Dermal Fillers
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal filler injections are a type of nonsurgical cosmetic procedure. Dermal fillers plump up wrinkles, smooth lines and restore volume in your face. Your healthcare provider injects these substances just under your skin.
People choose to get dermal fillers to enhance their facial features or gain a more youthful appearance. This elective treatment usually takes less than half an hour, and recovery time is minimal. Results are seen right away and last months to years depending on the type of filler and the location.
There are several kinds of dermal fillers. Your healthcare provider will discuss your options with you. As with any cosmetic procedure, there are risks, including infection, bleeding and bruising. Health insurance plans generally don’t cover elective cosmetic procedures such as filler injections.
How common are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are very common. Every year in the United States, more than 3 million people choose to get dermal fillers.
Treatment Details
What happens before a dermal filler procedure?
Before you get dermal fillers, you’ll have a consultation with your healthcare provider. You may wish to see a dermatologist, a healthcare provider who specializes in caring for skin. They’ll examine your face and ask about your goals and what areas you’d like to enhance.
They may mark your face with a pen or marker to show where the injections will be. They may also take pictures of your face. Your healthcare provider will recommend a specific type of filler or fillers and review possible side effects and recovery time.
During this consultation, your healthcare provider will also ask about your medical history. It’s important to tell them if you’re taking any medications, as some drugs can increase the risk of complications after getting fillers. Tell your healthcare provider if you have:
- Allergies.
- History of bruising or bleeding after similar procedures.
- Neurological problems.
- Skin conditions.
What happens during a dermal filler procedure?
You can get dermal fillers in your healthcare provider’s office. Some people choose to get dermal fillers in a medical spa (also called a medspa or medispa). This is a medical clinic that delivers cosmetic procedures in a spa-like environment. Your healthcare provider cleans your skin and may apply a lotion or cream with an anesthetic. The anesthetic numbs the area so the treatment will be more comfortable.
Using a thin needle, your healthcare provider injects small amounts of fillers under your skin. The needle will pinch or sting, but most people don’t experience much pain during these injections. Your healthcare provider may inject the fillers in several areas. The whole process can take a few minutes or up to an hour.
What happens after a dermal filler procedure?
After receiving dermal filler injections, your healthcare provider will cleanse your skin. They may give you an ice pack to ease pain and swelling.
You may have bruises, swelling or discomfort after getting the injections. Usually, these side effects are mild and go away in a few days.
Many people see results right away after getting these injections. But everyone’s results are different. How long it takes to see results (and how long they last) depends on several factors, including the type of treatment you received.
What’s the process for a facial fat grafting procedure?
The process for facial fat grafting is a little different. First, your healthcare provider removes fat from your own body using liposuction. After purifying the fat, they inject it into your face. This is usually an outpatient procedure (you go home the same day).
Because a fat grafting procedure requires an extra step, the process is more complicated than receiving off-the-shelf dermal fillers. Following liposuction and facial fat grafting, you may need to rest for up to two weeks. Ask your healthcare provider about the recovery time and whether this procedure is right for you.
Risks / Benefits
What are the advantages of dermal filler procedures?
Many people see results of dermal fillers right away. The injections usually take less than an hour, and you can get them right in your healthcare provider’s office. Because it’s a nonsurgical treatment, recovery time is minimal.
Depending on the type of filler, results can last months or even years. Some fillers work for more than two years. Dermal fillers are also typically less expensive than elective surgical procedures.
What are the risks or complications of dermal fillers?
Serious complications are rare, and some of these side effects are only temporary. But as with any cosmetic surgery procedure, there are risks. They include:
- Asymmetrical appearance.
- Bleeding, bruising, redness, pain and swelling.
- Damage to your skin, which can cause scars.
- Infection, which can lead to necrosis (death of the infected skin) in severe cases.
- Lumps or bumps under your skin.
- Numbness.
- Pimples that look like acne.
- Rash and itching.
Rarely, people have vision problems following dermal filler injections. If you have problems with your eyesight, along with weakness, discomfort or pain on one side of your body, get immediate medical help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do dermal fillers last?
The duration of dermal filler results varies depending on the type of filler used and the individual patient. Most hyaluronic acid fillers last 6-12 months, while some other types of fillers may last up to 2 years.
Are dermal filler injections painful?
Most patients experience only mild discomfort during dermal filler injections, as the treatment is performed using a fine needle and a topical anesthetic may be applied to minimize pain. Some fillers also contain a local anesthetic to further reduce discomfort.
What are the potential side effects of dermal fillers?
Common side effects of dermal fillers include mild swelling, redness, bruising, and tenderness at the injection sites. These side effects typically resolve within a few days to a week. Rare but more serious side effects may include infection, allergic reactions, or vascular occlusion, which can cause tissue damage if not treated promptly.
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