As we age, our faces naturally lose subcutaneous fat, which causes the face to lose the natural youthful appearance it once had. The facial skin also tends to stretch over time, adding to this loss of facial volume. Other factors that affect the facial skin include sun exposure, heredity, and lifestyle. Dermal fillers help diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face. The most popular category of wrinkle fillers is hyaluronic acid. Each type works in a slightly different way with varying results.
Dermal fillers can be used to plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases, and improve wrinkles that develop around the eyes, known as crow’s feet. Dermal fillers are also a great option to improve the appearance of recessed scars on the face or even sometimes on the hands.
The use of dermal filler and other non-surgical wrinkle treatments are on the rise. According to the 2015 Plastic Surgery Report conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the use of Botulinum Toxin Type A has gone up by 759%, with a 158% increase for the overall category of cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures. The studies suggest that a younger demographic of patients are opting for non-surgical rejuvenation treatments such as soft tissue fillers, as they are beneficial for those looking to delay the early signs of aging. This treatment is great for people who are not ready to commit to surgical procedures. The results are natural and will last anywhere from 4 months to a year, depending on the type of filler used by your cosmetic surgeon.
Although dermal fillers are a great option for a more youthful appearance, for some older patients, surgery such as a facelift, brow lift, or eye lift may be the best approach.
In addition to fillers for wrinkle treatment, there is the popular Botulinum Toxin Type A, which is a neurotoxin injection used to relax the muscle under a wrinkle, which helps erase and soften existing wrinkles. They are generally used to treat 3 areas: creases beside the eyes, creases between the eyes and brows, and forehead wrinkles and lines.
Not every wrinkle-filler is right for every type of wrinkle. The least risks and best results come from using the right one correctly. That’s why you should have fillers injected only by a Board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with ongoing, special training. Side effects are rare but can include redness, swelling, and bruising at the injection site. The filler may also show up under the skin as tiny bumps. This is a problem that often improves over a short period of time.
How long the results last varies from several months to over a year or two. Some research shows that repeated injections may help stimulate the body’s own natural production of collagen. That will help reduce the number of lines and wrinkles. There is also some evidence that less filler is needed over time to achieve the same look.
To learn more about dermal fillers and neurotoxins, watch Dr. Torgerson’s informational video, where he discusses the difference between injectable fillers and neurotoxins in more detail: