Dermal fillers are injectable substances that improve or increase the volume of specific areas of the face. Common applications include: increasing lip volume, filling in skin creases and wrinkles, and increasing volume in the cheeks or chin. There are several different types of dermal fillers.
The desired effect? Smooth, wrinkle-free skin that lasts as long as the filler is in your system.
Common dermal fillers include Rofilan®, Artesense®, Juvederm®, and Restylane®.
It is also possible to use the patient’s own fat as a dermal filler. Fat is extracted, processed and then injected into the desired areas. The main advantages of this method are that there is no possibility of rejection and the effects can be longer lasting. The fat can also be enriched with the patient's stem cells to achieve a more permanent result and improve the quality of facial tissue and skin hydration.
Dermal fillers are a simple procedure that can be completed in approximately 1 hour in the doctor’s office. Patients can return to normal daily activities immediately after the procedure.
Who is a candidate?
Candidates for dermal fillers are physically healthy, do not smoke and do not require more extensive surgery. They should be realistic about the range of cosmetic outcomes that are possible through use of dermal fillers.
Who is not a candidate?
For severe wrinkling, surgical procedures may be more appropriate, such as a facelift, forehead lift and eyelid surgery.
Preparation
No real preparation is needed for dermal fillers, since it is a fairly simple procedure. That being said, certain things will increase the likelihood of great results and minimize the risk of bruising. One of the best things to do is to avoid any anti-inflammatory pain relievers. These include: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Advil, Motrin and most over-the-counter pain medications. If you take any other medications that thin your blood, these may contribute to greater likelihood of bruising. Smoking will also increase your chances of bruising.
Recovery
Side effects are extremely rare. However, the the most common is a headache that usually resolves in 12 hours and responds to any pain reliever. Otherwise, patients may experience redness or small amounts of bruising at the injection sites. For some, “overfilling” may occur at the injection site on the day of the procedure, but this swelling recedes soon after the procedure. Any redness and bruising usually resolve in less than 24 hours.
Risks
Depending on the type of filler material used to smooth and plump a given area, there are different possible side effects associated. In terms of overall health, complications are largely only limited to irregularities in cosmetic outcome. Acne-like skin eruptions, asymmetry in the application, possible scarring, lumps, skin rash, and skin redness are all possible risks one may encounter. There is also a small chance of infection at the injection site, as with other open wound medical procedures.
Average US cost