Fillers

Injectable dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are injected underneath your skin to change its appearance. They’re a popular and minimally invasive treatment for wrinkles.

According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, over 1 million people get injectable dermal fillers every year.

As you age, skin that sags or wrinkles can be caused by loss of fat and proteins in the skin layer. Injectables can’t permanently replace lost fat and proteins, but they can mimic your skin’s original structure.

Unlike Botox treatments, which relax your muscles to minimize the appearance of wrinkles, dermal fillers are known for plumping up, adding volume or fullness, and smoothing your skin.

There are several categories of wrinkle fillers, and each works in a slightly different way.

Hyaluronic acid is already naturally produced by your skin. You may recognize the ingredient from cosmetics that claim to plump and hydrate your skin.

Hyaluronic acid fillers are gel-like, and results can last 6 to 12 months. These fillers tend to be a bit more expensive than collagen but are the safest.

Brand names:

• Belotero
• Juvederm
• Restylane

Different types of fillers are recommended depending on the area of your body that you’re looking to target.

Deep wrinkles

Most of the fillers can be used for this area.

Under-eye area

Fat injections, hyaluronic acid, and polylactic acid can be used around the eye area. Certain hyaluronic acids might be better than others for this area.

Nasolabial or smile lines

Most of the hyaluronic acids have been approved by the FDA for use in this area. They can be used for the smile lines and folds around your nose.

Forehead and crow’s feet

If you’re opposed to Botox injections, filler solutions for your forehead furrows and crow’s feet include polylactic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse).

Fillers in this area are also not approved by the FDA, and many providers won’t use injectables in this area due to complications.

Cheeks

Cheeks can be plumped and structured with many of the hyaluronic acids.

Lips

Most of the hyaluronic acids can be used as lip fillers, and they’ve been approved by the FDA to do so.

Chin

Hyaluronic acid, Calcium hydroxylapatite, or essentially any of the above dermal fillers can be used to contour and add volume to the chin.

Hands

Hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite can be used to fill in loose skin on your hands, as well as decrease the appearance of veins.

Chest or décolletage

Not to be confused with breast augmentation, wrinkles around your chest area and lower neck can be treated with hyaluronic acid.

Fillers do have measurable cosmetic benefits for your appearance. People who swear by fillers report younger-looking skin, fewer fine lines and wrinkles, and a more visible bone structure.

For those who are self-conscious about the visible signs of aging, fillers are fairly straightforward and work for their intended purpose.

Hyaluronic acid, in particular, may soften scar tissue and add volume to where it’s injected.

Side effects of fillers are typically minimal and easy to manage. Frequently reported symptoms include:

• swelling at the injection site
• bruising
• itching
• pain in the days after treatment

Rare side effects include:

• visible clumping of the filler material
• filler material in an area of your face where it wasn’t injected, also called filler migration
• headache
• blurred vision and, in severe cases, blindness
• allergic reaction
• infection
• discoloration or a change in skin pigment

Fillers may have a similar result to neurotoxin injections, more commonly known as the brand name Botox, by giving you a more youthful appearance, but they work much differently.

Botox works by paralyzing the muscle underneath your skin. It’s hard to know how each person’s body will react to Botox, and how stiff the facial expressions might be afterward.

Botox also takes days or weeks to settle, so the results aren’t immediately apparent. Results last 3 to 4 months.

With fillers, the material is injected underneath your skin. Depending on the type, this material might serve several purposes, but all fillers have the same aim: restoring lost volume to make skin look smoother, plumper, and more structured.

You can usually tell how fillers are working in the hours after treatment. Their results tend to last longer than Botox — anywhere from 6 months to over a year, depending on the type of filler material.

There are steps you can take to minimize the risk of side effects from fillers. These steps start with finding a licensed specialist doctor such as at the Care Life Clinic and attending an initial consultation.

Remember to never purchase dermal filler material online, and don’t attempt to inject dermal fillers yourself.

Also, be aware that the FDA hasn’t approved silicone injections for body contouring. Butt fillers and fillers for spaces between your muscles aren’t safe or approved filler treatments.

After getting a dermal filler treatment, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully before and after the procedure.

If swelling occurs, apply aloe vera gel or arnica gel to the affected area. Avoid itching and touching the area so that you don’t introduce bacteria to the injection site.

If your side effects seem more severe than you expected, call your doctor right away.

If you’re considering dermal fillers, schedule a consultation with a doctor at the Care Life Clinic. This consultation should include an honest discussion about the areas that you’re seeking to modify, as well as what sorts of results you can expect.

Your doctor should be frank in their assessment of how effective fillers are and how long they’ll last.

During this consultation, make sure to discuss how much these treatments will cost you.