What are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal filler injections are a type of non-surgical cosmetic procedure. Dermal fillers plump wrinkles, smooth lines and restore volume to your face. Your healthcare professional injects these substances just under your skin.

People choose to have dermal fillers to enhance facial contours or to gain a more youthful appearance. This effective treatment usually takes less than half an hour and recovery time is minimal. Results are seen immediately and last for months to years, depending on the type and location of the filler.

There are several types of dermal fillers. Your health care provider will discuss your options with you. As with any cosmetic procedure, there are risks such as infection, bleeding and bruising. Health insurance plans usually do not cover elective cosmetic procedures such as filler injections.

Why are Dermal Fillers Used?

As you age, your body starts to lose collagen. Collagen is an important substance found everywhere in your body, including your skin, muscles, bones and connective tissues. A decrease in the amount of collagen in your skin causes skin laxity (loose) and loss of volume. The skin becomes thinner, loses elasticity and starts to sag.

You can choose to have dermal fillers for

  • To add volume to sagging skin.
  • Making your facial features more symmetrical.
  • Plumping the lips and cheeks.
  • Smoothing wrinkles and creases on your face.

How Common Are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are very common. More than 3 million people in the United States opt for dermal fillers every year.

What are the Types of Dermal Fillers?

There are many types of dermal fillers. In addition to synthetic (man-made materials) and “off-the-shelf” fillers that use substances that occur naturally in your body, health care providers may use fat from your own body. Healthcare providers call this procedure “autologous fat grafting”, where they take fat from a part of your body and inject it into your face.

Ready-to-use fillers include:

  • Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring acid in your skin. It gives your skin volume and keeps it moisturized. As you age, your body stops producing hyaluronic acid. The results of HA injections usually last six months to a year. Juvaderm is a commonly used type of HA filler

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