs and determine the appropriate amount to use and the specific injection sites.
The area to be treated may then be numbed with a mild local anesthetic, a topical numbing cream, or an ice pack to reduce any discomfort.
Next, small amounts of the filler will be injected into the skin with a thin needle. The hyaluronic acid in this filler will attract and retain water molecules, thus hydrating and further plumping the area. Thanks to the gel consistency of the filler, the skin becomes smooth, and the wrinkles either appear diminished or disappear completely.
The procedure may last between 20–30 minutes or more depending on the size of the area being treated the amount of filler being used.
How to Prepare
Dermal filler injections are safe, comfortable, and painless. Temporary, local redness or swelling may appear but will subside within a few days.
Some things to keep in mind before getting dermal fillers:
Ideally, patients should not drink alcohol for 24 hours before the treatment to reduce chances of any minor bruising.
Avoid overexposure to the sun.
For some patients, we may suggest that you avoid blood thinners such as aspirin, Ibuprofen and Vitamin E, as well as certain food supplements such as fish oil, liquorice, garlic, ginger, ginkgo and green tea for a week before and after treatment.
Is There Downtime?
There is no downtime after a dermal filler injection treatment. However, patients may notice a bit of swelling and redness following the treatment which will subside over the next several days. We recommend post treatment that you also avoid drinking alcohol and limit your exposure to extreme heat or cold until the swelling goes down. We may recommend a cold pack for some patients.
In individual cases, slight bruising may appear at the injection site, especially if the skin is particularly tender and thin. This will dissipate within a few days and can be concealed with makeup in the meantime.
What Results Can I Expect?
You can expect to see results immediately after the session as the skin instantly appears plump and smooth. However, it usually takes several days for hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers to fully activate. The best results are visible after swelling has subsided and puncture marks have healed.
Each individual will have a unique response to the procedure and results can vary from person to person. Full activation and final results should be seen within two weeks. For deep burrowing wrinkles, thick folds, and deep scars, follow up injections may be needed to achieve desired results.
Dermal fillers typically last from between nine and twelve months, depending on the treated area and the product used. However, note that genetics, age, and lifestyle choices may affect how long the results last.
Filler Overview:
- Smooths fine to moderate lines and wrinkles
- Addresses "static" lines and wrinkles
- Instant results
- Can be used to reduce scaring
- Adds volume and plumpness in as specific an area as needed
- Works in conjunction with Botox or other neurotoxin injections for full anti-aging strategies
- Can be used in very subtle ways
How Are Dermal Fillers Used?
Anti-Aging
Anti-aging treatments aim to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots on aging skin. The procedures boost the collagen and elastin in the dermis and improve the skin’s volume, hydration, and radiance.
Facial Volume Loss
As the skin of the face ages, it may become thin, droopy, and discolored. A reduction of fatty tissue leads to sagginess in the brows, cheeks, and forehead areas. Dermal fillers can replace this lost fat plumping the face back up and lifting and smoothing droopy areas.
Fuller Lips
Whether you’re looking to restore lips that have lost volume over time, or you’d just like to plump up your natural pout, injections of dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm and Restylane can add volume and make the lips look fuller.
Cheek Enhancement
Dermal fillers can also be used to restore the natural contours of cheeks which have sunken or lost volume. Adding volume to the cheeks can dramatically decrease the nasolabial folds, lifting and brightening the whole face for a much more youthful appearance.
Chin Augmentation
Fillers can also be used to reshape and aesthetically improve a pointy, weak, or double chin and can be used to add volume to certain areas of the jawline thus improving its shape and making it look more balanced and proportionate to other facial features.
Smile Lines
Facial expressions are responsible for the first fine wrinkles on the face, such as smile lines. With time, they become deeper and more pronounced. Facial fillers can correct deep laugh lines, restoring a youthful look to the mouth and the eyes.
Nasolabial Folds
Nasolabial folds are two skin folds that stretch from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. They appear on anyone while we are smiling or making other facial expressions, but over time they can become deeply etched into the skin even when our face is at rest. Juvaderm or Restylane injections into this area can reduce or erase these lines when the face is at rest.
Lip Wrinkles
Lip wrinkles can refer to smile lines around the corners of the mouth or to smoking lines around it. Dermal fillers and neurotoxins (i.e. Botox) can be used to reduce these lines.
