When we begin to age, our faces start to lose volume and wrinkles start showing. Enter dermal fillers, and you will be on the highway back to youth; or at least 5 – 10 years younger. Dermal fillers are injectables that restore facial volume and diminish wrinkles. They are made up of either natural or synthetic products.
Most of us, including yours truly, have at one time or another used creams, or anti-aging home remedies to maintain a youthful look. Sometimes they seem to work just fine while at other times they take longer than expected, or never work at all. At this point, we tend to turn to alternative anti-aging treatments like dermal fillers, which are guaranteed to work (if done by a board certified and experienced plastic surgeon).
Related: Anti-aging Tips for a Youthful Skin
As it is the case with these kinds of posts, I sought out Dr. Juan Tadeo Krogulec, a Board Certified Specialist Plastic Surgeon at Dubai Cosmetic Surgery clinic, to share a bit on dermal fillers. After all, they might be an effective and somewhat quick remedy to delay aging, but before you choose to have a few injections, it is important to have an idea or two about them.
Dermal Fillers and Age
So when it comes to the appropriate age at which you can start using dermal fillers and if they can be effective if begun from an early age, Dr. Juan has this to say. “Using dermal fillers at an early age will not prevent aging because they are meant to be used for volume correction. This volume restoration includes filling in wrinkles and facial lines like nasolabial folds, frown lines, lip wrinkles, bunny lines, chin creases, and lip filling and augmentation.” On the other hand, he says, Botox can reduce the rate at which we age. “This is because it paralyzes the muscles where it is injected, restricting their use, so with continued use, one ends up with minimal wrinkles and fine lines.”
Common types of Dermal Fillers
There are 3 common types of dermal fillers, explains Dr. Juan, named Restylane, Juvederm, and Voluma. All three of these dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, a product already present in our body tissues, which makes them very similar.
“One of the things that sets these three apart is their lasting power. “How long each of the dermal fillers lasts depends on the state of the filler and where it is to be injected.” For instance, he continues, if the filler is to be injected on the lips, it has to be thin, hence lasts less (about 4 -6 months). But if it is meant for the cheeks, it has to be thick, and it can last for up to 12 months. This quality is present in Restylane and Juvederm, while Voluma can last up to 2 years.
Related: Non-invasive 8-Point Filler Face Lift
“At the end of the day, the effectiveness of dermal fillers relies heavily on the experience of the plastic surgeon administering it and his ability to make the filler diffuse with the tissues and plane out leaving a smooth surface. Most of all, he/she has to be very well experienced in this kind of medical artistry,” he notes.
Less noticeable of the Dermal Fillers
“Basically, dermal fillers should not be noticeable,” he says. In addition, according to the good doctor, if administered properly, no one other than the patient should know there are dermal fillers hiding inside that person.
As for injection areas, he has this to say: “Thick fillers are for areas like the cheeks and nasolabial folds. This is because they have deeper troughs and need volume restoration, meaning they last longer. On the other hand, the thin ones are used mostly for the lips to avoid any bumps, and to leave a smooth surface.”
And just in case you were wondering, dermal fillers do not come in a ‘one size fits all’ kind of thing. “All fillers come in different quantities, and if you are being attended by a good plastic surgeon, then he/she should know the best quantity for your particular need.”
You heard the man… if you plan on getting dermal fillers, proceed with caution.
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