Your skin undergoes many changes as you get older. These changes may leave your skin with wrinkles and creases much earlier than you anticipated.
At Beach Cities Vein & Laser Center in El Segundo, CA, we can help you address those lines, wrinkles, and creases with dermal filler treatments. Keep reading to learn more about this popular non-surgical treatment.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are injectable treatments used to address numerous cosmetic concerns. Dermal fillers are designed to smooth out wrinkled skin and subtly enhance the volume of specific areas of the body. Dermal fillers are ideal for addressing the effects of progressive collagen loss with age.
Types of Dermal Fillers
There are many brands and families of dermal fillers available today. The types of dermal fillers we provide can be broken down into two categories based on their active ingredient.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
As their name suggests, hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers contain a synthetic version of hyaluronic acid to lift and smooth wrinkled skin.
Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in your body. It is a humectant, which means that it attracts and traps nearby moisture. This property makes it particularly good for aiding in the lubrication of your eyes and joints. Dermal fillers use a lab-created version of hyaluronic acid that’s identical to the hyaluronic acid produced by your body.
Once injected, the hyaluronic acid molecules attract moisture and hold it in place to fill in the empty space left behind due to collagen loss. The exact concentration of hyaluronic acid varies from one filler to the next.
Manufacturers use slightly different formulations to create families of specialized dermal fillers, such as the following:
- Juvéderm Ultra
- Juvéderm Vollure
- Juvéderm Voluma
- Juvéderm Volbella
- Juvéderm Ultra Plus
- Restylane
- Restylane Lyft
- Restylane Silk
- Restylane Defyne
- Restylane Refyne
The Juvéderm and Restylane families each contain several dermal fillers that are designed to target specific areas or concerns. For example, Juvéderm Volbella is a great choice for plumping up thin lips, whereas Juvéderm Voluma is better suited for the cheeks and under-eye area.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite Fillers
Although hyaluronic acid fillers account for the lion’s share of dermal filler treatments, they are not the only type of dermal filler. Fillers such as Radiesse use a thicker gel with calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) as their active ingredient.
Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers are ideal for treating more pronounced wrinkles and creases because they actually stimulate collagen and elastin production. By stimulating collagen and elastin production, these fillers address the underlying cause of wrinkle formation and overall facial volume loss.
Calcium hydroxylapatite is found naturally in human bones and is fully biocompatible and biodegradable. Therefore, as it wears off, nothing gets left behind in your body.
What Are Dermal Fillers Good For?
We use dermal fillers to treat a wide variety of common cosmetic concerns, including these:
- Fine lines
- Chin lines
- Smile lines
- Frown lines
- Wrinkled hands
- Marionette lines
- Forehead creases
- Thin or asymmetrical lips
- Volume loss in the cheeks
- A weak or undefined jawline
When it comes to dermal fillers, lips are one of the most popular treatment areas. Whether your lips have lost volume and become thinner with age or they’re naturally thin, dermal fillers lip injections can help improve their size and shape.
It’s also common to use dermal fillers under eyes to brighten the area and soften the appearance of tear troughs and under-eye bags.
What Is Dermal Filler Treatment Like?
Dermal filler treatment is quick, comfortable, and convenient. The entire process usually takes under 20 minutes, and we typically spend more time talking with you and mapping out the ideal injection points than we do actually injecting the filler.
Most people do not need any anesthetic for their treatment. But depending on the treatment area and your personal preference, we may apply a topical anesthetic to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.
Once we pinpoint the best injection points and the area is numbed, we make a series of small injections directly into the treatment area.
When the desired amount of filler has been administered, your treatment is complete and you are free to return to your regular activities. There’s no need for any downtime after receiving dermal fillers.
What to Expect Before and After Dermal Fillers
Now that you know what to expect during dermal filler treatment, it’s important to know what to expect before and after dermal fillers too.
Before arriving for your treatment, make sure that your face is clean and free of makeup. You should also avoid blood-thinning medications and supplements, Retinol products, and alcohol in the days leading up to your treatment. After your treatment, keep the injection sites clean and avoid touching or rubbing them for at least 24 hours.
How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?
The answer to “How long do dermal fillers last?” changes depending on the product you’re talking about and where it is injected. Thinner formulas tend to spread out and wear off more quickly, but thicker gels take longer to dissipate.
Dermal fillers may last anywhere from 4 to 18 months. We can better advise you on how long your filler should last once we determine which one is right for you.
Experience the Benefits of Dermal Fillers in El Segundo, CA
If you’re ready to unlock younger-looking skin, it’s time to schedule your personalized consultation at Beach Cities Vein & Laser Center. Whether you’re curious about dermal fillers under eyes or in another location, a consultation is the first step.
Give us a call today to learn more about the dermal fillers we offer or to schedule your consultation.