Have you ever been worried about aging? As we grow older, the inevitability of our skin aging haunts us every time we look at ourselves in the mirror.
However, don’t fret just yet! Exploring the wonders of face fillers is one way to give your skin a youthful makeover without surgery. If you’re looking for a safe and effective way to rejuvenate your face, dermal fillers are the perfect skin-vestment!
Dermal fillers aren’t just a fad. There’s a reason it’s such a popular skincare treatment. Want to know more? Center for Advanced Eye Care has put together this guide to show you how much of a superstar dermal filler are.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal Fillers are a minimally invasive, non-surgical cosmetic treatment. They consist of gel-like substances administered through injections. The procedure is also known as soft tissue fillers or injectable implants. As the name suggests, the gel is injected beneath the skin to plump it up and give it a fuller look. The results vary from temporary to long-lasting, depending on which injectable you pick.
As we age, we lose some of our subcutaneous fat — the layer of fatty cells that sits underneath our skin. Along with that, the lines on our face become deeper and more pronounced and our skin starts to lose elasticity. All that leads to hollow features, saggy skin, and visible fine lines and wrinkles.
Dermal fillers can fill that lost volume! This can help to plump your face, giving a fuller and more youthful appearance. In addition, the gel-like substance can improve skin texture giving an overall smooth appearance.
The Different Types of Dermal Fillers
There are a variety of filler options available. The Center for Advanced Eye Care offers the newest products available.
We will evaluate you during a consultation to discuss your goals and to recommend the best options for you.
What Are The Benefits of Getting Dermal Fillers?
At first glance, it may seem like dermal fillers are only good for wrinkles. However, the treatment reveals more benefits than meets the eyes. Dermal fillers also can help:
- Restore volume to hollow-looking cheeks or temples
- Fix contour issues
- Improve facial symmetry
- Enhance lip volume
- Fill in recessed scars
- Smoothen your skin
- Reduce the appearance of laugh lines and crow’s feet
- Diminish the lines around your nose and mouth (also known as the nasolabial folds and marionette lines)
All these benefits together grant you an impressive, rejuvenated appearance.
What Skin Concerns Do Dermal Fillers Target?
Since dermal fillers enhance the volume and appearance of facial and other skin features, they can target numerous concerns. The treatment can address droopy eyebrows, hollow temples, undefined jawline, and bleakness under the eyes. Furthermore, dermal fillers can target loss of volume in cheeks, ear lobe correction, lipstick lines, thin lips, and sagging lip corners.
When it comes to wrinkles, the treatment can help you reduce the appearance of:
- Laugh lines
- Nasolabial folds
- Marionette lines
- Chin wrinkles
What Does a Dermal Filler Session Look Like?
Any treatment session should start with a discussion of your personal concerns and goals. This is exactly what we do here at Center for Advanced Eye Care. We will ask you about your plans and what you want to achieve with dermal fillers. After that, you can expect an assessment to discover your personal skin type and condition. We will recommend an individualized approach to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. You can choose to have treatment the same day as your consultation or to schedule in the future.
As for the actual dermal filler treatment session, you can choose to first have topical numbing medication applied. Next, we will begin by cleansing your face. Then, we will use an injection with a small needle to administer your chosen fillers in the target areas. Most fillers already have numbing properties to ease the procedure
Getting dermal fillers may take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending on the treatment areas. The size of the target area also matters in determining the duration of the procedure. After that, you’ll immediately see improvements in your skin!
Is the Treatment Safe?
The treatment is safe for all individuals, but you have to choose a reputable physician to get it from. Even though the dermal filler treatment is considered minimally invasive, it still uses injections and there are always risks which must be carefully considered.
Do Dermal Fillers Hurt?
The pain level you experience depends on the technique of your attending physician. But if you go to a trained and experienced professional, you can expect an experience that involves minimal pain. Besides, a physician will conduct the treatment utilizing proper skills and techniques to reduce any adverse effects.
With that said, pain tolerance levels still vary per person. What may be painless to some may be a bit uncomfortable for another.
Are There Any Risks And Side Effects?
Much like other minimally invasive cosmetic treatments, dermal fillers carry their own possibility of risks and side effects. The procedure is considered safe, but some side effects can still appear, like:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Redness
- A little pain
The above-mentioned are common and can be expected to go away in hours or days, maximum.
To avoid these, consult with your physician in detail about your allergies and health status.
A rare but serious side effect of dermal fillers is vascular occlusion. It is important to go to an experienced injector who can identify and treat this complication in a timely fashion.
Is There Any Downtime?
Downtime is minimal but as with any injection, bruising and swelling can occur. Although you can resume normal activities almost immediately, it is recommended to avoid strenuous physical activities for 1-2 days following the treatment.
What’s the Dermal Filler Timeline?
The dermal filler treatment timeline varies for each person. Your goals and skin condition may not be the same as those of other people. Your preference for the type of dermal fillers also affects your treatment timeline.
But for visualization, you can expect something like this:
- A consultation visits with your physician to discuss your skin condition, treatment goals, and health status
- 15 minutes to an hour for one session after finalizing the details with your physician
- One to two days’ time for recovery and abstinence from high-intensity activities
- A scheduled return, depending on your provider’s recommendations and the type of dermal fillers you got
You can expect instant results right after your dermal filler treatment session. Just an hour of your day and you will be able to see improvements in your skin condition. However, the final results may take days or weeks to fully come out.
Who Can Get Dermal Fillers?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or US FDA, has set an age restriction for the treatment. Only those above 21 years old, meaning 22 years old and older, may undergo the procedure. Aside from young people, pregnant and breastfeeding women are also discouraged from getting dermal fillers. Fluctuating hormones may interfere with blood flow and swelling.
In addition, you may want to consult with your physician first if you’re taking any kind of medication, especially blood thinners. Securing a clearance from a physician may also be required if you have any underlying health condition. Blood thinners should never be discontinued without first discussing with the prescribing physician.
Remember that your safety should always be the top priority!
How Do You Prepare Before a Session?
It’s best to ask about pre-treatment instructions. That way, you will receive specific directions that personally apply to you. But for starters, here are some general things you should do prior to your scheduled dermal filler session:
- Don’t take pain relievers before the treatment
- Avoid using skincare products with harsh ingredients, like retinoids and glycolic acid
- Refrain from removing hair over the treatment area
- Abstain from drinking alcohol
Follow the instructions provided to ensure you don’t encounter any hiccups. That way, you can ensure your safety and comfort during the treatment.
What Do You Need to Do After the Session?
Much like the pre-treatment instructions, we will also give you aftercare directions specific to your case. To help the fillers do their job, it’s best to follow those instructions down to the last word. Your aftercare list will most likely include:
- Avoid exercising and doing high-intensity activities for the first two days
- Refrain from rubbing or putting pressure on the treatment area
- Use ice packs to the treatment area to help with discomfort, bruising, and swelling
- Keep out of the sun to avoid sunburn and damage
- Stay on top of your hydration
We may also suggest skincare and makeup recommendations following your treatment.
To Wrap Up
Dermal fillers are safe and effective and have minimal downtime. They can give you a plumper look, with reduced wrinkles and an overall youthful appearance! Not only that, but the treatment is also virtually painless!
Just make sure to go to a reputable physician to get the best out of dermal fillers. And you don’t have to look further! Visit Center for Advanced Eye Care now to book an appointment.