For those of us who are a little face conscious, the lockdown has been a real nightmare. Zoom calls put a lot of focus on our face – it’s like holding up a blown-up picture of yourself for hours every day, for everyone to see! At the same time, whether for work or family, we want to use videos and pictures to keep us in contact with important people – and people who are important to us.
This has led to a rise in the demand for cosmetic products and techniques to help us look our best. One type of procedure that is becoming more popular is dermal fillers. This piece will explain the different types of dermal fillers, and everything you need to know about getting them.
Your Guide to Dermal Fillers
There are a wide variety of types of dermal fillers and your injector will help choose which one is best suited for you based on areas being done.
A dermal filler is any kind of substance added under/into the skin, to give it more volume, shape or help smooth out wrinkles. One big point of confusion is that many people confuse substances like Botox with fillers – however, Botox mainly works by affecting your muscles, tightening them to change the appearance of the skin, like smile lines or forehead lines.
Fillers are a great way to add some volume to areas of your face that may be subject to sagging or wrinkles. Many people opt for the eye area, such as under eyes to help with deep bags and lines. Like other non-surgical options such as Botox, you don’t need a lot of time spent getting the process done or recovering from your appointment. Unlike Botox, you can start to see the effects immediately, as you don’t need to wait for your muscles to adjust.
Different Kinds of Filler
A lot of different substances are used for various types of dermal fillers.
Hyaluronic Acid is among the most popular kinds of dermal filler. This substance is already made in your body – you just need to add some more to fill out those sags and wrinkles. Another natural dermal filler product is Calcium hydroxylapatite. These kinds of natural filler will last from a year to a year and a half before being absorbed into the body.
Poly-L-lactic acid is an artificial substance, but one that is biodegradable, and will last up to two years in the body. You may also have heard of Polymethylmetacrlate beads, which are a mouthful in more than name. This kind of filler is permanent, but can only be used around the mouth.
At PSSC, we often use two of our favourite kinds of filler, Restylane and Teosyal. Fillers can generally last about 6-8 months and in some cases up to 24 months. Both these products are appropriate for use as cheek filler, lip filler, or as dermal fillers for under eyes.
What to Know About Getting Dermal Fillers
As has been mentioned, dermal fillers are great ways to touch up your face, smoothing out wrinkles and sagging. All the dermal fillers we use are FDA approved and since they use naturally occurring hyaluronic acid, there’s no risk of an allergic reaction.
Any potential side effects will be short-lived – some swelling for the first day, and perhaps some bruising for a few days after. Both of these side effects of dermal fillers are temporary and easily treatable with products your cosmetic surgeon will provide.
At PSSC, we make sure that the process is as comfortable, professional, and sanitary as possible. If you have any questions about dermal fillers or would like to book a dermal filler session, feel free to contact us today.