What Are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are cosmetic injectables designed to fill in wrinkles, creases, and scars and to restore volume lost to aging or illness. Today. there are many different cosmetic fillers on the market which use different materials and different formulations to achieve their effects. Selecting the right filler is important for getting the desired end result.

Where Are Dermal Fillers Used?

Dermal fillers can be used in most areas of the face, including the nasolabial folds and marionette lines, the deep creases that extend from the nose to the mouth and from the mouth to the chin. They can also be used to restore volume to the lips and the cheeks. When used to “plump up” cheeks, fillers can also help gently lift sagging tissue in the lower third of the face.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a popular material used in many fillers. The acid occurs naturally in young, healthy skin, enabling the tissue to retain moisture so it looks and feels firmer and more resilient. Fillers that use hyaluronic acid can help replace some of the naturally-occurring acid lost due to aging.

Can Dermal Fillers Be Used in Place of BOTOX®?

No. Dermal fillers are used to treat static wrinkles, those lines, and creases that form as a result of age-related changes in the skin, sun damage, gravity, illness, and genetics. BOTOX® is used to treat dynamic wrinkles that form as a result of repeated facial expressions and movements like smiling, frowning or “furrowing” the brow.

Can BOTOX and Dermal Fillers Be Used Together?

Yes, and many clients opt to have both cosmetic fillers and BOTOX® to treat both static and dynamic wrinkles and other defects to achieve many of the benefits of a mini-facelift without the cost, pain, or recovery time of surgery.

How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?

That depends on the type of filler that’s used, where it’s being used and the issue that’s being treated, among other factors. Some fillers can last about a year and other fillers that use a denser material called PMMA are considered semi-permanent. Touch-up applications can enable the results of fillers to last indefinitely.