What are “fillers?”
Fillers are medicines directly injected into the lower layers of the skin (dermis). They are most commonly used to smooth away deep lines and wrinkles where Botox or Dysport cannot be used safely or are ineffective. The most commonly used fillers are Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane. These medicines are made from Hyaluronic acid, a natural component of your skin.
How do they work?
As we get older, we start losing structural components of our skin (collagen, hyaluronic acid, elastin, etc.) This results in the skin surface becoming uneven, with deeps lines and furrows. By injecting filler into the skin, we try to replace the natural ingredient lost due to age and sun exposure. Hyaluronic acid in particular is well suited for this job as it binds water and creates a volumizing effect.
Are fillers safe?
As with any medicine or medical procedure, safety comes first! Since injection of fillers is a non-surgical in-office treatment, by nature it is safer than most other volumizing procedures. Adverse effects are rare and short lived, and may include (but are not limited to) injection site redness, pain, bruising, and lump formation. Hyaluronic acids are considered “biocompatible,” meaning no allergy testing is needed prior to injection (unlike some of the collagen products).
Who should get fillers?
Fillers offer temporary volume replacement in order to treat unwanted lines and furrows for cosmetic purposes only. They do not treat a specific disease, and cannot stop the progressive nature of volume loss. Most hyaluronic acid products last anywhere from 6 months to a year. They are a great way to rejuvenate the structural component of the skin non-surgically.
What if I have more questions?
Ask away! We are here to help…
Photo courtesy of Medicis (R).
