Fillers have become the new wonder in terms of aesthetic treatments that help rejuvenate and support the framework of the face. The more we get old, the more our face loses its bony support. In addition, as we get older, our fat pads deflate, our tissues descend, and we start to see shadows in our skin. The youthful appearance we had before might not be visible anymore whenever we look at ourselves in the mirror.
With the help of fillers, you can revive that youthful glow from the more aged appearance you have now. Facial fillers provide undetectable and natural-looking results. Let’s learn more about this aesthetic treatment and see if it can help age faster or rejuvenate you towards that once youthful glow.
What are Fillers?
Before anything else, let’s know first what fillers are. Dermal fillers need not be confused with the treatment Botox or the FDA-approved drug injectables used to smoothen out lines and wrinkles. This treatment “freezes” the muscles to reduce wrinkles compared to dermal fillers, which are injectable implants, also FDA-approved, that help smooth out visible wrinkles and the skin in general. As its name suggests, fillers are injected beneath the skin using needles.
The Food and Drug Administration has categorized fillers into four (4) divisions aptly named based on the type of material they’re made of:
- Calcium hydroxylapatite – is a natural mineral found in our bones. Fillers can last up to 18 months using this material.
- Hyaluronic acid – found naturally in our skin and cartilages. Fillers generally last 6-12 months using this material.
- Poly-L-lactic acid – a synthetic and biodegradable material, is also used in making dissolvable stitches. Fillers last more or less two (2) years using this material.
- Polymethylmethacrylate beads – this is the only non-absorbable material in this list that makes its results to the body permanent—usually used only around the mouth area.
Among the four, you might have already heard about hyaluronic acid, a recognizable common ingredient in skincare products available in the market. With its ability to retain skin moisture, hyaluronic acid makes a face more plump-looking and very much hydrated in appearance.
Knowing the Right Filler to Try
Before even trying any dermal filler, your doctor needs to explain first what ideal dermal filler plan and treatment is appropriate for you to try. But if you seek the most natural-looking results you can have, you may need to try more than one filler.
People turn to dermal filler mainly because they do not want the surgical approach, either because they are scared it will cost them more. Dermal fillers have become quite popular because patients immediately see results before leaving the clinic after their treatment. In addition, people only notice desirable changes from other non-surgical procedures a few days after their treatment.
Knowing the suitable filler to use based on your natural needs is essential for that desired glow-up you want to achieve. The first thing to do best is to consult and talk to your doctor first to avoid regrets later, especially with this kind of skin treatment.
Before, During, and After
BEFORE: As mentioned earlier, talking to your doctor is the best thing to do first when trying dermal fillers yourself. In addition, looking for experienced, certified, licensed, and trained physicians who would do the job for you can make or break the glow-up you want to achieve. So, it pays to do some research before your treatment to ensure only the best results possible. During consultations, you and your doctor should sort out all the potential kinks this particular treatment might produce. By doing so, you get tiny to no after-effects at all after you’ve undergone the procedure.
Now that we are a tad acquainted with dermal fillers, it is also of great importance to know what to do before your schedule, during the procedure, and after your filler treatment to get your desired results and ensure it lasts as long as possible should. So, here are some pointers on what to do before, during, and after treatment:
DURING: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you might need to hold off on this procedure as it has not been proven yet to be safe for your kind of situation. If not, you’re good to go. However, it is not also advisable to get your filler treatment before a scheduled tooth cleaning or other dental procedures. These activities require applying pressure and making your face stretch, potentially misplacing fillers already placed in your face. Better ask possible workarounds for this situation during consultations with your physician.
AFTER: Even non-surgical procedures like dermal fillers have their side effects. The most common ones include slight bruising, redness of the skin, small amounts of pain, or even swelling of some parts, if not the whole face. These risks usually go away within the next two (2) weeks, as determined by the FDA. Less frequent than not, patients get raised bumps under their skin that need injection treatments, medications, or even surgical removal. But then again, this happens once in a blue moon. So, don’t be scared but be well informed, so you won’t panic if this eventually happens. If it does, consult your doctor or the physician who did the treatment right away, not to prolong and be treated right away.
Do Fillers Make You Age Faster?
No. Fillers don’t make you age faster. On the flip side, it makes you look younger; if not, return your appearance into that youthful radiance you had when you were younger. However, since most fillers are not permanent, you might need to keep visiting your doctor or physician for you to continuously enjoy the results you’ve loved seeing after the procedure. Depending on what type of filler your doctor profiled you to have, roughly around a year or two is the time you can proudly showcase the results you get from dermal fillers. So, consult your doctor now to get that youthful glow you want to have that only dermal fillers can offer.
If you got interested in dermal fillers after reading this article, our excellent friends from Aere Aesthetics are the best team to start you off strong with your glow-up journey! Visit them now!