Beauty Doc Blog

October 2.2008

Dermal fillers are a common medical spa and plastic surgery procedure to quickly and simply refresh your appearance by smoothing out lines, creases and scars.  The signs of aging or scarring are minimized with dermal fillers for a refreshed appearance.

There are four basic types of dermal fillers:

Hyaluronic acid fillers smooth out smile lines and lip lines by using a natural compound found in the human body.  Hyaluronic acid is a component of skin tissue that maintains moisture content, stimulates collagen production and helps skin maintain its elasticity.  This compound naturally diminishes in our bodies with aging and lines start to appear.  Injecting hyaluronic acid under the skin gives it volume for results that last 6 to 12 months.  Products containing Juvéderm™ and Restylane®.  These fillers are biodegradable and can be reversed.

Collagen fillers are a protein chemical that support skin to give it strength.  As you get older, collagen supplies naturally diminish and the signs of aging appear.  Wrinkles and scarring are improved with collagen fillers to give skin a more even tone.  Lips are made fuller with collagen injections.  Collagen fillers may be derived from animal resources so a skin test for allergies might be required.  Products with collagen include CosmoDerm®, CosmoPlast®, Zyderm®, Zyplast® and Evolence®.

Semi-permanent biodegradable dermal  fillers give fullness over an extended period of time.  Types include calcium hydroxylapatite (also called  Radiesse®) and poly-L-lactic acid (also called Sculptra™), which work gradually with results that may last for up to two years.  Lidocaine is injected with these fillers are the procedures tend to be more painful.  The results are not reversible and there is a high rate of complications when used for lips.

Permanent biodegradable dermal fillers offer longer lasting results that incorporate into tissues without breaking down.  Certain fillers take months to realize improvement as they stimulate the formation of collagen in your body.  Other remain under the skin and offer long-lasting improvement for lines and wrinkles.  Sometimes the appearance is less than natural and permanent procedures cannot be reversed.

To determine the best procedure for you, the physician will consider your medical history, skin type, possible allergies and goals.  A skin test may be scheduled for collagen fillers.  A combination treatment may be suggested to realize the full potential of the procedures.  Often dermal filler injection procedures only take about a half hour with minimal discomfort.  Dermal fillers show instant result for a fuller, fresher way to face the world.