When you turn to a practitioner with good training who is using good products, dermal fillers can be a safe and extremely effective alternative to a facelift, Botox and other cosmetic procedures. While there are some risks, those are low in comparison to most other kinds of treatments.
So what kinds of wrinkle fillers are available — and which are right for you? You may actually need more than one kind of dermal filler injected into your face or hands for complete results, and your practitioner can tell you which products are right for you.
It pays to be informed, however, so here are the general types of wrinkle fillers in use today:
Hyaluronic acid fillers. With few side effects, these dermal fillers are among the most popular and may even stimulate the body’s own collagen production with repeated use. Brand names include Captique, Prevelle Silk and Restylane, among many others.
Synthetic fillers. A relative small category, these fillers are substances made in labs and not like any natural skin structures. Very long-lasting and providing dramatic results, these products — including Sculptra and a variety of silicones — carry some risk of nodule formation and permanent disfigurement if used incorrectly.
Collagen fillers. Originally created from cow collagen and with a risk of allergic reaction, today’s collagen fillers carry less risk, fewer side effects and last much longer. Results still don’t last as long as with other kinds of fillers, however, but results can be more natural. Brand names include ArteFill, Fibrel and others.
Autologous fillers. Made from fat or other materials in a patient’s own body, the material is removed, purified and then inserted into an area where filler is needed. The purification process is time-consuming and expensive, but there are few side effect risks.
No Dermal Filler Is Right In Every Situation
If your doctor is certain he or she wants to use a particular dermal filler and doesn’t offer many alternatives or suggest different products for different purposes, turn the other way. There’s no one dermal filler that’s right in every situation.
Many kinds of dermal fillers are on the market now, and when they’re injected by people with strong training and experience, all of them work in some circumstances. And they all have risks. In general, the risks are lumping, swelling and redness, but there are other more serious side effects that can happen. There is also a risk of allergic reaction with some products that means allergy testing must be done.
There are products used commonly in the past two decades as dermal fillers than are less popular now that better alternatives are available, and you need a competent practitioner to sort all that out for you.
Generally speaking, the fillers available today are either naturally derived or synthetic.
Natural fillers include the very common hyaluronic acid and some others, and these have low risk of allergic reaction. They provide results that are immediate, and some can last up to 18 months when the skin is well cared for. But natural fillers eventually break down, so additional injections are necessary at regular intervals to maintain good results.
Fortunately, any side effects or undesirable impacts from natural dermal fillers also wear off, meaning that bad outcomes eventually go away.
Synthetic fillers last much long and can be permanent or semi-permanent in nature since they don’t dissipate within the body. Wrinkles only come back as you continue to age, get more sun damage or if you fail to take care of your skin after getting the injections.
But side effects and botched jobs have longer-lasting results too. Undesirable outcomes can last forever and can only be reversed with surgery, if at all. This can leave scarring and cause other problems.
Making the right product choice means turning to a dermal filler practitioner you can trust. Then, the results you get will be what you expect them to be.
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