What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are substances which
can be used to elevate and eliminate wrinkles in the skin, or
to fill in deeper crevices or depressions on the face with the
intention of making the face smoother and more youthful. These
fillers are substances that can be injected by syringe into skin
or just underneath it. Over the past 10 years there has been an
evolution of materials used. Initially, collagen from various
animal and human sources were used. These products had a lifespan
of about 3-6 months and required allergy testing. About five years
ago, hyaluronic acid fillers became available and mostly replaced
the use of collagen due to the longer effect of 6-9 months. Now,
there are injectable materials that stimulate natural formation
of collagen and these newer fillers are lasting 2-5 years.
(See description at the end of this page)
What are they used for?
Dermal fillers can be placed just
about anywhere in the skin. Hyaluronic acid (Restylane, Juvederm)
is a natural component of skin which makes it very safe and versatile.
Therefore, the use of fillers is vast, and, in many cases, is
up to the skills and artistry of the person injecting them. Dr.
Su has had extensive training and personal experience in performing
fillers. It is one of his favorite procedures and one that he
is exceptional at.
Lips – expected
improvements include fullness, loss of vertical lines, more definition,
as well as turning unwanted “frowns” into smiles,
asymmetry can also be corrected
Facial folds and wrinkles
– almost all areas can be filled or treated to
make the face more youthful, no folds are too great; however,
mild wrinkles may be hard to improve
Cheek bones –
one of the effects of aging can be flattened or sunken cheeks
which results in a tired or sullen look. When this is corrected,
an individual looks more rested, youthful, and happy. Some people
have never had prominent cheek bones; but, with fillers, the cheeks
can be enhanced or built up non-surgically giving a very natural
look.
Tear troughs –
the area under the eyes can often have a dark circle or depression
that is genetic or due to aging. This creates a tired and unhappy
look. This is an area that responds very well to fillers.
Facial jowels –
the fat pad of the cheek can drop over time creating the look
of a “jowel” along the jaw line. This can be easily
hidden or camouflaged with fillers.
Chin – the chin
can be augmented with fillers to be more prominent. Fillers are
a great alternative to a surgical implant.
Nose – some
irregularities of the nose, including dips, can be filled to restore
the symmetry or hollow areas
Scars – scars
that are depressed can often respond to elevation with a easily
filler. In some cases of severe acne scarring, the depressed areas
can be improved.
Hands – the
back of aged hands that have lost fat over time can appear “bony”
and have a prominent appearance of veins. To correct the problem,
fillers can be injected easily into this area.
Liquid Face Lift –
this is a term that is becoming more popular and refers
to a complete facial rejuvenation through the use of fillers.
It often involves filling of the major folds on the face, restoring
and volumizing the lips, as well as correcting other features
of aging especially the cheeks and jowels. This is a relatively
painless one-hour procedure which can result in someone easily
looking 10 years younger.
Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm
These fillers made of hyaluronic
acid have been very popular in the past few years and have mostly
replaced the use of collagen due to their safety and longevity.
Collagen had the inconvenience of requiring allergy testing and
lasted only 1-3 months. Hyaluronic acid fillers require no such
testing and last on average 6 months before needing a touch-up.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring component of our skin
and is extremely safe. The difference in the fillers listed above
is their manufacturer and particle sizes which determines their
suitability for deeper or finer lines.
Radiesse
This is a longer lasting filler
than hyaluronic acid, and is used mainly for deeper folds and
areas of fat loss. It has been FDA approved for filling areas
such as the nasolabial fold and for volumizing areas like the
cheeks. It is made of a gel mixed with particles of calcium hydroxylapetite,
a mineral which stimulates the production of natural collagen.
The volumizing is initially due to the temporary effects of the
gel and is replaced by the newly formed natural collagen within
1-2 months. The effects last 12 months or longer.
Artefill
This is the longest lasting filler
currently approved by the FDA for cosmetic use. It is recommended
for deeper or larger areas of filling. It’s results are
based upon PMMA, a polymer-like microsphere which stimulates natural
collagen and fibrinogen growth. It has a delayed volumizing effect
and is given in a stepwise manner over a 3-month period. It is
a filler that is generally recommended for clients experienced
with temporary fillers and who are looking for a more permanent
solution.
|
